Under the pilot scheme, artificial intelligence will analyse lung scans to identify suspicious nodules, before a robotic catheter is used to take highly precise biopsies for laboratory testing.
Experts have described the initiative as “trailblazing” and a “glimpse of the future of cancer detection”, as AI and robotics are combined to improve the early diagnosis of lung cancer.
The programme comes alongside NHS plans to expand lung cancer screening, with all eligible patients expected to be invited for their first check by 2030.
Using AI-assisted imaging, potential problem areas are flagged for further investigation. A robotic catheter — a thin tube passed through the throat — can then access hard-to-reach areas of the lung to collect biopsy samples.
The system is capable of targeting nodules as small as six millimetres, which are often located deep within the lung and may be missed during routine screening.
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