Recent innovations in the oncology field have made it possible to diagnose and treat lung cancer patients within mere hours.
At the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center, a 59-year old woman became one of the first people to benefit from this expedited process. Innovative screening and surgical robotics technology developed by Intuitive Surgical Inc (NASDAQ: ISRG) (FRA: IUI1) enabled this to occur.
Lisa Buede received a low-dose CT scan to check for the disease after being a long-time smoker that met eligibility criteria for screening. The results showed that she had a suspected tumour.
At the Markey Cancer Center, Intuitive’s ION endoluminal tool then performed a biopsy that verified she had lung cancer. Buede underwent surgery immediately while still under anesthesia with the use of Intuitive’s da Vinci surgical robot.
“I went to sleep not knowing if I had cancer and I woke up from the anesthesia knowing it was gone,” Buede said in a press release from the university on Aug. 14. “I couldn’t believe it.”
Today, she is six months cancer-free. She smoked her last cigarette on the day of the procedure and hasn’t been encouraged to have another since.
“We’re now able to take patients from ‘you might have cancer’ to ‘your cancer is gone’ in a single day,” said thoracic surgeon, Dr. Shari Meyerson, in the University of Kentucky’s article on the matter.
Kentucky is an exceptional state when it comes to lung cancer care and innovation. Its high rate of smokers has made this expertise a necessity. The Markey Cancer Center has been leading the way with efficient procedures like Buede’s while state companies such as Breath Diagnostics and Thynk Health have been pioneering innovative screening systems.
Read more: Breath Diagnostics leader speaks at lung cancer education event in Louisville
Intuitive 1 of world’s most valuable companies
Aside from their utilization in Kentucky, Intuitive’s machines have become increasingly popular throughout over 70 countries due to their unparalleled abilities. They are very expensive, but help to reduce healthcare costs in the long-term by enabling quicker recovery times and less complications.
One da Vinci surgical robot system costs approximately US$1.6 million. Over 6,700 have been installed globally.
Intuitive is a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 (INDEX: .INX) company with a market capitalization exceeding US$177 billion. Earnings per share for the medtech operator are expected to clock in at US$7.84 this year, marking a 6.8 per cent increase from 2024.
Last year, the medical device producer held the Intuitive Connect 2024 event in Las Vegas. Its primary purpose was to celebrate the launch of the da Vinci 5 system, the latest and most advanced in Intuitive’s arsenal. Almost 2,000 surgeons and healthcare professionals were in attendance.
Read more: Breath Diagnostics takes aim at lung cancer with One Breath
Follow Rowan Dunne on LinkedIn
rowan@mugglehead.com
