Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy: A New Era In Lung Cancer Diagnosis And Treatment
In recent years, lung cancer diagnostics have seen a shift toward greater precision and minimally invasive techniques, and one technology that has emerged amongst this evolution is robotic-assisted bronchoscopy. The development of these systems has enabled clinicians to navigate deeper into the lung's intricate structures with increased accuracy, improving the detection and biopsy of early-stage nodules.
Engaging with this technological shift, Somashekharayya Hiremath, a senior engineering professional, whose work has played a key role in engineering these systems and technologies.
With over 14 years of experience in medical device research and development, Hiremath has built his career around solving technical challenges in high-impact healthcare domains. His work spans Class II and Class III medical devices, including advanced therapy delivery systems.
Most recently, he has been deeply involved in the design, engineering, and commercialization of a robotic-assisted bronchoscopy technology that is now being used to improve early detection and treatment planning for lung cancer patients.
Hiremath's contributions in this space have been practical and measurable. Within the organization, he led several initiatives aimed at optimizing design and reducing manufacturing costs, achieving a 40% reduction in bronchoscope costs.
These improvements were made through careful design refinements, smarter material choices, and collaboration with cross-functional teams that spanned engineering, quality, clinical, regulatory, project management, operations, and manufacturing domains.
In parallel, he worked on enhancing the shelf life of disposable components by 45%, improving efficiency, product predictability, durability, and reducing waste & replacement needs.
Beyond product cost and performance, Hiremath helped improve operational processes. He implemented test strategies that accelerated verification and validation cycles, reducing time-to-market while maintaining rigorous safety and quality standards.
These efforts directly supported the successful field deployment of the robotic-assisted bronchoscopy platform, enabling more reliable and timely access to life-saving diagnostic technology.
Some of the key projects that illustrate the scope of his work include the complete design and development of an advanced bronchoscopy system with real-time lesion targeting and lesion confirmation, which is critical for accurate lung cancer diagnosis.
He led the design of components, ranging from the handle to the shaft and tip, proximal to distal, as well as the subsystem, assembly and packaging elements. A system-wide cost reduction project and shelf-life extension initiative further showcased his ability to lead product innovation with clear financial and clinical benefits.
Additional key efforts included executing Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis to enhance reliability and leading comprehensive test method validations. Enhancements to verification and validation processes accelerated time-to-market, enabling faster access to critical diagnostic technology. Additionally, he improved packaging and transit integrity, ensuring product reliability during distribution and field deployment.
Like many technologies, robotic-assisted bronchoscopy came with its considerations, such as managing the cost of goods sold and reliability, which are challenging on a particular schedule. Disposable bronchoscopes, a central component of the system with high cost, were initially too expensive to scale.
Through value engineering, strategies, and close alignment with suppliers, he helped bring costs under control. Similarly, early packaging failures during transit were resolved through optimized design, material selection and a more rigorous validation process, and short shelf-life issues were addressed with design optimization, targeted studies in biocompatibility, sterilization studies, and durability.
Additionally, he overcame development delays by streamlining communication, aligning cross-functional efforts, and driving cohesive, on-time execution.
Hiremath has also been active in academic and professional circles. He has authored and reviewed publications on medical devices, healthcare, MedTech, and medical robotics, with a particular emphasis on robotic-assisted bronchoscopic systems and technologies for enhanced diagnostic accuracy and minimally invasive procedures.
His thought leadership extends to internal documentation and guidance within the medtech companies he has worked for, contributing to broader knowledge-sharing in the industry.
Looking forward, Hiremath believes that the evolution of bronchoscopy systems will continue to push the boundaries of what's possible. “In the future, bronchoscopic systems are expected to evolve through further miniaturization and enhanced articulation, allowing access to deeper and more complex anatomy, in particular lung regions,” he says.
He sees a future where robotic tools are more compact, flexible, and intelligent, using AI, real-time analytics, and smart biopsy tools to guide physicians through complex procedures. He also believes that design innovation in disposable medical devices, including improved sterilization and extended shelf life, will enhance cost-efficiency and expand accessibility across diverse healthcare settings.
For Somashekharayya Hiremath, the promise of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy is not just in its technological sophistication but in its ability to provide patients with faster, safer, and more accurate diagnostic care. By focusing on engineering precision and operational efficiency, he's trying to blend innovation with practicality and widely accessible solutions to better serve clinicians and patients worldwide.
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