STARmed

What STARmed does

STARmed Co., Ltd. is a South Korea-based privately held medical device company founded in 2009, specializing in image-guided thermal ablation technologies for minimally invasive tumor treatment. The company manufactures and sells radiofrequency ablation (RFA) systems, microwave ablation (MWA) systems, biopsy devices, and related accessories used by healthcare professionals across thyroid, liver, pancreatic, biliary, uterine, vascular, and other solid tumor indications in over 100 countries.

The product architecture spans dedicated electrode families (star, VIVA, Well-Point, Octopus, VENISTAR, ELRA, EUSRA), multiple RF generators (VIVA RF, VIVA multi, VIVA combo, VVR), the STARwave MWA platform, biopsy guns (WELLCUT, Opsia), and supporting accessories (VIVA Pump, tumescentor, footswitches). Differentiated technologies include the world's first and only multi-electrode Octopus system, VIVA adjustable active tip electrodes, True-Sphere MWA technology, IC-RFA impedance control, bipolar electrodes eliminating grounding pads, and micro-pulse wave MWA. The portfolio is backed by 160+ patents across 45 countries and validated by 600+ peer-reviewed publications referencing 300,000+ procedures performed and 1M+ patients treated.

STARmed generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of capital equipment (generators) and recurring consumables (single-use electrodes and antennas) sold via wholly-owned subsidiaries in the US (STARMED America) and China (STARMED Sichuan MedTech manufacturing joint venture), supported by regional distribution partners across 100+ countries. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated directly with healthcare institutions. The company holds the first FDA 510(k) clearance for thyroid nodule RFA in US history (June 2026), achieved CE-MDR and MDSAP certifications, and operates clinical education programs including the Master Course of Thyroid RFA (MCTR) since 2010. In January 2026, STARmed rebranded as a multi-modality medical technology platform, positioning for expansion into microwave ablation and irreversible electroporation.

Name

STARmed

Legal name

STARMED Co., Ltd.

Website

https://starmed4u.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

STARmed is a South Korean privately-held medical device company founded in 2009 that designs, manufactures, and sells radiofrequency and microwave ablation systems, electrodes, and biopsy devices used by healthcare providers in over 100 countries for minimally invasive treatment of thyroid, liver, uterine, pancreatic, and other solid tumors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ilsandong

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Medical Device Hardware Sales: Sale of RF/MW ablation systems including generators, electrodes/antennas, and accessories. Revenue generated from capital equipment (generators) and recurring consumables (electrodes, cannulas).
2. Surgical/Biopsy Devices: Biopsy products including WELLCUT and Opsia biopsy guns, coaxial needles, and varicose vein treatment systems (VENISTAR).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

STARmed manufactures and globally distributes radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) systems, including generators, electrodes/antennas, biopsy devices, and accessories used for minimally invasive image-guided tumor treatment across multiple clinical indications including thyroid, liver, pancreas, biliary, uterine fibroids, kidney, lung, breast, adrenal, and varicose veins. The company pioneered the world's first thyroid-dedicated RFA electrode and holds the first FDA 510(k) clearance specifically indicated for thyroid nodule RFA in the United States.

Product overview

STARMED offers a comprehensive thermal ablation platform spanning Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), Microwave Ablation (MWA), and Biopsy systems. The RFA portfolio includes multiple electrode families: star (Fixed, Bipolar, Uni_faced, Injectable), VIVA (standard, V2, V2-T thyroid-specific), Well-Point (standard, Proteus), Octopus (standard, V2), VENISTAR (varicose veins), ELRA (endobiliary), and EUSRA (endoscopic). Generators include VIVA RF, VIVA multi, VIVA combo, and VVR for different ablation needs. The MWA lineup features STARwave Antenna and Generator with micro-pulse wave technology. Biopsy products include WELLCUT automatic gun, Opsia semi-automatic gun, and Coaxial Needle. Accessories include VIVA Pump, VENISTAR Tumescentor, Single and Double Footswitches. The platform supports treatments across thyroid, liver, kidney, uterus, pancreas, biliary, and vascular applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Octopus RF Electrode World's first and only multi-RF electrode system supporting both clustered and separable configurations for dual/triple electrode ablation, enabling large-volume ablation up to 3cm+ lesions with overlapping ablation zones for interventional radiologists and oncologists.
• Octopus RF Electrode_V2 Adjustable active tip multi-electrode RF system with cluster and separable configurations, featuring triangular tip design for percutaneous access in large-volume ablation procedures.
• VIVA RF Electrode Adjustable active tip RF electrode with 5mm increment size adjustments, allowing a single electrode to treat various lesion sizes; features marker functionality for enhanced ultrasound visibility.
• VIVA RF Electrode_V2 VIVA electrode with adjustable active tip, anti-slip structure, and improved handling and precision for percutaneous ablation procedures.
• VIVA RF Electrode_V2-T Thyroid-specific adjustable RF electrode with 2.5mm increment adjustments, available in five configurations from 5mm to 15mm active tip lengths for thyroid nodule ablation.
• Well-Point RF Electrode Lightweight, compact handle RF electrode with triangular tip structure for easy percutaneous access and reduced procedure time.
• Well-Point RF Electrode-Proteus Adjustable active tip RF electrode with 5mm increment adjustments for treating various lesion sizes using the Well-Point platform.
• star RF Electrode-Fixed Fixed active tip RF electrode available in various gauges, lengths, and active tip configurations for different procedural environments.
• star Bipolar RF Electrode Bipolar RF electrode integrating active and passive functions in a single unit, eliminating need for grounding pad and reducing skin burn risk, suitable for RF-sensitive patients.
• star RF Electrode-Uni_faced Semi-spherical ablation electrode delivering energy only from 1/4 of the active tip, allowing safe ablation near critical anatomical structures.
• star Injectable RF Electrode RF electrode with integrated injection capability for drug delivery during ablation procedures, featuring a lightweight handle design.
• VENISTAR Radiofrequency ablation electrode for varicose vein treatment delivering true RF energy directly to vessel walls using proprietary IC-RFA (Impedance Controlled RFA) technology with cooling system.
• ELRA Slim 7FR endobiliary RF catheter with silicone tapered tips for biliary RFA treatment, available in 11, 18, 22, and 33mm sizes for different biliary locations.
• EUSRA Monopolar 19G RF electrode for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided ablation of pancreatic tumors, neuroendocrine tumors, and cystic neoplasms.
• VIVA RF Generator RF generator supporting single electrode and up to 4 grounding pads with Auto, Continuance, and Temperature operating modes for general RFA procedures.
• VIVA multi RF Generator Multi-electrode RF generator supporting up to 4 grounding pads with dual switching mode for large, rapid ablation procedures using the Octopus multi-electrode system.
• VIVA combo RF Generator Compact RF generator with mode settings for customized procedures and real-time impedance monitoring with audio alerts; FDA 510(k) cleared for thyroid nodule RFA.
• VVR Generator IC-RFA generator for varicose vein treatment that automatically interrupts energy delivery based on impedance values to prevent overheating.
• STARwave Antenna

