A publicly traded provider of solutions for medicine is launching the Ion™ system, a robotic diagnostic platform for lung biopsies. The technology developed by Intuitive allows doctors to access hard-to-reach areas of the lungs and sample nodules safely and precisely, setting a new standard in lung cancer diagnosis.
Since its launch in 2019, more than 210,000 biopsies have already been performed worldwide using the Ion™ system. The technology developed by Intuitive is gaining momentum dynamically, with more than 95,000 procedures performed by the end of 2024 alone (a 78 percent year-on-year increase). By March 2025 there were more than 850 systems installed (a 51 percent year-on-year increase), and Ion™ was registered in further countries: after the United States (2019), it was also introduced in Korea, Europe and the United Kingdom (2023) and China (2024). As of September 2025, it is also available in Poland.
“Ion is part of Synektik’s consistently pursued strategy – to offer doctors and patients breakthrough solutions in the field of oncology. We are confident that this technology will shorten the diagnostic path and increase the effectiveness of detecting lung cancer at an early stage. Ion is a diagnostic robot that complements our portfolio of robotic technologies by opening up a new area in precision medicine. Our partnership with Intuitive, a global leader in medical robotics, has continued uninterrupted since 2018 and is based on trust and a shared belief in the need to bring to market innovative systems that truly improve healthcare standards. Thanks to this partnership, we can provide Polish patients with technologies that set new directions in medicine,” Cezary Kozanecki, CEO and founder of Synektik.
Ion™ allows sampling of lung nodules less than 1 cm in diameter, including the most remote areas of the lung. The biopsy marker function allows the trajectory of the biopsy needle to be systematically marked and visualized, ensuring precision of the biopsy. The system works with existing imaging technologies such as radial bronchial ultrasound (rEBUS) or fluoroscopy and is integrated with 3D imaging (CBCT). Integral to the system is the PlanPoint software, which uses the patient’s CT scan data to create a 3D map of the airway. Ion™ is a robotic system designed for diagnostics only and is not used to perform surgery.
The Ion™ system features an ultra-thin and maneuverable 3.5mm diameter catheter with a 2.0mm working channel to navigate deep, tortuous airways and reach all 18 lung segments. An integrated vision probe provides real-time images of the airway, and a fiber-optic shape sensor measures catheter position hundreds of times per second, ensuring stability throughout the biopsy process.
The partnership with Intuitive strengthens Synektik’s position as a leading provider of robotics technologies in Central and Eastern Europe. The group currently has 105 da Vinci systems under its care, while being responsible for the commercialization and development of the robotic surgery market in the region.
Synektik is consistently building a comprehensive portfolio, creating a coherent ecosystem of solutions to support hospitals – from diagnostics (including isotope tracers, the Ion™ system, mammography and biopsy devices, imaging and interventional diagnostic systems, applications supporting image analysis with artificial intelligence support), through treatment (robots for minimally invasive surgery and microsurgery, systems for radiosurgery of the head area, solutions for radiation therapy, technology for the treatment of tremor with concentrated ultrasound), and organization of the work of facilities (automation and robotization of pharmacies). It also builds its own IT systems such as PCS, the zbadani.pl platform, and develops artificial intelligence algorithms to support the work of specialists and applications for radiation monitoring in diagnostic imaging. As a result, the Group provides the highest quality technologies available on the global market and acts as a technology partner to support both precision medicine and effective clinical process management.
