Brief abstract
An evaluation of the comparative utility of 2 novel fine-needle biopsy (FNB) needles against the conventional Franseen needle in EUS-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) to assess solid pancreatic lesions (SPLs).
Citation
Ishikawa T, [other authors]. Randomized trial comparing the Franseen needle versus 2 types of sharpened-tip 3-prong needles in EUS-guided tissue acquisition from solid pancreatic lesions. Gastrointest Endosc. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2025.03.641.
Eric Harbour is Senior Director of Operations for MICRO-TECH in the Americas, providing strategic oversight of supply chain, customer service, IT, quality, and warehouse operations. Since joining MICRO-TECH in 2019, he has played a key role in strengthening operational foundations and supporting the company’s growth and scalability.
With more than 25 years of experience across e-commerce, energy, telecommunications, and the medical device industry, Eric is known for translating complex operational challenges into practical, growth-oriented solutions. He has helped guide MICRO-TECH’s evolution from a startup to a midsized organization, leading initiatives that improved shipping accuracy, inventory performance, and customer satisfaction. He was instrumental in implementing SAP and EDI systems and establishing additional warehouse locations to enhance operational efficiency.
Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Michigan State University, an MBA from William Woods University, and a Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
Michelle Quimby is the Human Resources Director for MICRO-TECH in the Americas, leading talent strategy, workforce planning, employee development, and overall people operations. She brings strong expertise in strategic staffing, talent development, performance management, and leadership within the retail and medical device industries. She has built her career supporting dynamic, fast-paced commercial and corporate teams.
Before joining MICRO-TECH, Michelle held senior HR leadership roles in both the medical device and retail sectors, supporting organizations through growth, transformation, and cultural change. She partners closely with business leaders to align people strategy with operational goals, strengthen leadership capability, and build high-performing, engaged teams. She is known for developing scalable HR programs that enhance retention, succession planning, and overall organizational effectiveness.
Michelle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from Michigan State University and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Performance from Western Michigan University.
Kathryn Jordan is Director of US Sales for MICRO-TECH in the Americas, leading the company’s commercial organization across the United States. With 15 years of leadership experience in medical devices, she is recognized for building high-performing teams and fostering sales cultures rooted in accountability, collaboration, and engagement.
Prior to joining MICRO-TECH in 2024, Kathryn held senior leadership roles at Verathon Medical, where she drove significant regional growth, developed multiple team members into leadership positions, strengthened field training programs, and partnered closely with R&D to influence product innovation.
Since joining MICRO-TECH, Kathryn has been instrumental in strengthening the commercial foundation through improved sales processes, leadership development, and performance management. She remains committed to advancing MICRO-TECH’s mission while cultivating a culture where people and performance thrive together.
Sofia Tsai is Finance Director for MICRO-TECH in the Americas, leading strategic financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and enterprise-level financial modeling. She drives operational efficiency, strengthens internal controls, and oversees risk management, collaborating with executive leadership to align financial strategy with organizational goals. Sofia is recognized for implementing scalable financial systems that enhance data integrity, streamline processes, and improve overall business performance.
A Certified Public Accountant with Big Four experience, Sofia began her career in audit before moving into financial leadership roles across the automotive, software, and healthcare sectors. She joined MICRO-TECH in 2017, bringing a strong analytical foundation and a track record of operational excellence. As Finance Director, she built the regional finance organization from the ground up, establishing core financial processes, infrastructure, and reporting capabilities. Her leadership has been instrumental in supporting rapid growth, enabling sustainable early-stage success, and positioning the business for long-term operational and strategic achievements.
Michelle Quimby is the Human Resources Director for MICRO-TECH in the Americas, leading talent strategy, workforce planning, employee development, and overall people operations. She brings strong expertise in strategic staffing, talent development, performance management, and leadership within the retail and medical device industries. She has built her career supporting dynamic, fast-paced commercial and corporate teams.
