superDimension™ Navigation System
You’ve been told you have a spot on your lung. Or a lung nodule.
Or a lung mass. You have many questions but first you need a lung biopsy.
What is a lung biopsy?
Physicians need to take a tissue sample or biopsy in order to make an accurate
diagnosis. It may sound scary but finding spots on your lung when they
are small may have advantages. There is research that shows most small
lung spots turn out not to be cancer and could be an infection or scar
tissue from a previous infection.
How does the doctor get the lung biopsy?
Traditionally doctors used a procedure called bronchoscopy where a thick
but flexible tube called a bronchoscope is used to examine the inside
of the air passages and take a small tissue sample for analysis. Standard
bronchoscopies only allow doctors to reach spots that are close to the
main airways.
Today, Medtronic's
superDimension™ Navigation System, or superD, is used to perform Electromagnetic
Navigation Bronchoscopy™ (ENB™) procedures that can access
distant regions of the lung. The system aids in early diagnosis and can
help your physician plan your treatment.
How does an ENB™ procedure differ from traditional bronchoscopy?
Traditional bronchoscopy typically allows access only to the center regions
of the lung. BRMC now uses the superDimension™ Navigation System
and its specialized LungGPS™ technology, which enables our physicians
to navigate to the outer areas of the lung during an ENB™ procedure.
Is this a new procedure? Is it safe?
More than 50,000 people have had an ENB™ procedure at one of the
leading medical centers worldwide that use the superDimension™ system.
The superD may enhance the patient experience with lower procedural complications
than conventional diagnostic procedures.
How long has BRMC offered this procedure?
BRMC has offered the superDimension™ Navigation System since September, 2014.
Louis Elkins, MD, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, is trained on the superD system
and performs the ENB procedures.
For more information about the superDimension™ Navigation System, visit
www.superdimension.com.