San Carlos, California–based Noah announced the publication of findings from its MATCH 2 study in the journal Respiratory Medicine. The study evaluated 3D targeting during RAB procedures using embedded imaging technologies. Those include digital tomosynthesis (DT) and augmented fluoroscopy (AF).
All procedures in the study were performed with Noah Medical’s Galaxy RAB system. Investigators subsequently confirmed successful tool-in-lesion with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).
Galaxy, a next-generation robotic-assisted bronchoscopy platform, and its accessories provide bronchoscopic visualization and access. These capabilities provide diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in patient airways. The system features advanced imaging technologies that provide real-time location updates for potentially cancerous lesions.
Noah Medical won FDA clearance for the Galaxy system in March 2023. The company also featured on our 2025 list of 10 “surgical robotics companies you need to know.”
“This publication adds to the growing body of evidence proving that we’re at an inflection point in lung cancer diagnosis,” said Jian Zhang, CEO of Noah Medical. “The MATCH 2 study demonstrates that when you lead by real-time imaging confirmation with robotic navigation, you get a new level of precision that fundamentally changes what was possible for clinicians and their patients. This is exactly the kind of evidence that will define the standard of care going forward.”
More about the Noah Medical study
Noah Medical says that peripheral lung nodules are increasingly detected through screening programs and incidental imaging. However, obtaining a definitive diagnosis remains difficult. The company says that traditional bronchoscopic approaches hit snags with navigation and confirmation, especially with small or hard-to-reach lesions.
MATCH 2 aimed to evaluate RAB with embedded DT and integrated AF to achieve tool-in-lesion, addressing the challenges of accurate lung lesion biopsy in minimally invasive lung cancer diagnosis.
In total, 31 patients with peripheral pulmonary nodules underwent RAB procedures with the Galaxy system. Key findings included 96.7% overall diagnostic yield under strict definition and 96.7% tool-in-lesion confirmation using DT. Noah Medical reported 96.7% concordance between DT with AF and CBCT confirmation.
By incorporating real-time imaging enhancements and independent confirmation, Noah Medical’s study delivered additional clinical evidence supporting technology-enabled approaches that can improve diagnostic precision in minimally invasive pulmonary procedures, the company said.
“Our findings demonstrate that combining robotic navigation with embedded imaging tomosynthesis (DT) can achieve precise three-dimensional targeting of peripheral lung lesions,” said Dr. Amit Mahajan, medical director at Inova Health System’s Interventional Pulmonology and Complex Airway Disease Program and lead author of the study. “Reliable confirmation of lesion location is critical to improving diagnostic confidence and diagnosing lung cancer at earlier stages. Early diagnosis of lung cancer is our best chance for cure.”