Before joining MICRO-TECH, Michelle held senior HR leadership roles in both the medical device and retail sectors, supporting organizations through growth, transformation, and cultural change. She partners closely with business leaders to align people strategy with operational goals, strengthen leadership capability, and build high-performing, engaged teams. She is known for developing scalable HR programs that enhance retention, succession planning, and overall organizational effectiveness.
Michelle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from Michigan State University and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Performance from Western Michigan University.
Sven Albers is Vice President of Marketing for MICRO-TECH in EMEA, responsible for driving the company’s regional marketing strategy, sales performance, and market development across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. With over 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, and business management across MedTech, FMCG, and consumer electronics, he brings a strong combination of commercial acumen and strategic leadership.
Before joining MICRO-TECH in 2021, Sven spent 18 years at Olympus Europa, where he advanced through several leadership roles, including General Manager of EndoTherapy and Business Unit Manager EMEA. There, he oversaw profit and loss responsibility, led a team of more than 200 employees, and built extensive experience in gastroenterology, pulmonology, and respiratory medicine.
Sven began his career in marketing and product management at Panasonic and Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken before transitioning to the healthcare sector. He holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Hamburg and the Business Academy Hamburg.
Luis Collantes is Chief Executive Officer of Creo Medical Europe and serves on its Board of Directors. A dynamic entrepreneur with over 23 years of experience in the healthcare sector, he has built and led multiple successful ventures across Europe.
Luis co-founded and served as CEO of Albyn Medical, a Spanish company specializing in endoscopy and urology. Under his leadership, the company expanded through strategic acquisitions in France, the UK, Germany, and Belgium, creating one of Europe’s leading distribution platforms in the endoscopy sector.
He also serves on the Board of IES Medical, supporting the company’s growth and value creation, and as Vice President of the Navarra Health Cluster, where he fosters collaboration to accelerate healthcare innovation.
Beyond his executive roles, Luis is an active investor across healthcare, finance, and real estate. He holds an Executive MBA from IESE, an MSc in Computer Integrated Manufacturing from Cranfield University, and a BSc in Industrial Engineering from the University of the Basque Country.
Craig Berry is Managing Director for Australia, overseeing MICRO-TECH’s business across Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific Islands. With over 30 years of experience in the medical industry, he partners with distributors to expand access to MICRO-TECH’s innovative endoscopic technologies and deliver sustainable growth.
Craig began his career as a school teacher before transitioning into the pharmaceutical sector with AstraZeneca. He later held senior leadership roles at Verathon Medical, where he managed Critical Care and Patient Monitoring portfolios; at Medtronic, as Southern Region Sales Leader for Diabetes; and at Stryker, as National MedSurg & Communications Leader. Across these roles, he successfully launched new products, expanded market share, and drove consistent growth.
A certified Challenger Sales Model Trainer and Clifton Strengths Coach, Craig is passionate about developing people, building high-performing teams, and fostering a culture of collaboration, integrity, and excellence.
Kevin Bollmann is Managing Director of MICRO-TECH in Switzerland, bringing over 20 years of experience in gastroenterology and endoscopy. His expertise spans sales, key account management, and senior leadership, with a strong focus on KOL engagement, reference-center development, and scaling advanced endoscopy portfolios.
In Switzerland, Kevin co-founded Medexx Medical AG and built it into a leading distribution company known for innovation and specialized services. Following its acquisition by MICRO-TECH in 2023, he now leads the Swiss operations, driving growth and expanding the company’s clinical and commercial impact.
Kevin’s leadership centers on customer focus, disciplined execution, and developing high-performing, cross-functional teams. He has led major competitive conversions, multi-site rollouts, and international collaborations that have accelerated technology adoption and delivered measurable clinical and economic value.
Filipe Manuel Gonçalves Marques is Managing Director of MICRO-TECH in Portugal, with more than 20 years of experience in sales, management, and strategic leadership in the healthcare industry. With a background in engineering and an MBA, he combines technical expertise with a strong commercial vision.
