Saint Francis Hospital First on East Coast to Implement Interventional Pulmonology Flip Room Model

January 20, 2026

HARTFORD, Conn. – Saint Francis Hospital is the first site on the East Coast, and just one of four sites nationally, to implement an Interventional Pulmonology flip room model – two mirrored operating rooms fully equipped with the latest technology, including a second Ion Endoluminal System and Cios Spin 3D fluoroscopy platform. The model expands access to the state-of-the-art procedure that is a key component of Trinity Health Of New England’s Thoracic Oncology Program. The team of interventional pulmonology and thoracic specialists, led by Anil Magge, MD, Director of Interventional Pulmonology, are among the national leaders in Ion procedures, with Dr. Magge being one of the top single users across the country.

The Interventional Pulmonology Team at Saint Francis is among the national leaders in Ion procedures.

“We are so proud that Saint Francis is leading the way in improving patient access,” said Dr. Magge. “By leveraging technology and our skill set to diagnose difficult and hard-to-reach lung nodules, even more patients will be able to undergo their procedures sooner, resulting in quicker results and subsequent treatment, if necessary. Our incredible team is dedicated to providing life-changing care to our patients, and by implementing this model, we are leading operational and technological innovation in lung cancer care.”

Saint Francis was the first hospital in Connecticut to utilize the Ion system in October 2022 and has completed over 1,500 procedures. Ion is one part of the cutting-edge Thoracic Oncology Program at Saint Francis, which allows lung cancer patients to have early detection, biopsy, and surgery to remove the cancerous growth all within a significantly shortened timeframe of just a few weeks. The multidisciplinary team of pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, and oncologists is committed to taking an innovative approach to patient care to ensure they are eliminating delays and improving the coordination of care with each specialist.

The Ion system features an ultra-thin, ultra-maneuverable catheter that allows navigation far into the lung, addressing a challenging aspect of lung biopsy. Along with unparalleled stability, this enables the precision needed for biopsy compared to other technologies. Saint Francis was also the first hospital in the state to combine the Ion system with Cios Spin, a state-of-the-art 3D imaging system that enables even greater precision while navigating within the lung. According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, so providing technologies such as Ion and Cios enables cancerous nodules to be diagnosed earlier.

For more information on minimally invasive lung biopsy options at Trinity Health Of New England, visit www.trinityhealthofne.org/ion.