Nanjing ECO Medical Technology: Pioneering Innovation and Leading the Global Microwave Ablation Market
A Review of the Development of China’s Medical Device Industry: A History of Striving to Catch Up and Refusing to Lag Behind
As China’s medical device industry continues to evolve, certain market segments have gradually shifted from import monopolies to domestic substitution, with Chinese companies successfully achieving localization in areas such as coronary intervention and TAVR. However, due to the relatively late start of China’s medical device sector, domestic enterprises still lag behind overseas giants in original technologies and products, with most fields remaining in a “me-too” follower status.
Therefore, China has been vigorously encouraging domestic innovation. The Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Medical Devices propose incorporating medical device innovation into key development priorities, supporting the clinical promotion and use of innovative medical devices, enhancing independent innovation capabilities, and promoting the high-quality development of the medical device industry. Specific industrial plans and guiding policies will be formulated and improved to ensure implementation.
In March 2020, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) jointly issued the "Opinions on Further Promoting the High-Quality Development of Medical Device Standardization." The document proposes that by 2025, a scientific and advanced medical device standard system with Chinese characteristics and aligned with international standards will be basically established. This system will meet the needs of full-lifecycle management—including research and development, manufacturing, distribution, usage, and regulatory supervision—while adhering to the fundamental requirement of ensuring safety and advancing the new goal of promoting high-quality standards.
Driven by strong top-down support across China, some domestic medical device companies are writing a history of original Chinese innovations with international leadership, particularly in the field of microwave ablation. China’s microwave ablation technology has taken a global lead, with multiple domestic enterprises achieving first-mover advantage and technological superiority worldwide.
In China’s microwave ablation market, the top four manufacturers by sales revenue of microwave ablation devices are all Chinese companies, with their combined market share approaching 80% in 2020. The leading player is Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Nanjing ECO”), the global leader in the field of microwave ablation.
In recent years, the incidence of cancer has been rising year by year. Influenced by numerous factors, more than 80% of patients have missed the opportunity for surgical intervention at the time of diagnosis. Furthermore, the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy alone is often unsatisfactory, and their associated side effects frequently cause significant suffering to patients. In this context, ablation therapy, characterized by advantages such as minimal invasiveness, reduced pain, definitive therapeutic efficacy, and rapid recovery, has become one of the common treatment modalities for tumors. Minimally invasive ablation techniques, including microwave ablation, radiofrequency ablation, and cryoablation, are widely used in tumor treatment.
Microwave ablation refers to a procedure in which, under the guidance of ultrasound, MRI, or CT, a microwave ablation needle is percutaneously inserted directly into the tumor site. The microwave energy emitted from the needle tip rapidly raises the temperature within the tumor, inducing coagulative necrosis of the lesion tissue due to hyperthermia, thereby achieving the therapeutic goal.Microwave ablation offers advantages such as a broad range of indications, minimal invasiveness, and short procedure time. A single needle can achieve a large ablation zone, allowing physicians to perform multi-point, multi-session conformal ablation tailored to the tumor’s shape.
For early- to intermediate-stage tumors, microwave ablation can achieve therapeutic efficacy comparable to surgical resection. For intermediate- to advanced-stage tumors, microwave ablation serves as a palliative treatment, improving patients’ quality of life and increasing survival rates. For benign lesions, microwave ablation enables targeted treatment of pathological tissue while preserving organ function, thereby avoiding complications associated with long-term postoperative medication.
With the upgrading of medical imaging equipment and heightened patient health awareness, an increasing number of benign lesions are being detected. Compared to traditional open surgery and radiochemotherapy, microwave ablation can effectively inhibit the progression of benign tumors to malignancy. The development of microwave ablation technology will improve the rate of early disease treatment and alleviate the financial burden on patients’ families and the national medical insurance system.
Currently,Microwave ablation technology in China has been successfully applied to the minimally invasive treatment of various solid tumors, including liver cancer, lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, bone cancer, and breast cancer, as well as benign conditions such as thyroid nodules, small pulmonary nodules, breast nodules, uterine fibroids, and varicose veins.
According to the “2018–2024 Report on the Operational Status and Investment Prospects of China’s Medical Device Industry” released by Zhiyan Consulting, the global market size for thermal ablation medical services (including tumor and non-tumor ablation) exceeded US$12 billion in 2022, with microwave ablation accounting for one-third of this total, representing a market size of US$4 billion.
