The Australian government has provided $1.1 million towards development of a new scanner which could revolutionise diagnosis of deadly lung conditions around the world.

The XV-Perfusion lung scanner measures both ventilation (air flow) and perfusion (blood flow) throughout a patient’s lungs during a breath. The scan is safe, fast and does not require a contrast dye.

It could provide highly detailed information, allowing medical professionals to detect lung diseases at an earlier stage.

4D Medical is developing the new generation scanner as part of the Australian Lung Health Initiative. This investment complements $28.9 million provided to the Australian Lung Health Initiative by the Government to fast track the commercialisation of this promising scanner.

Respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, impose a huge burden on health in Australia and around the world, but current diagnostic tools cannot provide the detailed assessment needed for early detection and diagnosis.

This investment complements the government’s commitment to establish a new National Lung Cancer Screening Programme from July 2025. The $263.8 million programme will target heavy and/or long-term smokers aged 50 to 70 years who are not already showing symptoms of lung cancer.

The screening programme will use low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening delivered in mobile clinics.