At LSI Europe ‘25, some of the most promising medtech innovators will take the stage—including Ilan Uchitel, CEO and Co-Founder of CAPS Medical. With a mission to change the standard of care in oncology, CAPS Medical is advancing a novel minimally invasive cancer treatment platform that aims to target tumors more precisely while reducing collateral damage to healthy tissue.

Origins: From Lab Discovery to Patient-Centered Tech

CAPS Medical was born out of a collaborative research effort between physicists and clinicians in Israel who saw untapped potential in using non-thermal plasma for internal applications. The goal was to create a technology that could selectively ablate tumors with greater accuracy and fewer side effects than traditional methods.

Uchitel recalls the early stages: “The idea stemmed from recognizing the drawbacks of existing therapies. Surgery and systemic treatments often come with severe side effects due to damage to surrounding healthy tissue. We believed there had to be a better way.”

That “better way” became PlasmaSure™—a device built around delivering non-thermal plasma through a flexible, minimally invasive probe. Developed through research conducted at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and Rambam Health Care Campus, CAPS Medical licensed the technology and built it into a commercial platform designed to disrupt the current oncology treatment paradigm.

Redefining the Approach to Minimally Invasive Cancer Treatment

Despite decades of medical innovation, cancer remains one of the most difficult diseases to treat. Conventional therapies like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery often struggle to eliminate tumors without harming adjacent tissue. According to Uchitel, this imbalance between efficacy and safety drives the need for a more selective intervention.

“Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is our initial target,” he explains. “It’s not only widespread—with more than 1.6 million patients globally—but also incredibly costly and prone to recurrence. Many patients endure repeat procedures that take a toll on their health and quality of life.”

Bladder cancer, specifically, has long relied on a surgical technique known as transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). While it remains the standard of care, TURBT is invasive, technically demanding, and associated with high complication rates. It is often followed by chemotherapy or immunotherapy installations that further strain the patient.

CAPS Medical aims to replace this standard with a simpler, safer approach. “We envision a future where treating a tumor is more like a targeted touch-up than a full-scale operation,” Uchitel says.

Inside the PlasmaSure Innovation

What sets PlasmaSure apart is its ability to generate non-thermal plasma—a highly energized form of gas—at body temperature, directly inside the body. Unlike bulky external devices, CAPS Medical’s probe is thin and flexible enough to be delivered through existing endoscopic tools, making it compatible with a wide range of minimally invasive procedures.

Rather than burning or cutting, PlasmaSure works by inducing a biological response that leads to cell death in cancerous tissue while sparing nearby healthy cells. This makes it an ideal candidate for treating tumors in delicate or hard-to-reach locations—such as the bladder, lungs, stomach, and pancreas.

Clinical Progress and Global Momentum

CAPS Medical recently wrapped up a clinical study in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The outcomes were compelling: nearly 70 tumors were treated using PlasmaSure, and 85% showed complete tumor ablation after just one treatment session, with no recurrence reported after one year. Importantly, there was no damage to surrounding tissue.

These results have propelled the company into its next phase of growth. CAPS Medical is actively raising funds to support regulatory approval efforts in both the United States and Europe, targeting FDA and CE clearances in 2025. Plans are also underway to expand their clinical pipeline to additional cancer types and to establish partnerships with strategic players in the medtech ecosystem.

“We’re building the foundation for global commercialization,” Uchitel notes. “Our focus is now on validation, scaling, and making this technology widely accessible.”

Market Trends Favor Energy-Based Therapies

Data from LSI’s Surgical Procedure Volumes Database estimates that 7.0 million therapeutic bladder procedures will be performed worldwide in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 8.3% through 2028. With nearly 10 million procedures expected annually by the end of that forecast period, the need for effective, less traumatic solutions is clear. 

This aligns with broader industry momentum. Energy-based treatments are increasingly replacing traditional surgical methods across several therapeutic areas. A notable example is the treatment of atrial fibrillation, which has shifted from invasive cut-and-sew techniques to targeted, non-thermal ablation using radiofrequency or cryo technologies. Experts predict that by 2026, non-thermal energy will be utilized in up to 65% of AFib procedures globally.

For CAPS Medical, this is a validation of their strategy—and a sign that the clinical community is ready to embrace more selective and minimally invasive cancer treatment modalities.

Looking Ahead

As CAPS Medical prepares to enter new markets, Uchitel will take the stage at LSI Europe ‘25, joining a handpicked group of innovative CEOs presenting their technologies to a curated global audience of strategics and investors. This marks a significant milestone not only for CAPS Medical but for the broader movement toward transforming cancer care across the globe.

Conclusion: A Smarter Path Forward in Cancer Care

CAPS Medical is more than just a device company—it’s part of a broader shift toward minimally invasive cancer treatment that prioritizes accuracy, safety, and patient quality of life. With promising clinical outcomes, a strong leadership team, and a clear regulatory path ahead, CAPS Medical is well-positioned to redefine how tumors are treated from the inside out.

Catch Ilan Uchitel live at LSI Europe ‘25 and learn how CAPS Medical is shaping the next era of oncological innovation.