Flat Medical's Smart Syringe Cracks UK and French Health Systems

TAIPEI and AMERSFOORT, Netherlands – February 03, 2026

In a significant validation of its medical technology, Flat Medical has secured two pivotal agreements in Europe, positioning its EpiFaith® Smart Syringe for widespread adoption within the continent's most influential public healthcare systems. The company announced a framework agreement with the UK's National Health Service (NHS) Supply Chain Coordination Limited (SCCL) and a landmark clinical order from Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), the largest hospital system in Europe.

These strategic wins, achieved through carefully cultivated local partnerships, represent a major breakthrough for the Taiwan-based company, signaling a transition from clinical introduction to standardized procurement. The dual endorsements from such globally respected institutions are expected to accelerate the adoption of its precision needle-positioning technology, not just in Europe, but across the world.

A Strategic Coup in Europe's Elite Healthcare Systems

Penetrating Europe's complex and highly regulated public healthcare markets is a formidable challenge for any medical device company, particularly for those outside the EU. Flat Medical's success hinged on a two-pronged strategy executed with local expertise. In the United Kingdom, the company collaborated with Fannin UK to navigate the notoriously rigorous NHS Supply Chain procurement process. The resulting framework agreement, officially secured on January 13, 2026, and set to commence on July 1, 2026, provides the EpiFaith® Smart Syringe with direct access to the vast network of NHS hospitals.

While the specific value of the deal remains confidential, its inclusion within the NHS supply framework is a powerful endorsement. The NHS is a global benchmark for healthcare quality and efficiency, and its procurement decisions often create a demonstration effect, influencing purchasing standards in other countries. This agreement places the EpiFaith® syringe within a system that procures products under frameworks valued in the tens of millions of pounds annually, opening a substantial market opportunity.

Simultaneously, in France, Flat Medical partnered with IDM Medical to secure a clinical order from AP-HP. As the largest hospital system in Europe, AP-HP's decision to adopt the EpiFaith® syringe is a powerful market catalyst. This order moves the device beyond initial clinical trials into routine use, paving the way for standardized procurement and rapid sales growth across France and neighboring regions.

"The NHS SCCL framework and the AP-HP order represent direct endorsements from world-class institutions," said Dr. Joseph Luo, CEO of Flat Medical, in a statement. "These successes prove that our innovative products simultaneously satisfy the high-performance demands of experts and the economic efficiency requirements of healthcare systems."

The Technology Redefining Epidural Safety

At the heart of these deals is the EpiFaith® Smart Syringe, a device designed to solve a decades-old challenge in anesthesia: the safe and accurate placement of epidural needles. For generations, clinicians have relied on the "loss-of-resistance" (LOR) technique, a subjective method that depends on the practitioner's tactile feel to determine when the needle has entered the epidural space. This method, while standard, carries inherent risks, including accidental dural puncture, which can lead to severe post-procedure headaches and other complications.

The EpiFaith® syringe transforms this subjective process into an objective, visual one. It incorporates a unique two-part plunger and a pressure-sensitive mechanism. As the clinician advances the needle, the syringe maintains a constant pressure. Upon entering the low-pressure epidural space, the device provides an immediate and unambiguous visual signal—a colored ring appears as a piston moves—confirming correct placement. This design also allows clinicians to use both hands to control the needle, significantly enhancing stability and precision, a feature particularly beneficial when using ultrasound guidance.

By providing clear, real-time feedback, the smart syringe minimizes the guesswork, reduces the rate of false LOR events, and empowers both novice and experienced practitioners to perform procedures with greater confidence and accuracy. This translates directly to improved patient safety and comfort.

Backed by Clinical Evidence and Global Recognition

The endorsements from the NHS and AP-HP are built on a foundation of robust clinical evidence and international accolades. Midterm data from a large-scale clinical trial conducted in collaboration with Brigham and Women's Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard University, demonstrated statistically significant improvements in reducing epidural puncture errors and associated side effects when using the EpiFaith® device.

Its innovative approach has not gone unnoticed by major healthcare purchasing networks. In the United States, the device has received a Technology Breakthrough Designation from Premier Inc. and an Innovative Technology award from Vizient, two of the largest Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) in the country. These designations help streamline the purchasing process for thousands of member hospitals.

Further cementing its clinical credibility, the EpiFaith® technology has been incorporated into educational materials by leading professional bodies, including the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia (ESRA) and the German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI). This adoption by key opinion leaders underscores its practical value and potential to become a new standard of care in medical training and practice.

A Blueprint for Global MedTech Expansion

The European victories are a cornerstone of Flat Medical's ambitious global expansion strategy. The company is leveraging these successes to build momentum across multiple continents. In North America, it reports exponential sales growth, fueled by contracts with major GPOs and clinical collaborations with premier teaching hospitals. The distribution partnership with Mercury Medical has been key to penetrating the competitive U.S. market.

Meanwhile, market development in the Middle East has entered a "harvest phase," with a formal partnership established in the UAE and initial orders secured from Israel and Lebanon. In Asia, commercialization is well underway in Japan following successful market validation.

Looking forward, Flat Medical is aggressively expanding its R&D pipeline to apply its precision-positioning technology to other critical procedures. The recent acquisition of assets from Finland's InjeQ brought the IQ-Tip® smart system—the world's first FDA-designated breakthrough device for bioimpedance-guided needle positioning—into its portfolio. The company is also developing the EpiFaith CV for central venous access in collaboration with leading U.S. medical schools and holds an R&D contract with the U.S. Naval Trauma Research Center to adapt its technology for challenging battlefield environments. This diverse and forward-thinking strategy, combined with its recent landmark wins, positions Flat Medical not just as a successful device seller, but as a pivotal innovator shaping the future of procedural safety worldwide.