Filipe began his career at United States Surgical Corporation and later joined Auto Suture International, where as Country Manager for Portuguese-speaking markets he expanded operations from €1.5 million to €17 million. He subsequently served as Country Manager for Portugal at Tyco Healthcare, overseeing brands including USSC, ValleyLab, and Covidien (now Medtronic).
Since 2023, Filipe has led MICRO-TECH Portugal, achieving ISO 13485 certification and driving 49% proprietary product sales growth between 2023 and 2025. A strong advocate of situational leadership, he is passionate about strategic management and developing high-performing teams to deliver sustainable results.
Gareth Bullen is Managing Director of MICRO-TECH United Kingdom (UK), which he established in 2022 to distribute MICRO-TECH’s full product portfolio directly in the UK for the first time. Under his leadership, MICRO-TECH UK has built an innovative, agile, and high-energy organization known for strong growth, high staff retention, and exceptional customer relationships.
Before founding MICRO-TECH UK, Gareth served as Managing Director of Diagmed Medical Ltd, leading its endoscopy distribution business in the UK. His experience also spans global leadership roles in the Power and Gas sectors, where he was involved in acquisitions and senior leadership mentoring.
A Fellow of the Global Intrapreneur Institute, Gareth frequently writes and speaks on intrapreneurial leadership. Drawn to MICRO-TECH for its dynamic global leadership and culture of trust, innovation, and entrepreneurship, he remains a passionate advocate for the company’s mission and long-term success.
Francis Picq is Managing Director of MICRO-TECH in France, bringing over 30 years of experience in the medical device and endoscopy industry. Since founding MICRO-TECH France in 2021, he has led the company’s growth from the ground up, establishing a strong reputation among endoscopy professionals for product quality and service excellence.
Francis began his career in electronics before transitioning to medical sales with ENDEXEL, a distributor for Pentax Medical. He then spent two decades at Pentax Medical France, progressing from Sales Representative to Sales and Marketing Director, where he played a key role in building the brand’s national presence.
An entrepreneur at heart, Francis later founded HEXAMEDICAL and TEE Medical, distributing innovative endoscopy and diagnostic technologies across France. With his deep industry expertise and commitment to customer trust, he continues to drive MICRO-TECH France’s expansion and recognition as a leading name in minimally invasive solutions.
Dr Jiefeng Xi is the Chief Scientist for MICRO-TECH Medical Corporation, responsible for advancing the company’s research and innovation strategy. Since joining MICRO-TECH in 2014, he has led the integration of cutting-edge imaging technologies into the company’s portfolio, driving projects such as eOCT and eyeMAX that have expanded the boundaries of medical imaging innovation.
A specialist in biomedical engineering and translational medicine, Dr Xi has restructured the company’s R&D organization and established a product development pipeline that fuels sustainable growth. Together with the CEO, he co-founded an innovation platform that invests in people, products, and technologies, laying the foundation for MICRO-TECH’s long-term strategic development.
Dr Xi earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, where he trained in medical imaging. His work continues to reflect his commitment to advancing MICRO-TECH’s mission through science, innovation, and collaboration.
Ron Perry is Executive Vice President for MICRO-TECH in Latin America, responsible for managing and growing the Latin America and Interventional Pulmonology businesses. He also leads business development across the Western Hemisphere, driving growth through licensing, co-development, distribution, and M&A opportunities.
Ron helped establish the subsidiary in 2015 and guided its evolution into a leading provider of GI endoscopy and interventional pulmonology solutions throughout the Americas. Drawing on his “0-to-1” expertise, he built the company’s infrastructure, commercial and operational teams, and processes that enabled its early-stage success.
