LungPoint Virtual Bronchoscopic Navigation

LungPoint serves as the foundational procedure planning and virtual bronchoscopic navigation software within Broncus Medical’s interventional pulmonology platform. The system analyzes CT scans to generate full airway reconstructions, virtual pathway animations, and navigation guidance for bronchoscopic procedures targeting lung nodules and other pulmonary lesions.

Product Overview

Accurate bronchoscopic navigation to peripheral lung nodules requires detailed understanding of complex airway anatomy. LungPoint addresses this challenge by processing standard DICOM CT images to create three-dimensional airway models and automated pathway planning to target lesions. Physicians use the software for pre-procedure planning, intra-operative navigation guidance, and patient education through visualization of complex findings.

The software serves as both a standalone planning tool and the navigation foundation for the more advanced Archimedes/LungPro real-time fusion system, making it a core component of Broncus Medical’s integrated pulmonary platform.

Key Features

For bronchoscopic procedure planning, Broncus Medical’s LungPoint provides automated airway segmentation to the 8th–10th generation, virtual fly-through navigation, and optimized pathway planning for lung nodule biopsy, ablation, and fiducial placement.

• Automated Airway Segmentation: Algorithms automatically identify and reconstruct the bronchial tree from CT data up to 8th-10th generation airways
• Virtual Bronchoscopy: Generates fly-through animations simulating bronchoscopic views along planned pathways
• Pathway Planning: Calculates optimal routes from trachea to target nodules, accounting for airway angles and accessibility
• Multi-Planar Visualization: Displays axial, coronal, sagittal CT views alongside 3D reconstructions and virtual bronchoscopy
• Target Marking: Allows physicians to designate multiple targets and compare relative accessibility
• Report Generation: Creates procedure planning reports for documentation and referring physician communication

Technical Specifications

For peripheral lung nodule navigation, Broncus Medical’s LungPoint processes standard DICOM CT images (≤1.25mm slice thickness recommended) into automated 3D airway reconstructions, virtual bronchoscopy sequences, and multi-planar procedure planning reports.

Clinical Applications

LungPoint supports the full spectrum of bronchoscopic procedures requiring navigation to peripheral targets:

Diagnostic Procedures

• Peripheral lung nodule biopsy planning
• Mediastinal lymph node mapping
• Pre-procedure assessment of airway accessibility

Therapeutic Procedures

• Fiducial marker placement planning for radiation therapy
• Ablation target localization
• Surgical resection planning and communication

Education and Communication

• Patient education through visual demonstration of planned procedures
• Referring physician communication with detailed reports
• Training and simulation for bronchoscopists

Regulatory Status

The domestically manufactured version of LungPoint completed NMPA registration in 2023, complementing the import-registered products that have been available since the company’s founding. This enables broader distribution and competitive pricing in the Chinese market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between LungPoint and the Archimedes system?

LungPoint is a software-based planning and virtual navigation system that works with standard bronchoscopes. The Archimedes/LungPro system adds real-time augmented reality fusion, overlaying virtual navigation onto live fluoroscopic images during the procedure. LungPoint can be used independently or as the planning foundation for Archimedes procedures.

What CT specifications are required for LungPoint?

The software accepts standard DICOM CT images with slice thickness of 1.25mm or thinner recommended for optimal airway reconstruction. Standard chest CT protocols used for nodule evaluation typically meet these requirements without modification.

Does LungPoint work with any bronchoscope?

Yes, the virtual navigation guidance generated by LungPoint can be used with any flexible bronchoscope. The software provides pathway animations and navigation cues that physicians follow during standard bronchoscopy, without requiring specialized instruments or sensors.