Monarch — a cutting edge robotic technology for use in diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopic procedures — is now part of the arsenal of advanced medical care in use at NorthBay Health.

Created by Auris Health Inc. (part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies), Monarch allows physicians to accurately access small and hard-to-reach lung nodules, enabling biopsy for early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Nodules are typically small, deep in the lungs and difficult to reach using traditional bronchoscopy, making early-stage diagnosis and treatment difficult.

“This technology is an exciting advancement in care available at NorthBay,” said pulmonologist Karan Julka, M.D. “With this system, we can see and biopsy remote parts of the lung that were previously inaccessible.”

With Monarch, the doctor uses a hand-held controller to manipulate an innovative telescoping endoscope attached to flexible robotic arms that allow greater dexterity, reach, vision, and control. Integrated software combines traditional endoscopic views of the lung with computer-assisted navigation, all based on 3-D models of the patient’s own lung anatomy.