Ron holds a Bachelor’s degree in Integrative Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Business Administration from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Sebastian Antonius Brocke is Vice President of Finance for MICRO-TECH in EMEA, responsible for Finance, IT, HR, Administration, Supply Chain, and Customer Service across MICRO-TECH Europe GmbH and the EMEA Regional Headquarters. With over a decade of experience spanning production, service, and sales organizations, he plays a key role in strengthening the company’s financial strategy, operational efficiency, and regional governance.
Sebastian brings deep expertise in enterprise architecture, process optimization, IT governance, and digital transformation. Combining analytical rigor with hands-on pragmatism, he bridges strategic vision with operational execution to deliver sustainable results.
Throughout his career, Sebastian has led cross-functional teams, overseen multimillion-euro transformation programs, and delivered measurable improvements in efficiency, agility, and value creation. Known for his structured and collaborative leadership style, he is a trusted partner in building agile, future-ready organizations across the EMEA region.
Jarrett Zimmerman is Vice President of Marketing for MICRO-TECH in the Americas, overseeing downstream and upstream marketing, R&D, marketing operations, and pricing and contracts. With more than 25 years of experience in the medical device industry, he brings extensive expertise in marketing, sales, and business leadership.
Before joining MICRO-TECH in 2023, Jarrett spent 11 years at Teleflex Medical in senior roles across interventional cardiology and radiology, vascular access, and surgical. As Vice President of Sales for the Interventional Cardiology & Radiology Business Unit, he achieved consistent year-over-year growth through new product launches, sales force expansion, and multiple acquisitions. Earlier, he held marketing and sales leadership roles at Ethicon Endo-Surgery.
Jarrett began his career as a Captain in the US Army. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Richmond and a Bachelor of Science from Wake Forest University.
Matthew Glyn Morgan is Executive Vice President for MICRO-TECH in EMEA, responsible for leading the Company’s commercial operations and strategy across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa—spanning over 100 countries. With more than 20 years of international experience in the medical device industry, he is recognized for building high-performing, diverse teams and consistently delivering double-digit growth.
Before joining MICRO-TECH, Matt served as Vice President of Commercial Operations EMEA at Verathon. Earlier, he held leadership roles at Wright Medical, Smith & Nephew, and Stryker, where he led market-defining product launches, successful acquisitions, and major organizational transformations.
Guided by his core values — Living Diversity, Trust through Integrity, Passion and Dedication, Acting Responsibly and Sustainably, Creating Solutions Together, and Humble Authenticity—Matt combines strategic vision with disciplined execution, keeping people at the center of every initiative.
As President, Scott David VanderMeer leads the strategic mission and vision for MICRO-TECH in the Americas, one of the company’s fastest growing regions. Scott is customer-driven, focused on strengthening partnerships with healthcare providers and building high performing teams that deliver innovation at speed and scale. Scott is also the catalyst of our company values ensuring MICRO-TECH offers a united culture that retains and attracts talented people.
Scott joined MICRO-TECH in 2022, bringing more than two decades of healthcare experience. Prior to MICRO-TECH, Scott served as Vice President of Global Sales at Clarius Health. Before that, he held leadership positions and executive roles at Verathon Medical across 15 years, scaling the business from a US start-up to a global market leader. Scott’s proven ability to expand access to innovative technologies has consistently translated to improved outcomes for clinicians, but most importantly the patients we all serve.
With a results-driven approach and people-first leadership style, Scott is committed to advancing MICRO-TECH’s mission to make minimally invasive endoscopic solutions more accessible across the Americas.
Tony Long Long is President of Canyon Medical Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of MICRO-TECH Medical Corporation. He has led Canyon’s evolution into a global developer of interventional oncology and respiratory solutions, expanding its presence to more than 40 countries and helping address critical healthcare needs worldwide.
Tony has guided the company’s strategic shift from a single-product supplier to an integrated solutions provider, capturing emerging market needs through pipeline expansion, product innovation, and operational agility. This transformation has strengthened the Canyon’s competitiveness and driven sustainable growth in fast-changing healthcare markets.
