Precision Microwave, hot off an appearance at last week’s InvestMidwest venture capital conference in St. Louis, was just named top of its category at another conference a couple weeks ago. The Manhattan, KS startup has a working prototype applicator for directional microwave ablation – something founder Austin Pfannenstiel Ph.D says is a marked improvement on a currently imprecise technology that can kill tumors.
“Microwave ablation is a technology most people have never even heard of… Essentially, you have these needle-based applicators, and they’re inserted into a tumor and emit some sort of energy that can then destroy a tumor,” Pfannenstiel told the 4thEst8. “What’s kind-of holding that technology back, clinically, from being a first-line treatment or being used in so many more cases is just the existing systems – they lack… consistency, predictability, spatial control. (They’re) potentially more risky of recurrence or could potentially damage some sensitive nearby anatomy – there’s just less control.”
Fueled by a couple SBIR grants totaling nearly $1 million Pfannenstiel developed directional applicators he says solves that problem. He showed up at InvestMidwest to find an investor who can help fund the development of a generator cart with a user interface control system to complete the device.
Liquidity path:
“With a complete system we have a clear path where we can proceed to an FDA submission… clearance… first-in-human studies and we can even begin selling applicators and systems,” he said. “We ultimately do want to be acquired.”
Earlier in April Pfannenstiel competed in the INVEST Pitch Perfect contest at the INVEST conference for healthcare startups. In the category for medical devices, judges found Precision Microwave led the pack in idea, plan, market opportunity, revenue model and founder experience.
Judges include:
- Paul McCreadie, Arboretum Ventures
- Amrinder Singh, Medtronic
- Rob Barmann, Endeavor Vision
Precision Microwave was founded in 2017 and has one full time employee, Pfannenstiel.
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