I forgot to add the conclusion, just to show how tiny the rooms for maneuver are.
Medtronics is a big player. But there are couple of others too ... Here's one example, among many other ones
2017 ... By
Philips Research
Optimal endobronchial tool sizes for targeting lung lesions based on 3D modeling ... However, there is little information available about the optimal tool size required to reach the majority of lesions, especially peripheral ones. In this manuscript we investigate the percentage of lesions that can be reached for various diameter tools if the tools remain inside the airways (i.e. endobronchial biopsy) and the distance a tool must travel “off-road” (or outside of the airways) to reach all lesions. Conclusions
The smaller the tool diameter the more likely it will be able to reach a lung lesion, whether it be for diagnostic biopsy, ablation, or resection. However, even a 1mm tool is not small enough to reach the majority of small (1-2cm) lesions. Therefore, it is necessary for endobronchial tools to be able to navigate through the parenchyma to reach the majority of lesions.
I still think TLT/UHN will come with their own tools, given the nature and specificity of its technology, the thinking of Dr. Lilge and the ability for TLT to have a 65% profit margin on such hardware, not to mention its ability to control the dependency between its drug and its hardware, like we're currently seeing with the NMIBC indication.
Time will tell. So many factors we don't master and that could make a difference.