Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate in Australia and now a groundbreaking medical machine could be the key to early detection.
Share this @internewscast.com
Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate in Australia but now, a groundbreaking medical machine could be the key to early detection.
It’s the only one of it’s kind in the country – a revolutionary robot called ‘ION’ – built in Brisbane and improving how biopsies are conducted, ultimately helping patients live longer.

Four years ago, 61-year-old Ruanda found a nodule on her lung but her road to a diagnosis wasn’t a walk in the park.

Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate in Australia and now a groundbreaking medical machine could be the key to early detection.
Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate in Australia and now a groundbreaking medical machine could be the key to early detection. (9News)

“My lung specialist then sent me for two normal bronchoscopies,” she told 9News.

“They couldn’t get enough tissue to actually make a proper diagnosis.”

The Brisbane grandmother with a family history of cancer, was told to watch and wait but when it comes to cancer, early detection is key.

“It was discovered it had actually doubled in size,” she said.

Months later, Ruanda found out she had non-smoking related lung cancer after it was detected by a groundbreaking robot at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH).

“It’s very much a game changer,” Dr David Fielding, RBWH Thoracic Physician said.

Revolutionary robot, called 'ION', to improve lung cancer early detection
It’s the only one of it’s kind in the country – a revolutionary robot called ‘ION’ – built in Brisbane and improving how biopsies are conducted, ultimately helping patients live longer. (9News)

“The robot is a way of improving our precision and getting to these small spots, taking a biopsy and improving our knowledge of what it is.”

The ‘ION’ platform from Intuitive Surgical is ushering in a new era of robotic bronchoscopy.

“[It’ll] hopefully, increase the survival rate up to 60 or 70 per cent,” RBWH Interventional Bronchology Director Dr Farzad Bashirzadeh told 9News.

It works after a regular CAT scan is taken, then the computer maps out a virtual pathway through an individual’s lungs and directs doctors through the real airway to reach the biopsy site more efficiently.

More than 170 patients have already benefited from the revolutionary technology, with preliminary results showing the robot is twice as accurate as previous biopsy methods.

Revolutionary robot, called 'ION', to improve lung cancer early detection
More than 170 patients have already benefited from the revolutionary technology, with preliminary results showing the robot is twice as accurate as previous biopsy methods. (9News)

“We would do it in a similar way [previously] but with a bronchoscope that we hold with our hand,” Fielding explained.

“[But with] the robot, you just drive it with a trackball, like a video game, and it stays still.”

Ultimately by helping to remove human error, it reduces the risk of a lung collapse.

“On average [the old way] is about 25 per cent risk of pneumothorax, meaning collapsing lung,” Bashirzadeh said.

“But in this one it’s less than one per cent.”

Ruanda is grateful the technology helped catch her cancer at stage one and she’ll undergo surgery in the coming weeks.

“This is definitely gonna help people get the answer at the right time,” she said.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
New CCTV released of missing New Zealand teen

New Security Footage Shows Missing New Zealand Teen

Police have released new photos of a missing New Zealand teenager. Seventeen-year-old…
Moore River drowning

Wife ‘in shock’ after WA father drowns attempting to rescue children

It’s understood aged care worker Tshering Penjor was a strong swimmer, with…
Optus suffered a major data breach in 2022.

“Optus Brand in a Delicate, High-Risk Situation: A Chronology of Two Difficult Years”

Two years of persistent difficulties have resulted in Optus suffering a substantial…
Australian clinical trials are helping to advance the medical treatment of some of the most common and debilitating health conditions.

The Simple Side Hustle Allowing Australians to Make Thousands Without Needing Experience or a Degree

Australians are making thousands of dollars, even without prior experience or a…

91 People Unaccounted for as Parents Await Updates Following Indonesian School Collapse

Desperate parents demanded Indonesian officials speed up efforts to find dozens of…

Anthony Albanese ‘worried’ about China’s potential ban on BHP iron ore

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is “concerned” by reports that China might temporarily…

Optus Faces New Criticism Over Triple-Zero Outage, with Albanese Stating It ‘Let Customers Down’

Optus says it is working with communications technology company Ericsson to determine…
Mother left red-faced after ordering a personalised T-shirt online... only for it to come with a very awkward mistake

Mom Embarrassed After Online Order for Custom T-Shirt Arrives with Hilarious Error

A mother was been left red-faced after a ordering a personalised T-shirt…
Photo of Trump team member's phone reveals major concerns

Photo of Phone from Trump Team Member Raises Significant Concerns

A member of the Trump administration has seemingly raised a red flag…

Earthquake in the Philippines Leaves 69 Dead and Hospitals Overrun with Injured Patients

At least 69 people have died after a powerful earthquake hit central…
Governer of the Reserve Bank of Australia Michele Bullock,  speaks at a media conference  on Monetary Policy Decision, Sydney, 30 September 2025.

RBA’s Early Christmas Gift: From Sure Bet to Coin Toss

A mere matter of weeks ago, experts were expecting an early Christmas…
Oktoberfest closed after bomb threat and deadly explosion

Oktoberfest Shuts Down Due to Bomb Threat After Fatal Explosion

German police have closed the Oktoberfest fairground following a bomb threat from…