China is a major global adopter of microwave ablation technology, with both clinical applications and manufacturing of microwave ablation devices leading internationally. The number of microwave ablation procedures performed in China increased from 70,900 in 2016 to 175,600 in 2021, and is projected to reach 700,900 by 2026, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33.7% from 2022 to 2026. Based on hospital charging prices, the market size for microwave ablation in China is expected to grow from RMB 2.8 billion in 2022 to RMB 9.7 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 36.6%.
From the perspective of tumor ablation technology, China is currently among the world leaders in the field of microwave tumor ablation, with domestically produced equipment accounting for over 80% of the market share and a high degree of industry concentration. Under China’s sustained influence, microwave ablation has become the largest segment of the tumor ablation market, and microwave ablation technology has emerged as one of the few globally leading therapeutic techniques in China’s medical treatment sector.
As a non-surgical tumor resection technique, microwave ablation has gradually become one of the mainstream therapies for tumor treatment. In China’s rapidly growing microwave ablation market, Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. has consistently maintained a leading position.
Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. was established in 2000, and “from clinical practice, back to clinical practice” has been the guiding principle for its product R&D over the past 22 years.In 2002, the company pioneered the launch of the cooled-circulation microwave ablation needle.This product employs a cooling circulation technology on the microwave needle shaft, reducing its temperature to below 37°C. This mitigates the risk of skin burns, enhances the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation, and has thereby become the global standard for microwave ablation devices.
Furthermore, Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. has propelled multiple technologies representing the highest international standards—including one-click preoperative needle testing, real-time intraoperative monitoring, and 3D intelligent ablation—onto the global stage, enabling Chinese original technologies, products, and solutions to bring greater benefits to cancer patients worldwide.
In conventional microwave ablation therapy, as the treatment duration extends, the shape and size of the ablation zone may become difficult to control, and the degree of carbonization increases. Meanwhile, the selection of microwave ablation power and duration varies across different human organs.
In this regard,Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. Launches the Next-Generation Zhenyuan Needle: Achieving Near-Perfect Spherical Ablation Zones While Mitigating Core Overheating During Prolonged Use, Thereby Reducing Complications Such as Central Carbonization, Cavitation, and Bronchopleural Fistula; Particularly Suitable for Ablative Therapy of Lung Tumors, Breast Tumors, and Tumors in Anatomically Challenging Locations.
New Generation Zhenyuan Needle Source: Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd.
Meanwhile, the new-generation Zhenyuan needle offers a larger ablation zone, with a maximum single-needle ablation diameter of up to 5 cm; in general practice, the actual single-needle ablation diameter is approximately 4 cm. The needle tip features a triangular prism design, providing superior sharpness that reduces insertion resistance and enhances puncture efficiency, thereby further addressing the challenges associated with intraoperative puncture.
While continuously improving its microwave ablation devices, Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. has also focused on the overall treatment workflow, committed to enhancing the safety and accessibility of microwave ablation therapy.
Microwave ablation is performed under image guidance. Although CT guidance provides clear image boundaries, it does not allow real-time monitoring of needle insertion and the ablation process. In contrast, while ultrasound guidance enables real-time visualization of needle insertion and ablation status, image boundaries tend to be blurred due to tissue vaporization. As treatment time prolongs, the shape and size of the microwave ablation zone may become difficult to control, with increased carbonization.
This clinical pain point makes microwave ablation highly dependent on the operator’s experience and technical skills; factors such as the physician’s ability to identify lesions and their needle insertion angle and technique can all affect surgical outcomes.Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd., in collaboration with Beihang University and the University of Houston, spent eight years developing a 3D intelligent microwave ablation system. Guided by this system, clinicians can perform microwave ablation procedures under clear imaging throughout the entire process, enabling real-time monitoring of ablation effects.
“3D Intelligent Microwave Ablation System” consists of a microwave ablation device, 3D software, and a computer subsystem. It leverages CT or MRI images to generate multi-dimensional, multi-view visualizations of tissues and lesions, determine safe needle insertion pathways, and define the required ablation zone through rapid image processing.
By pioneering the "data-fitting-based ablation simulation" algorithm, the system accurately simulates and reconstructs the entire evolution of the ablation zone, assisting physicians in performing microwave ablation procedures efficiently, precisely, and safely. This approach overcomes the limitations of traditional image-guided surgery and provides accurate postoperative assessment for comparative analysis, thereby achieving the goal of precision therapy.
3D Intelligent Microwave Ablation System Source: Nanjing ECO
The ECO 3D Intelligent Microwave Ablation System will promote the standardization, intelligence, and precision of microwave ablation procedures, lower the surgical threshold, and facilitate the broader adoption of interventional oncology techniques in county-level hospitals, traditional Chinese medicine hospitals, and larger town central health centers.
