Creo Medical Group PLC (AIM:CREO), the surgical endoscopy specialist, is initiating a multi-site clinical study to evaluate the safety and feasibility of MicroBlate Flex, the company's bronchoscopic microwave ablation device for treating lung lesions.
The new soft tissue product is designed to help surgically remove nodules and tumours using high-frequency microwave energy.
Lung cancer, the most common cancer in men and second most common in women, typically requires treatment options such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery or a combination.
MicroBlate Flex presents a “significantly less invasive” alternative for patients undergoing lung tumour treatment, Creo said.
The device also has potential applications in treating other conditions that necessitate accessing otherwise inaccessible body regions.
The clinical study, the first in a series of planned studies for Creo's suite of next-generation surgical devices, will initially take place in the UK, with the possibility of expanding to six sites across Europe and potentially the United States.
Pallav Shah, of the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, will serve as the principal investigator and has started the patient recruitment process.
Patients will undergo regular follow-up assessments for 12 months post-procedure to monitor progress, with the first case expected in the second quarter.
Creo's chief executive, Craig Gulliford, said: "The study aims to build an evidence base as a pioneering device for the treatment of lung lesions. MicroBlate Flex enables a less invasive, endoscopic alternative to treat lung lesions as a first-line option, as well as treatment of patients not eligible for surgery."