Prostate ablation therapy device harnesses energy to destroy harmful tissue

A medical device for prostate focal ablation therapy now has full enrollment for a clinical study at two world-renowned cancer research institutions

University College London and New York University will host the trials, which are being conducted by medical device manufacturer Trod Medical, a specialist in focal ablation therapy. 

The clinical teams at NYU and UCL presented last month at the 111th American Urological Association’s Annual Meeting in San Diego, California on patients treated with the device, which is called Encage.

Together with a study running at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, over 40 patients have now been treated using Encage.

Results not yet published show total tissue destruction in target ablation zones and very significant reduction of side effects (erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence rates were down to 0%).

Professor Mark Emberton from UCL said: “The wonderful thing about Encage is its simplicity.  

“It uses an energy source that clinicians are familiar with and provides very controlled and predictable tissue destruction.  

“It is also extremely versatile in that it can be used to treat small prostate cancers with precision but can also be used to treat the prostate in a zonal manner.”

“Encage is a disruptive technology with the potential to maximise target ablation zones in the prostate while minimising the all too common side effects associated with current treatments,” said Andre Faure, CEO of Trod Medical.

He continued:

“This significant clinical work at prestigious US and UK institutions builds on the CE mark approval for Encage obtained in January 2016, and US FDA 510(k) clearance secured in 2008, and has led to significant attention from major strategic players in urology and surgical oncology.”

Trod Medical’s Encage is a bipolar, radio frequency-based, helical ablation probe enabling minimally invasive focused soft tissue ablation.