Since its establishment in 2000, Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. has closely aligned with the clinical needs of microwave ablation, actively launching innovative products. The market has reciprocated with equal enthusiasm: in the global microwave ablation sector, Nanjing ECO ranks first worldwide in terms of market share, number of users, and sales revenue, and has sustained a growth rate more than twice the industry average for over a decade.
As a pioneer in the field of microwave ablation in China, Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. not only leads industry development in technology and products but also, in terms of disciplinary advancement, joined forces with the Society of Interventional Oncology (SIO) and other organizations at the outset of its internationalization strategy. The company established the Nanjing Summit on Tumor Ablation (CCMA), a premier international academic exchange and multi-party cooperation platform for tumor ablation, thereby creating a venue for ablation specialists both domestically and abroad to share knowledge, learn, and engage in dialogue.
To address the lack of hands-on clinical experience among overseas physicians, Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. has invited Chinese experts to conduct clinical training programs abroad, featuring face-to-face case discussions and surgical demonstrations. The company has also established multiple clinical training bases worldwide, effectively bridging the “last mile” in academic translation.
For Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd., sharing China’s high-level clinical expertise with the world, facilitating the global expansion of Chinese “smart” technologies, and exporting “Chinese standards” to overseas medical institutions constitute the very essence of its internationalization strategy.Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. has successively assisted nearly 30 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Hungary, Pakistan, and Iraq, in completing their first-ever microwave ablation procedures., benefiting many cancer patients in regions with suboptimal medical conditions through advanced Chinese technologies.
As internationalization accelerates, Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. is establishing subsidiaries in multiple countries worldwide, with its branches in Germany, India, and Vietnam already operational.Since expanding its international business in 2014, Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd.’s product solutions have been successfully applied in nearly 4,000 surgical procedures across more than 80 countries and regions, including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain., is one of the few companies that have scaled the export of China's high-end medical equipment to developed countries.
Currently,Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. is the only manufacturer of therapeutic devices in China covering the three major fields of microwave, high-frequency, and laser technologies.with the corporate vision of “building an ecosystem for light, electrical, and wave-based physical therapy and becoming an industry leader.”
In addition to its absolute leadership in the microwave field,In the high-frequency domain, Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. offers a comprehensive product portfolio, including plasma electrosurgical units for urology and otolaryngology, specialized electrosurgical units for internal medicine and surgery, and energy platforms. In the laser sector, its products span therapeutic, physiotherapy, and medical aesthetics applications, with the company continuously increasing investment in this technology platform.
In early 2022, Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. completed a Series A financing round amounting to hundreds of millions of RMB. The round was led by Huatai Guoxin Fund, in which Jiangbei Industrial Investment Group holds a stake, with participation from Yida Capital, Jinyu Maowu, and Jianshi Capital. This investor interest reflects confidence not only in Nanjing ECO’s innovation capabilities and product advantages but also in its promising growth prospects as a leader in the niche sector of minimally invasive therapy.
Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. has secured strategic investment to partner with industry leaders such as Huatai Zijin, who share its vision and possess abundant industrial resources. These partners will provide support in formulating corporate development strategies, laying out ecosystem chains in new fields, integrating resources, and facilitating mergers and acquisitions.
Driven by national policy support and capital investment, Nanjing ECO Microwave SYSTEM Co., Ltd. will gradually cover high-, mid-, and low-end markets in the future, extending from medical applications to rehabilitation, medical aesthetics, and home-use sectors, thereby building an ecological chain for light-, electricity-, and wave-based physical therapies. Meanwhile, the company will establish a Minimally Invasive Therapy Alliance to create a cross-sector ecosystem for exchange and collaboration among government, industry, academia, research institutions, healthcare providers, and investors, promoting the global development of minimally invasive therapy technologies.
References:
“Interview with a Renowned Physician: Frequently Asked Questions About Microwave Ablation for Tumor Treatment” — Tang Changjiang’s Minimally Invasive Thyroid Ablation Team
“Baide Medical Prospectus”
“Domestic Share Reaches 86%, China’s Microwave Ablation Sector Poised for Its First IPO” – Beike Society
《Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Liver Cancer (2022 Edition)》
“Opinions of the National Medical Products Administration and the Standardization Administration of China on Further Promoting the High-Quality Development of Medical Device Standardization” — National Medical Products Administration
“Zhao Yixin: Encouraging Innovation in Medical Devices to Promote High-Quality Industry Development” — Ministry of Justice
"The Rounder, the More Outstanding – Zhenyuan Technology Empowers the Development of Microwave Ablation for Tumors" – ECO Official Website