Creo Medical's MicroBlate Flex Achieves Over 100 Clinical Cases, Driving Adoption in UK and Europe

9 min read | July 23, 2026 07:01 AM BST | By Ishan Mudgal

Creo Medical Group plc (AIM: CREO), a leader in minimally invasive surgical endoscopy, has announced that its MicroBlate Flex microwave ablation device has surpassed 100 clinical procedures at prominent centres across the UK and Europe. This milestone highlights increasing clinician adoption and integration of the flexible microwave ablation system into emerging therapeutic protocols, especially for lung tumour treatments. The company anticipates a rapid increase in case volumes over the next year as procedural expertise and clinical confidence grow.

Key Points

  • Creo Medical Group plc (AIM: CREO) specialises in minimally invasive electrosurgical endoscopy solutions for pre-cancer and cancer care.
  • MicroBlate Flex microwave ablation system has exceeded 100 clinical cases, marking a key milestone in product adoption.
  • The device is engineered for flexible endoscopic ablation of nodules and tumours, ideal for challenging lesions including lung tumours.
  • Rapid growth in case numbers is expected over the next 12 months, supported by expanding clinical evidence from ongoing studies and post-market data.
  • MicroBlate Flex is being integrated with robotic-assisted navigation through Creo's collaboration with Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
  • Investors should track adoption rates, clinical trial results, and commercial expansion into additional treatment centres.

MicroBlate Flex Surpasses 100 Clinical Procedures in UK and Europe

Creo Medical Group plc has reported that its MicroBlate Flex flexible microwave ablation device has completed over 100 clinical cases at leading medical institutions throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. This achievement marks a significant advancement in building procedural expertise and clinical trust in the flexible endoscopic ablation platform. The milestone reflects ongoing progress in the clinical deployment of MicroBlate Flex, including lung tumour interventions, demonstrating growing real-world utilisation and clinician experience.

Although still in the early phases of commercial rollout, the company projects a rapid increase in case numbers over the coming 12 months. This growth trajectory indicates that physicians are increasingly incorporating the device into minimally invasive treatment workflows as familiarity with its capabilities expands. The milestone underscores the product's clinical value, particularly for treating difficult-to-access lesions where precise energy delivery and minimally invasive access are essential.

Innovative Design for Treating Hard-to-Reach Lung Tumours

MicroBlate Flex is designed to provide precise, controlled microwave ablation of nodules and tumours via a flexible endoscopic platform. It is especially suited for challenging lesions such as lung tumours, where minimally invasive access and accurate energy application are critical. The flexible design enables clinicians to reach anatomically complex areas while delivering focused microwave energy with precision, reducing the need for invasive surgical procedures.

Management believes the market potential for MicroBlate Flex is substantial, driven by rising early lung cancer diagnoses that increase demand for minimally invasive, precise treatment options. The device addresses a key clinical gap by offering an alternative to traditional open surgery and other ablation methods. By enabling controlled tissue ablation through flexible endoscopy, MicroBlate Flex minimizes patient trauma, shortens recovery periods, and may enhance outcomes for early-stage lung lesion patients or those with comorbidities that elevate surgical risks. Leading UK and European clinicians are increasingly adopting the device into their treatment protocols, recognizing its clinical benefits.

Robotic-Assisted Navigation Integration and Partnership with Intuitive Surgical

A critical aspect of MicroBlate Flex's development is its integration with robotic-assisted navigation systems. Clinical experience is advancing workflows that combine robotic navigation precision with flexible microwave ablation, forming part of Creo Medical's ongoing collaboration with Intuitive Surgical, Inc., a pioneer in robotic surgical technology. This partnership merges robotic guidance with microwave ablation to improve minimally invasive lung cancer treatment outcomes.

Creo's leadership views this collaboration as strategically important for expanding MicroBlate Flex’s clinical applications and developing new treatment pathways leveraging both technologies. The lung tumour procedures performed with MicroBlate Flex contribute valuable real-world data supporting wider adoption of these integrated approaches. This positions Creo competitively within a developing treatment paradigm that combines advanced robotics with proprietary microwave ablation technology. The partnership also enhances MicroBlate Flex’s visibility in institutions familiar with robotic-assisted bronchoscopy platforms.

Ongoing Clinical Evidence and Post-Market Data Collection

In parallel with commercial growth, Creo Medical is committed to expanding the clinical evidence base for MicroBlate Flex through ongoing clinical trials, post-market data collection, investigator-led research, and scientific publications. This comprehensive approach aims to establish robust data demonstrating the device’s safety, efficacy, and clinical utility across diverse patient groups and scenarios.

Data from the 100+ completed cases contribute to this evidence, providing insights into device performance, patient outcomes, procedural efficiency, and integration into clinical workflows. This post-market intelligence supports regulatory engagement, informs healthcare institution adoption decisions, and may build health economic evidence highlighting cost-effectiveness compared to alternative treatments. This commitment underscores Creo’s strategy to firmly establish MicroBlate Flex within early-stage lung cancer treatment.

