Ethicon gets OK for handheld biopsy unit

Ethicon Endo-Surgery has received Food and Drug Administration marketing clearance for a handheld version of its Mammotome minimally invasive breast-biopsy device. The new unit, called Mammotome Hand Held, will be available Sept. 20, according to the Cincinnati-based division of Johnson & Johnson. Ethicon expects Mammotome Hand Held will be employed in physicians’ offices, breast care centers, and hospitals. Using ultrasound guidance, Mammotome Hand Held vacuums out suspicious tissue for examination, according to the company. The original table-mounted Mammotome has been available in the U.S. since 1995 and has been used for more than 375,000 breast biopsies.