MONARCH robotically-assisted bronchoscopy platform introduced to the Middle East – Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson announced the first robotically-assisted bronchoscopy case in the Middle East using the MONARCH Platform. The procedure, which took place at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, marks the introduction of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy to the region.

In another first for the Middle East region, the case also featured MONARCH QUEST, the latest advancement in MONARCH navigation technology, with AI-powered algorithms designed to improve user experience, and integrate with a wide range of mobile and fixed advanced imaging systems.

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, in part because it is often diagnosed at a late stage when treatment options are limited. The ability to reach and biopsy lung nodules at an earlier stage with tools like the MONARCH Platform is a leap forward in interventional care for patients. If diagnosed at an early stage of lung cancer, up to 90% of people survive at least 5 years; if diagnosed at a late stage 5-year survival can be less than 10%.

“As the company that pioneered the first robotic bronchoscopy platform, we are proud to be bringing this technology to clinicians in a new region of the world,” said Aleksandra Popovic, President, MONARCH, MedTech, Johnson & Johnson. “We are committed to advancing the standard of care in lung cancer by increasing access to meaningful innovation that helps improve outcomes for patients around the world.”

Robotically-assisted bronchoscopy and the MONARCH Platform

Robotically-assisted bronchoscopy with the MONARCH Platform enables minimally invasive access to and visualization of airways to help clinicians biopsy suspicious lung nodules. Nearly half of early-stage lesions are located in the periphery of the lung, which is difficult to reach with traditional bronchoscopy. The MONARCH Platform can aid clinicians in getting to an early, definitive diagnosis in lung cancer cases, which can help care teams get patients into the treatment pathway faster.

Dr. Zaid Zoumot, Interventional Pulmonologist and Division Chair, Pulmonary Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said, “Robotically-assisted bronchoscopy represents a breakthrough in how we detect and diagnose lung disease. With this technology, we can reach small lesions in all segments of the lung, which creates the opportunity to accelerate treatment decisions.”

Leveraging the power of AI for bronchoscopy

MONARCH QUEST builds on the platform’s stable reach and precision with its unique scope-in-sheath design and continuous vision for the physician. The software also integrates enhanced navigation in the MONARCH Platform with intraprocedural 3D imaging data with the potential to improve accuracy in targeting lung nodules. The digital capabilities in the MONARCH Platform now extend from preoperative planning through intraoperative AI-enabled navigation. The MONARCH Platform will be a part of the Polyphonic digital ecosystem, which will connect data across world-class surgical technologies, robotics, and surgical software while leveraging the global scale of Johnson & Johnson.