Clinical Endorsement for Robotic-Assisted Ablation in Severe Lung Disease

Professor Pallav Shar, Consultant Respiratory Physician at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, praised the combined use of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy and Creo's MicroBlate Flex microwave ablation system. He noted that this approach expands treatment options for patients with severe lung disease who often have limited alternatives. This endorsement highlights MicroBlate Flex as a potential breakthrough, not just an incremental improvement, for patients with significant unmet needs.

Patients with advanced lung disease frequently face restricted treatment choices due to high surgical risks from compromised lung function or comorbidities. The minimally invasive combination of robotic precision and microwave ablation represents a significant advancement in care. Professor Shar’s support from a leading UK NHS teaching hospital indicates institutional acceptance and may encourage wider clinician adoption.

CEO Insights on Adoption Growth and Workflow Integration

Craig Gulliford, CEO of Creo Medical, described the milestone of over 100 clinical cases as evidence of growing adoption and utilisation momentum for MicroBlate Flex. He highlighted increasing clinician engagement and successful integration into clinical workflows at participating centres. This suggests the adoption curve is accelerating beyond early stages, with meaningful procedural volume growth and institutional acceptance.

Mr Gulliford emphasized the strategic importance of these procedures in developing treatment pathways that combine robotic navigation with microwave ablation, while also contributing to evidence generation, workflow refinement, and health economic understanding. He portrayed MicroBlate Flex as a differentiated solution poised to capture significant market share amid rising early lung cancer diagnoses and growing demand for minimally invasive treatments. The CEO’s remarks also signal awareness of the critical role of cost-effectiveness data in driving broader institutional adoption.

Expanding Market Opportunity in Early-Stage Lung Cancer Treatment

Creo Medical’s focus aligns with a broader healthcare trend toward earlier lung cancer detection, which increases demand for precise, minimally invasive treatment options. Enhanced screening and imaging have expanded the number of patients diagnosed at early stages who require effective, less invasive therapies. Many of these patients are candidates for minimally invasive approaches if suitable technology is available, avoiding conventional open surgery.

MicroBlate Flex addresses this opportunity by offering a flexible endoscopic platform capable of delivering precise, controlled ablation of early-stage lung lesions. Its minimally invasive design reduces patient trauma and recovery time, making it suitable for a wide range of patients. Management believes the market potential is significant, supported by rising lung cancer incidence and clinical utility of minimally invasive treatments. The 100+ cases completed at leading UK and European centres demonstrate institutional adoption in developed healthcare markets demanding advanced therapies.

Creo Medical’s Electrosurgical Technology and Device Portfolio

Creo Medical Group plc develops and commercialises minimally invasive electrosurgical devices for endoscopic procedures. Its core technology platform, CROMA powered by Kamaptive, integrates adaptive energy modalities to optimise surgical outcomes. Kamaptive combines bipolar radiofrequency energy for precise cutting with high-frequency microwave energy for controlled coagulation and ablation through a single accessory port, offering enhanced flexibility and precision over single-modality systems.

MicroBlate Flex utilizes the microwave ablation capability of the Kamaptive platform. The broader CROMA system supports a range of electrosurgical devices across various applications and anatomical sites. Creo’s vision is to improve patient outcomes by delivering safer, less invasive, and cost-effective treatment options. The adaptive technology dynamically adjusts to tissue characteristics during procedures, differentiating it from fixed-output systems and potentially improving safety and efficacy.

Regulatory Status and Commercial Growth Prospects

While the announcement does not specify MicroBlate Flex’s regulatory approvals, completion of over 100 clinical cases in UK and European centres indicates clinical availability in these regions. Described as early in rollout with expectations of rapid case growth over the next year, the company is actively expanding commercial adoption as clinician awareness increases.

Ongoing clinical evidence generation and post-market data collection remain priorities to support regulatory discussions and health economic evaluations. The partnership with Intuitive Surgical may facilitate access to institutions familiar with robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, potentially accelerating uptake. Although no specific revenue or geographic expansion guidance was provided, management’s confidence in the product’s commercial trajectory is evident.

Strategic Positioning in Minimally Invasive Lung Cancer Care

Creo Medical positions MicroBlate Flex as a differentiated solution within the evolving early-stage lung cancer treatment landscape. The company emphasizes its role in establishing new treatment pathways that integrate robotic-assisted navigation with flexible microwave ablation, combining advanced technologies to improve patient outcomes.

Beyond clinical application, MicroBlate Flex contributes to evidence development, workflow expertise, and health economic insights that will support broader adoption across institutions. By embedding itself in emerging robotic-assisted treatment workflows, Creo is building a defensible competitive position in a high-growth market segment. The 100+ clinical cases completed at leading UK and European centres provide real-world validation of this strategy. Focus on evidence generation and clinical publications reflects a sophisticated commercial approach to establishing MicroBlate Flex as a standard-of-care option for early-stage lung cancer.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. The information is based on publicly available sources and should not be considered comprehensive or definitive regarding Creo Medical Group plc or its products. Investors should perform independent research and consult professional financial, legal, and medical advisors before making investment decisions. Past performance and clinical milestones do not guarantee future results. Regulatory status, market adoption, and commercial success of medical devices involve risks and uncertainties. Prospective investors should review all regulatory filings, clinical data, and financial information, and seek independent advice before investing in Creo Medical Group plc.


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