First-in-human pilot study of a robotic-assisted system for image-guided trans-thoracic lung biopsy: Clinical feasibility and exploratory post-hoc AI trajectory analysis.
Eur J RadiolJul 16, 2026 (epub)
Zehao Tan, Bingchao Tan Alfred, Sum Leong et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This prospective, single-center clinical trial assessed the feasibility of the Automatic Needle Targeting (ANT-C) robotic system for CT-guided trans-thoracic lung biopsy in 30 patients. The study found a high technical success rate of 93.3% and a 100% clinical success rate, indicating the system's effectiveness in tissue acquisition for histopathological analysis.
Key findings
- Technical success rate was 93.3%, with a 100% clinical success rate in tissue acquisition.
- Median procedural duration decreased from 61.4 min to 30.5 min as operators gained experience.
- Median total radiation exposure significantly reduced from 427.3 mGy·cm to 303.7 mGy·cm.
- Median angular deviation between operator's path and automated alternative was only 3.5°.
Why it matters
The study highlights the potential of robotic-assisted systems to enhance the efficiency and safety of lung biopsy procedures, which may improve patient outcomes and reduce procedural complications.