Medtronic begins real-world study of superDimension navigation system

Medtronic has commenced a new study that aims to examine the benefits of its minimally invasive superDimension technology in lung cancer diagnosis.

The 2,500-patient international study will assess the real-world impact of the superDimension navigation system in carrying out electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) procedures to identify lung diseases.

Thanks to the LungGPS technology used in the superDimension system, it is the first of its kind to enable these procedures, which facilitate access to difficult-to-reach areas of the lung and can lead to earlier, personalised treatment.

Up to 75 centers around the globe will enrol patients in the single-arm, multi-centre post-market observational study, known as NAVIGATE. They will be followed and monitored for 24 months.

Dr Michael Tarnoff, vice-president and chief medical officer for the minimally invasive therapies group at Medtronic, said: "We hope the NAVIGATE study will help confirm the impact of ENB procedures that we have seen in over 50,000 cases performed at more than 600 hospitals commercially and as part of prior clinical trials."

Medtronic is hoping superDimension will become the global standard-of-care for obtaining tissue biopsies from the periphery of the lungs.