A strong advocate of innovation, Tony has built an R&D ecosystem recognized with multiple patents and national-level awards. Under his leadership, Canyon has been named one of China’s “Specialized and Innovative Enterprises” and certified as a National High-Tech Enterprise – recognitions that affirm its standing as a benchmark in China and a rising force on the global stage.
Xingliang Gong is Vice President and Board Secretary of MICRO-TECH Medical Corporation. He oversees corporate governance, investor relations, legal affairs, and strategic investment, ensuring alignment between governance practices, capital decisions, and the company’s long-term strategy.
Gong joined MICRO-TECH in 2018 as Director of the Board Office and was appointed Vice President in 2021. His diverse background across public service and corporate administration has given him broad expertise in governance and organizational management, which he has applied to enhance board operations and strengthen corporate accountability.
With a career defined by integrity and foresight, Gong supports MICRO-TECH’s sustainable growth and reinforces its position as a trusted global provider of minimally invasive solutions.
Frank Chunjun Liu is Vice President at MICRO-TECH Medical Corporation, overseeing regulatory affairs, ESG, and government relations. With 30 years of experience, he ensures the company’s steady and compliant growth while driving operational efficiency across the organization. His leadership has helped shape the MICRO-TECH’s long-term governance and laid the foundation for continued development.
Since joining MICRO-TECH in 2000, Frank has held key leadership roles including Production Manager, Operations Director, Director of Regulatory Affairs, and Senior Director of Administration and Government Affairs. He established high-standard production management systems and strengthened the company’s compliance frameworks. He was appointed Vice President in 2019.
Frank began his career in biotechnology, electronics, and engineering, gaining broad operational experience in multiple industries. He also serves as Secretary General of the Jiangsu Medical Device Association, actively advancing industry standards and collaboration within the medical device sector.
Freddy Feng Zhang is Senior Vice President at MICRO-TECH Medical Corporation, responsible for the company’s global operations strategy and execution. His scope covers supply chain, lean manufacturing, customer delivery, engineering technology innovation, quality systems, and talent development. Since joining in 2020, he has embedded digital intelligence and sustainability to drive efficiency and long-term value creation, drawing on extensive experience in industrial engineering, automation, and digital transformation.
At MICRO-TECH, Freddy has built a resilient global supply chain and introduced the MICRO-TECH Lean Business System (MTBS), aligning quality, efficiency, and cost with workforce development. He has also advanced the use of MES, SAP, and AI systems to strengthen operational excellence.
Freddy gained cross-border M&A and global operation integration experience at BDStar and held roles at Fairchild Semiconductor and Delphi Technologies.
Masayuki Yoshimura is Managing Director for MICRO-TECH in Japan, with more than 40 years of experience in the medical device industry. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles across sales, marketing, and corporate planning, including serving as Chief Executive Officer overseeing full company management.
In 2022, Masayuki founded MICRO-TECH Japan with the goal of expanding the company’s market presence and product portfolio in Japan. Working closely with a strong network of distribution partners, he is focused on enhancing brand recognition and strengthening relationships with key opinion leaders across the market.
With deep industry experience and a proven record in business growth, Masayuki continues to lead MICRO-TECH Japan in advancing minimally invasive solutions and building a stronger connection with healthcare professionals throughout nationwide.
Senior Vice President of Finance
Richard Chenwei Rui is Senior Vice President at MICRO-TECH Medical Corporation, responsible for financial management and capital operations. A Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of expertise in auditing, finance, and corporate leadership, he has been instrumental in building a disciplined and transparent financial system that supports operational stability and long-term growth.
Since joining MICRO-TECH in 2013, Richard has led major financial transformations, strengthening internal controls, optimizing capital structure, and supporting the company’s IPO and globalization efforts. His rigorous and pragmatic leadership ensures resources are effectively aligned to sustain innovation and business expansion.
Earlier in his career, Richard gained experience at Jiansu Gongzheng Certified Public Accountant Ltd. and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP, before serving as Finance Director at Trina Solar.
