Dr. Sandeep Khandhar, surgical director of a CVTSA thoracic, surgical director of thoracic oncology at Inova in Falls Church, is one of the leading doctors of a global cancer study initiative aiming to determine some of the best medical technologies to help patients.

Khandhar is working on Medtronic’s Minimally Invasive Therapies Group, which recently launched a 2,500-patient, international study to assess real-world impact of its superDimension navigation system, which is used for obtaining lung tissue biopsies from the periphery of the lungs.

The LungGPS technology used in the superDimension system is the first of its kind to enable Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy procedures. Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy procedures provide a minimally invasive approach to access difficult-to-reach areas of the lung, which can aid in the diagnosis of lung disease and thereby lead to earlier, personalized treatment – potentially saving lives.

“As lung cancer screening initiatives increase and we find more suspicious lung nodules, it is especially critical to provide minimally invasive diagnostic options earlier so patients can receive treatment sooner and have better chances of long-term survival,” Khandhar said. “We are at a crucial time where diagnostic and surgical technologies have advanced to a level where I believe there could be a significant shift in patient outcomes and many patients can go on to lead long, active and healthy lives after a lung cancer diagnosis, which was almost unheard of even 10 years ago.”