MAPLE GROVE, Minn., July 7, 2026
Francis Medical has announced that Orange County Urology Associates (OCUA) has become the first urology practice in California to integrate the Vanquish® Water Vapor Ablation System into routine clinical care, marking an important commercial milestone for the company’s innovative minimally invasive prostate tissue ablation technology. The first commercial procedures were successfully performed by Dr. Daniel Su, offering patients with localized prostate disease a new outpatient treatment option that combines advanced imaging guidance with targeted thermal ablation. Cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late 2025, the Vanquish System utilizes sterile water vapor delivered through a transurethral approach to precisely ablate targeted prostate tissue while helping preserve surrounding anatomical structures associated with urinary and sexual function. The latest commercial adoption highlights growing physician confidence in the platform and demonstrates its practical integration into modern urology practices focused on focal therapy and minimally invasive patient care.
Vanquish Technology Brings Advanced Minimally Invasive Prostate Care
The Vanquish® Water Vapor Ablation System represents a next-generation approach to focal prostate therapy by using thermal energy stored in sterile water vapor to destroy targeted prostate tissue without requiring major surgery or prolonged hospitalization. Guided by ultrasound imaging and electromagnetic navigation, the technology is designed to conform to the natural boundaries of the treatment area, potentially minimizing injury to surrounding nerves responsible for urinary continence and sexual function. According to Francis Medical, Dr. Daniel Su completed California’s first commercial Vanquish procedures during a single outpatient visit, allowing patients to receive treatment without an overnight hospital stay.
Dr. Su noted that integrating the technology into an established urology practice required a manageable learning curve for physicians experienced with transurethral procedures and praised the comprehensive clinical training and implementation support provided during adoption. The successful rollout demonstrates how advanced minimally invasive technologies can be incorporated efficiently into routine clinical workflows while expanding treatment options for patients seeking less invasive alternatives.
Clinical Evidence Supports Broader Adoption
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The commercial launch follows encouraging findings from the VAPOR 2 pivotal clinical study, a prospective, multicenter trial involving 235 patients with intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer across 26 U.S. clinical sites. Initial six-month biopsy results from the first 110 treated patients demonstrated elimination of MRI-visible targeted intermediate-risk disease in 91% of patients following a single procedure, while investigators reported no device-related serious adverse events. Clinical outcomes also showed low rates of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, supporting the procedure’s favorable safety profile. Patient-reported outcomes further strengthened the evidence, with 93% of participants reporting satisfaction with treatment at twelve months and 94% stating they believed undergoing the procedure was the right decision.
Although the FDA clearance covers the Vanquish System as a device for thermal ablation of targeted prostate tissue, the agency has not evaluated the system specifically as a treatment for prostate cancer or assessed long-term cancer outcomes. The successful commercial adoption of Vanquish by Orange County Urology Associates represents an important advancement in minimally invasive urology, demonstrating growing confidence in image-guided water vapor ablation technology and supporting broader access to innovative focal therapy options for appropriately selected patients. As Francis Medical continues expanding clinical adoption, the company aims to strengthen evidence supporting the role of minimally invasive prostate therapies that combine procedural efficiency, physician usability, and improved patient quality of life.
Source: Francis Medical press release
