Clayman Thyroid Center Becomes Only Tampa Bay Area Center to Offer Nanosecond Pulsed Field Ablation for Thyroid Nodules

Non-thermal, minimally invasive technology treats symptomatic benign thyroid nodules in an outpatient setting under anesthesia — with no incision and no scar

TAMPA, FL, UNITED STATES, October 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Clayman Thyroid Center at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery today announced it is now treating patients with the nPulse™ Vybrance™ Percutaneous Electrode System, becoming the only center in the Tampa Bay area to offer Nanosecond Pulsed Field Ablation (nsPFA™) technology for symptomatic benign thyroid nodules.

Developed by Pulse Biosciences, Inc., nsPFA is a non-thermal technology that delivers pulses of electrical energy lasting billionths of a second. Rather than burning or freezing tissue, the pulses create nanopores in the cell membranes of the targeted nodule, allowing ions such as calcium to enter and disrupt the cell’s internal organelles. That disruption initiates regulated cell death — the body’s own orderly process for clearing cells — and the treated tissue is gradually resorbed. Because the mechanism acts on cells rather than on heat, non-cellular structures such as blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue are spared.

“For thirty years, the choice we could offer a patient with a large, symptomatic benign nodule was essentially surgery or watchful waiting,” said Gary Clayman, DMD, MD, FACS, founder of the Clayman Thyroid Center. “This is a genuinely different option. We are treating the nodule directly, in the outpatient center, under anesthesia, and we are doing it without heat — which means we are not putting the recurrent laryngeal nerve or the parathyroid glands at thermal risk. For the right patient, that changes the conversation entirely.”

How the procedure works

The treatment is performed percutaneously — through the skin — with ultrasound guidance. After anesthesia is applied, a fine electrode is advanced into the nodule and energy is delivered in a series of pulses that typically takes only a few minutes. There is no incision, and patients are discharged the same day and generally return to normal activity almost immediately. Mild redness or swelling at the needle site usually resolves within a few days.

Nodule shrinkage occurs over weeks rather than instantly, as the body clears the treated cells. In a long-term follow-up of 21 patients presented in March 2026 at the North American Society for Interventional Thyroidology, benign nodules treated with the technology showed an average volume reduction of 74 percent, sustained from one month through 15 to 22 months of follow-up, with no nodule regrowth and no serious adverse events reported. In that series, 100 percent of patients reported being highly satisfied with the cosmetic result and 95 percent were highly satisfied with treatment overall.

Who it is for

The treatment is intended for patients with benign thyroid nodules — confirmed benign by biopsy — that are causing symptoms such as visible swelling, a sensation of pressure or fullness in the neck, difficulty swallowing, or cosmetic concern. It is not a treatment for thyroid cancer, and it is not a replacement for thyroid surgery when surgery is indicated. Candidacy is determined by evaluation, including ultrasound and prior biopsy results.

“We adopted this technology the same way we adopt anything at this hospital — by looking hard at the data and being honest about what it does and does not do,” Dr. Clayman said. “It is not for everyone. But a patient who has been told for years to simply watch a nodule that bothers them every time they swallow now has something else to consider, and they should not have to leave Tampa Bay to consider it.”

Pulse Biosciences identified the collaboration with the Clayman Thyroid Center in its second-quarter 2026 business update as part of the controlled market development strategy of the nPulse Vybrance system.

The nPulse Vybrance Percutaneous Electrode System is FDA cleared for the ablation of soft tissue in percutaneous and intraoperative surgical procedures. It is not indicated for use in cardiac procedures.

nPulse, Vybrance, nsPFA and Nanosecond Pulsed Field Ablation are trademarks of Pulse Biosciences, Inc.

About the Clayman Thyroid Center:

Founded by Dr. Gary Clayman, a nationally recognized leader in thyroid surgery and former Chief of Endocrine Surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Clayman Thyroid Center is one of the highest-volume thyroid surgery centers in the world. Located within the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery in Tampa, Florida, the Center is a global destination for patients seeking expert care for thyroid disease and thyroid cancer, performing more thyroid surgeries than any other hospital in the United States. To learn more, visit www.thyroidcancer.com or call (813) 940-3130. Become a patient by visiting https://www.thyroidcancer.com/surgery.

About Hospital for Endocrine Surgery

The Hospital for Endocrine Surgery is a campus of HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital focused on compassionate patient care and highly specialized treatment of endocrine tumors. We provide a wide array of services necessary for the diagnosis and surgical treatment of tumors of the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands. Our team includes doctors, surgeons, nurses and technicians who have dedicated their careers to delivering the highest cure rates using the most advanced techniques available. HCA’s Hospital for Endocrine Surgery is the nation’s highest volume hospital for thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal tumors and cancers. To learn more visit www.hospitalforendocrinesurgery.com.

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Diana Van Leuven
The VAN LEUVEN Company
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