One platform, many procedures: the architectural trade-offs behind extensible intervention systems

Image-guided intervention systems must support diverse clinical procedures, customer segments and regional needs while remaining dependable through a long product lifecycle. This creates an architectural tension: Shared capabilities need stability, while procedure-specific applications and AI-enabled capabilities need to evolve at different speeds. This talk presents a platform approach for Azurion. A durable core provides the common clinical, system and safety foundations – apps that address procedure- and segment-specific workflows on a multi-year cadence. A rapidly evolving AI-enabled layer can extend those workflows through controlled integrations, without forcing changes in the core. Three architecture decisions frame the discussion: which capabilities belong in the stable platform, which should remain application-specific and when a repeated need justifies promotion into the core. Stable interfaces, compatibility rules and clear ownership let each layer evolve independently while preserving the overall system. The case offers lessons for any complex high-tech product family: A platform makes variability explicit and manageable, protecting the long-lived foundation while enabling focused innovation.