Inspired by the act of coring zucchinis and a pressing clinical need, a Rambam physician helped develop a new medical device that improves tissue sampling for pancreatic cancer diagnosis and is now being used by medical centres in the United States.
Professor Iyad Khamaysi, director of the Advanced Endoscopy Unit at Rambam, and a leading authority in ultrasound-guided biopsy procedures, had long encountered the limitations of conventional diagnostic tools for pancreatic tumours. These procedures were often time-consuming, required repeat interventions, and frequently produced fragmented or blood-contaminated samples that were insufficient for accurate pathological evaluation. In up to 20% of cases, patients required a second biopsy under sedation due to inadequate tissue quality.
Khamaysi conceptualised a new approach inspired by an everyday occurrence: coring zucchinis to prepare them for stuffing. Further developing that idea at Rambam, he envisioned a biopsy device capable of extracting intact core tissue from a targeted organ through precisely controlled rotation, potentially improving sample quality, diagnostic reliability, and clinical outcomes. This idea laid the foundation for a collaboration with the Trendlines Group, which had approached Rambam to identify unmet clinical needs. The partnership led to establishing Limaca Medical in 2017.
Next-generation alternative to conventional biopsy tools
The resulting FDA-approved Precision-GI™ system represents a motorised, next-generation alternative to conventional biopsy tools. By enabling rotational tissue acquisition, the device produces high-quality core samples suitable for advanced diagnostic techniques, including molecular profiling. Unlike traditional manual devices, it reduces dependence on operator variability and improves procedural consistency. Clinical studies showed improved procedural efficiency and superior histological quality compared to standard fine-needle biopsy methods. These improvements are particularly significant in pancreatic cancer, where timely and accurate diagnosis is critical for treatment planning and patient outcomes.
The technology has since been introduced into leading medical centres in the U.S., with more than 300 procedures performed to date. Physicians reported strong clinical and operational benefits.
Japan identified as the next key market
Building on its clinical and commercial momentum, Limaca Medical is now expanding globally, with Japan identified as the next key market. Registration efforts are underway, with commercialisation expected to follow.
Less than a decade after its inception, the initiative led by Khamaysi has evolved into a rapidly growing medical technology success. The Precision-GI™ platform underscores Rambam’s role as a center for physician-driven innovation and highlights the impact of translating clinical insight into solutions that improve diagnostic accuracy and patient care worldwide.
Adapted from an original English-language article that first appeared on Haaretz.com.
