Pulmonx Corp has launched the StratX Lung Analysis Platform in countries requiring CE Mark. The StratX Platform is designed to help physicians quickly and reliably identify patients for treatment with Zephyr Endobronchial Valves (EBV). The Zephyr EBV is the most studied minimally-invasive treatment for severe emphysema and is proven to improve patients’ breathing function, exercise capacity and quality of life when patients are properly selected.
Previously, physicians ruled out many patients for EBV treatment based on a subjective review of their lung fissures (the divisions between the lobes) on computed tomography (CT) scans. This subjectivity left many patients untreated who might have benefitted. In fact, up to 50 percent of emphysema patients who are eligible for some form of intervention may benefit from EBV treatment. Furthermore, before the StratX system, all potential patients had to undergo an additional procedure to evaluate their eligibility.
The StratX service now enables physicians to reliably and efficiently identify patients with complete fissures (above 95 percent complete) who will likely benefit from EBV treatment, and those with incomplete fissures (below 80 percent) who will likely not benefit, reserving additional diagnostic procedures for patients with ambiguous fissure completeness (between 80 to 95 percent complete).
“The Zephyr EBV should be considered a first-line treatment for properly selected patients with severe emphysema based on its robust clinical evidence, minimally invasive approach and reversibility. However, despite its proven effectiveness, it has been time-intensive to identify the right patients for treatment,” said Professor Felix Herth, MD, of the Thoraxklinik at the University of Heidelberg. “The StratX service provides measurements that will make it easier to identify the patients most likely to benefit from EBV treatment.”
To use the StratX service to pre-screen patients, a physician uses a web browser to securely upload an anonymized CT scan to the cloud. The StratX service then uses validated algorithms to produce a user-friendly report identifying patients as likely responders for EBV treatment and likely non-responders. For patients with partially complete fissures, the CT scan is considered inconclusive and a screening procedure using the Chartis System is recommended.
