Intuitive | Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy

Biopsy and beyond: Planning reimagined

PlanPoint is a software platform, accessible from your planning laptop, that you can use to strategize your robotic-assisted bronchoscopy navigation and biopsy before you enter the procedure room.¹ Its advanced planning features amplify visibility to critical structures, providing enhanced clinical confidence for planning biopsy and beyond.

PlanPoint uses a CT scan of the patient’s lungs to generate 3D airway trees and identify additional anatomies of interest. Once you identify a targeted pulmonary nodule, Ion’s PlanPoint software automatically segments the nodule and creates a navigation path to reach it. A simple user interface allows you to review, edit, and save the plan before exporting it to the Ion system.

Seamlessly integrates with hospital networks²

PlanPoint integrates with the hospital network, streamlining CT image import and plan export to the Ion system.

Using PlanPoint, you can retrieve your patient CT scans securely via PACS (picture archiving and communication system) over the hospital network or directly from imaging modalities.³ PACS integration along with PlanPoint’s CT suitability assessment enables efficient case planning.⁴

Once you’ve completed planning, the network plan transfer feature allows easy export direct to the Ion system. Network integration eliminates the need to transport physical hardware, which can slow the planning process and introduce potential security risks.

Ion PlanPoint software segmentation identifies small airways in the peripheral lung

Extends your reach into the peripheral lung

PlanPoint software’s deep segmentation capability, powered by machine learning, identifies small airways in the peripheral lung. In a study comparing PlanPoint to planning software for tip-tracked instrument and catheter-based electromagnetic navigation, PlanPoint software generated significantly higher numbers of distal virtual airways. The distance from the end of the navigation pathway to the target nodule was also significantly shorter with PlanPoint.⁵

By taking advantage of PlanPoint’s turn-by-turn navigation guidance along with Ion’s ultrathin fully articulating catheter, you can reach far into peripheral airways to access difficult-to-reach nodules.

Ion PlanPoint software automatically generates 3D structures showing pleura or fissures

Amplifies visibility to critical structures

PlanPoint automatically generates 3D structures of pleura and fissures based on their proximity to the nodule and also lets you manually create your own anatomy borders. This feature helps you visualize these important anatomical borders and gives you a reference for these structure locations while performing a biopsy.

PlanPoint also displays the vasculature surrounding your biopsy target, with the flexibility to adjust its region and opacity, which can help inform your biopsy approach.

Ion PlanPoint software can add airways as needed with the “Extend Airway” tool

Strengthens your navigation planning

PlanPoint software can provide multiple navigational path choices and allow you to easily compare all path options. Its “extend airway” tool also lets you add airways that were not automatically generated for the airway tree.

Reference areas enable a more precise targeting capability by allowing you to mark areas of interest within and around the target nodule. Adding reference areas enhances guidance for biopsy localization within a target and enables fiducial placement. These reference areas are visible in PlanPoint and on the Ion system to support your navigational workflow

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PlanPoint software features and functionality (including biopsy planning, segmentation, auto anatomy border, user flexibility) or features and functionality of the Ion endoluminal system as described are based on internal testing results.
Compared to previous versions of the Ion PlanPoint software.
Relative to manual transfer of the CT scan via CD or USB for Ion procedure planning. Applicable for any device producing a CT scan meeting acceptable CT criteria.
Refers to potential issues such as CT scan format incompatibility, wrong CT scan, CT resolution incorrect.
Akulian JA, MolenaD, WahidiMM, et al. A Direct Comparative Study of Bronchoscopic Navigation Planning Platforms for Peripheral Lung Navigation: The ATLAS Study. J BronchologyIntervPulmonol. 2022;29(3):171-178.

Design and implementation have been rigorously evaluated and awarded third-party certifications for privacy and security compliance with globally recognized HITRUST and NIST Cybersecurity & Privacy Frameworks.

Disclosures and important safety information

Important safety information

Risks associated with bronchoscopy through an endotracheal tube and under general anesthesia are infrequent and typically minor, and may include but are not limited to: sore throat, hoarseness, respiratory complications including dyspnea or hypoxemia, airway injury, bronchospasm, laryngospasm, fever, hemoptysis, chest or lung infection including pneumonia, lung abscess or an adverse reaction to anesthesia. Although rare, the following complications may also occur: bleeding, pneumothorax (collapsed lung), cardiac related complications, respiratory failure, air embolism, or death. As with other medical procedures, there may be additional risks associated with the use of general anesthesia and/or endotracheal intubation which are not listed above; you should consult a health care professional regarding these and other potential risks.

Procedures using the Ion Endoluminal System may be associated with longer procedure and/or longer anesthesia time.

Individuals’ outcomes may depend on a number of factors—including but not limited to—patient characteristics, disease characteristics, and/or physician experience.

Ion endoluminal system

The Ion Endoluminal System (Model IF1000) assists the user in navigating a catheter and endoscopic tools in the pulmonary tract using endoscopic visualization of the tracheobronchial tree for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The Ion Endoluminal System enables fiducial marker placement. It does not make a diagnosis and is not for pediatric use.

The Flexision Biopsy Needle is used with the Ion Endoluminal System to biopsy tissue from a target area in the lung.

The PlanPoint Software uses patient CT scans to create a 3D plan of the lung and navigation pathways for use with the Ion Endoluminal System.

Ion PlanPoint Software

Biopsy and beyond: Planning reimagined

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