Quantifiable outcome

• Volume reduction ratio of ≥50% at six months for thyroid nodules
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Taewoong Medical (태웅메디칼)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Global exclusive partnership established in 2014 for pancreatic and biliary field expansion. This partnership enabled rapid international growth and market penetration in specialized ablation applications.
• NHS EnglandminorOthersParticipation in NHS England uterine fibroid ablation pilot program, enabling insurance-based expansion in UK market.
• Kosin University HospitalminorOthersHumanitarian medical mission partnership in South Africa and Eswatini (August 2025). 80+ medical professionals traveled to provide RFA treatments, supported by STARmed equipment donation and training.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Medtronic: Medtronic offers Cool-tip RF ablation systems and the Emprint microwave ablation platform — directly competitive with STARMED's RFA and MWA product lines across liver, kidney, lung, and other solid tumor indications. As the largest medical device company globally, Medtronic is the most consequential incumbent peer for STARMED's multi-modality platform ambitions.
• AngioDynamics: AngioDynamics competes directly with STARMED in percutaneous and intraoperative RFA (StarBurst), microwave ablation (Solero), and Irreversible Electroporation (NanoKnife) — the exact modalities STARMED is expanding into. Its overlapping portfolio across RFA, MWA, and IRE makes it a key benchmark for STARMED's multi-modality platform strategy.
• Boston Scientific: Boston Scientific offers RF and microwave ablation technologies through its oncology interventional portfolio, including the LeVeen RF ablation system. It is a direct competitor in thermal ablation with deeper hospital channel access and significantly broader capital resources.
• Taewoong Medical: Taewoong Medical is a Korean-based competitor in gastrointestinal and pancreaticobiliary stents and ablation devices, and a former STARMED global exclusive partner (2014). Comparable as a Korean peer with overlapping EUS-guided and biliary ablation product families and overlapping clinical customers.

Broad incumbents

• Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson MedTech): Ethicon markets the NEUWAVE and Emprint microwave ablation systems as part of J&J MedTech's broader interventional oncology portfolio. While not STARMED's primary head-to-head, Ethicon's scale, global sales coverage, and bundling across surgery and ablation make it a strategic threat as STARMED scales into multi-modality.
• Olympus: Olympus is a broad endoscopy and therapeutic devices incumbent with thermal ablation products used in endoscopic and urological procedures. It is comparable to STARMED as an adjacent incumbent with EUS- and endoscopy-adjacent ablation offerings overlapping with EUSRA and ELRA electrodes.

Emerging players

• Hologic: Hologic's Acessa laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation system for uterine fibroids directly competes with STARMED's VIVA RF system in the transvaginal/laparoscopic fibroid ablation category. Comparable as a focused player in women's health ablation where STARMED cites 65.3% volume reduction data.
• Gynesonics: Gynesonics offers the Sonata system, a transcervical radiofrequency ablation platform for uterine fibroids — directly comparable to STARMED's VIVA RF system in transvaginal/transcervical fibroid ablation. The company is a niche emerging competitor with overlapping clinical evidence and customer base.
• SonaCare Medical: SonaCare Medical develops high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation systems for prostate and other indications. It is comparable as an adjacent ablation modality emerging player, useful as a benchmark for STARMED's planned expansion into Irreversible Electroporation (IRE).
• Creo Medical: Creo Medical develops energy-based surgical devices including Speedboat and CROMA platforms for advanced endoscopy and laparoscopic ablation. Comparable as an emerging energy-based ablation peer overlapping with STARMED's EUSRA (EUS-guided pancreatic ablation) and bipolar electrode portfolios.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/starmed

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about STARmed