Lo and behold! If you are a thoracic surgeon, and you can’t figure out whether your postoperative patient doesn’t get enough of air because of an airleak or because of diminished functional capacity, you might have a noninvasive diagnostic option soon. Deep Breeze Ltd., an Israeli firm, is reporting that its pulmonary imaging technology, vibration response imaging (VRI™), has shown superior effectiveness “for the evaluation of lung function compared to functional respiratory tests, before and after thoracic surgery.” We have covered this FDA-approved device on many occasions before, so check our flashbacks below. The VRIxp System is a noninvasive device that utilizes the body’s intrinsic acoustic vibration signals from the lungs to develop dynamic images of functional intrapulmonary anatomy.
The following is from a press statement, issued by Deep Breeze, about the findings presented at the 18th European Respiratory Society Congress by Prof. Roberto Bossi from University of Milan:
Data showed that VRI allows better evaluation of lung volume regional variations after chest lobectomy compared to functional respiratory tests. “The advantages having a non invasive, patient’s effort independent, easy to handle and readily available imaging modality for pulmonology are numerous,” said Prof. Bossi. He goes on to say: “A big benefit is that I can monitor and measure the gain or loss of lung function after chest surgery better than functional respiratory test.”
In addition Deep Breeze has launched a strategic program to include the VRIxp™ as an integral part of the guidelines for physiologic evaluation of patients with lung cancer being considered for resectional surgery. The feasibility of this program is currently being investigated by MD Anderson, and the leading investigator of this program Prof. Rodolfo Morice had this to add: "Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the USA and the world and surgery remains the best treatment option for patients with this condition. Predictions of postoperative lung function are crucial to maximize the number of patients that can benefit from surgery and identify patients with such poor respiratory reserve that lung resection would result in an unacceptable quality of life. These preoperative evaluations currently require radionuclide tests of ventilation and perfusion that require administration of radioactive isotopes and not always readily available.”
In addition Deep Breeze has launched a strategic program to include the VRIxp™ as an integral part of the guidelines for physiologic evaluation of patients with lung cancer being considered for resectional surgery. The feasibility of this program is currently being investigated by MD Anderson, and the leading investigator of this program Prof. Rodolfo Morice had this to add: "Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the USA and the world and surgery remains the best treatment option for patients with this condition. Predictions of postoperative lung function are crucial to maximize the number of patients that can benefit from surgery and identify patients with such poor respiratory reserve that lung resection would result in an unacceptable quality of life. These preoperative evaluations currently require radionuclide tests of ventilation and perfusion that require administration of radioactive isotopes and not always readily available.” Company video introducing the device…
Press release: Deep Breeze Announces Latest Study Results on Vibration Response Imaging (VRI(TM)) at the 18th European Respiratory Society Congress
Deep Breeze homepage…
Flashbacks: New Pulmonary Imaging Modality Approved by the FDA ; Video of VRIxp System from Deep Breeze; The VRIxp System: New Noninvasive Way to Image Lungs