Daniel Kuhn is Senior Vice President and Regional President of MICRO-TECH in EMEA. With over 35 years of experience in endoscopy, he brings extensive market knowledge, a strong professional network, and a proven record in building and leading high-performing organizations.
In 1998, Daniel co-founded medwork medical products and services GmbH (now FUJIFILM medwork), where he served as Managing Director. His collaboration with MICRO-TECH began in 2002, laying the foundation for a long and successful partnership. In 2007, he and MICRO-TECH established the joint venture MICRO-TECH Europe GmbH, strengthening the company’s European presence. Following MICRO-TECH’s full acquisition in 2017, Daniel continued to lead its growth and strategic expansion across the EMEA region.
Daniel holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Cologne in Germany. He is deeply committed to advancing MICRO-TECH’s mission to become a global leader and innovation driver in medical technology.
Chris Changqing Li is the Board Director and Executive President of MICRO-TECH Medical Corporation, where he drives globalization and innovation-led growth. He combines global vision with local execution to expand the company’s technical capabilities and market presence.
Chris joined MICRO-TECH in 2013 as Vice President of R&D, where he strengthened the company’s innovation framework. In 2015, he founded MICRO-TECH USA, a pivotal milestone in the company’s global expansion. With over 25 years of international experience in chemical engineering, R&D, and global management, Chris has successfully advanced numerous innovations to clinical adoption. He was appointed Executive President in 2024.
Earlier in his career, Chris held roles at Sigma-Aldrich, Boston Scientific, and Interplex.
As Co-Founder of MICRO-TECH Medical Corporation, Derong Leng has played a central leadership role since the company’s establishment in 2000. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2003 and, as a key strategic decision-maker and primary executive, has led MICRO-TECH’s evolution from a local startup into a trusted global provider of minimally invasive medical solutions.
Over more than two decades, Leng has championed business innovation and a customer-centered philosophy, positioning differentiation and globalization as core drivers of the company’s long-term growth. Known for his calm judgment and disciplined execution, he places strong emphasis on team development and cultural cohesion, fostering a workplace built on integrity, trust, inclusiveness, and shared success – an open, pragmatic, and collaborative environment that supports sustained progress.
With a professional background in engineering and medical technology, Leng is also an inventor with multiple patents and has received national-level recognition for his contributions to medical technology innovation and industry standards.
Since his appointment as Chairman in 2004, Xiaohui Long has served as a principal architect and driver of MICRO-TECH Medical Corporation’s strategic development. With steadfast vision and systematic thinking, he has reshaped the company’s structure and direction, defining its mission and long-term roadmap while guiding its transformation toward greater professionalism, specialization, and international reach.
Long combines strategic insight with deep industry management experience, continuously focusing on opportunities in minimally invasive medicine. He has strengthened the company’s innovation and globalization drive by introducing strategic partners and key talent, laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth. In 2019, he led MICRO-TECH’s successful listing on the Science and Technology Innovation Board of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, accelerating its next stage of development.
Long upholds a people-centered philosophy that values respect for individuals and the empowerment of talent. He fosters an open and inclusive culture that encourages collaboration and innovation, and promotes the company’s core values of integrity, innovation, craftsmanship, and perseverance – continuously guiding MICRO-TECH toward steady and forward-looking progress.
David Bo Zhang is Board Director and Senior Vice President of MICRO-TECH Medical Corporation, where he leads business development across Asia Pacific. He also plays an active role in shaping the company’s global marketing system and ensuring alignment between Asia Pacific and global objectives.
With more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, David has progressed from frontline sales to senior roles in business development and market strategy. His diverse background spans product management, marketing, and strategic management. Combining an international perspective with deep local insight, he is committed to advancing innovation that enables more patients to access better and more affordable care worldwide.
Before joining MICRO-TECH, David held roles at RADIONICS, Tyco Healthcare, Mediforce Technologies, and Anrei Medical.
