Cortechs.ai, EDAP Announce World’s First Focal One Robotic HIFU Procedure

Cortechs.ai, an emerging leader in novel imaging solutions for prostate cancer care, and EDAP TMS, the global leader in robotic energy-based therapies, announced the completion of the world’s first OnQ Prostate-assisted Focal One Robotic HIFU procedure at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Prostate Center. 

This marks the first clinical application of OnQ Prostate’s patented RSI technology to guide focal therapy, demonstrating how advanced MR-imaging can improve lesion localization and targeting for urologists performing focal therapy.

“OnQ Prostate very clearly delineated the tumor anatomy in this case, and helped us map out a relatively complex treatment plan for our focal therapy patient” said Dr. Matthew R. Cooperberg, M.D., M.P.H, Professor of Urology at the University of California, San Francisco, who performed the Focal One procedure on Tuesday, January 28th, 2025. “I am quite optimistic that this technology will help improve and standardize prostate MRI interpretation in multiple contexts across the prostate cancer journey.”

OnQ Prostate is the only FDA-cleared solution for RSI-MRI, providing more detailed information about the tissue microstructure that can help urologists identify which patients are the best candidates for focal therapy and which lesions should be targeted. Also, OnQ Prostate integrates seamlessly into these focal therapy systems, allowing for real-time precision targeting during the procedure to maximize the likelihood of successfully ablating the desired area.

“This milestone at UCSF underscores the critical role our advanced imaging plays in empowering urologists to deliver more precise, personalized treatment,” said Kyle Frye, CEO of Cortechs.ai. “We are committed to driving meaningful advancements in prostate cancer care, ensuring that both physicians and patients benefit from enhanced precision at every stage of the treatment journey.” 

“We are pleased to be partnering with the Cortechs.ai team in the integration of OnQ Prostate with Focal One Robotic HIFU,” said Ryan Rhodes, Chief Executive Officer of EDAP TMS. “This new clinical offering further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to expand the capabilities of Focal One to assist urologists in the delivery of a precise, patient-specific treatment to their prostate cancer patients.”

Focal therapy for prostate cancer is an emerging approach that aims to ablate clinically significant disease while preserving healthy tissue, reducing the side effects associated with whole-gland treatments. OnQ Prostate enhances this process by enhancing lesion conspicuity, allowing for more informed patient selection and treatment planning.