BD Medical Launches World's First Breast Lesion Biopsy Needle with Intraoperative Automatic Flushing Function

Shanghai and DalianMarch 14, 2023/PR Newswire/ --RecentlyThe Second Academic Conference on Breast Surgery of the Chinese Medical Association's Surgical Branch was held in Dalian. The conference discussed hot topics and current status of clinical breast cancer treatment in China. During the conference, BD Medical China's cross-departmental innovation R&D team independently developed the ENCOR disposable breast biopsy system with a flushing tube, holding a launch event themed "Pure·Beyond Vision." This is the world’s first breast biopsy needle capable of automatic intraoperative sample flushing. With its unique tri-concave needle tip design, small outer diameter yet large capacity, and rapid switching of cutting modes, this product elevates minimally invasive breast surgery to a new level of cleanliness, efficiency, and safety, offering significant clinical benefits for both doctors and patients. Professor Liu Yinhua from Peking University First Hospital, Professor Yu Zhigang from Shandong University Second Hospital, Professor Fan Zhimin from Jilin University First Hospital, Professor Wang Jiandong from the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Professor Jiang Hongchuan from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, and Mr. Leung Wah Kin, Vice President of BD Greater China Oncology Diagnostics Division, attended the launch event and participated in the启动仪式 (launch ceremony).

Professor Liu Yinhua, Head of the Breast Surgery Group of the Chinese Surgical Society of the Chinese Medical Association and from Peking University First Hospital, stated: "With the goal of overall prognosis improvement and the pursuit of maximum benefit and minimal harm as the guiding principle, the treatment of breast diseases has undergone continuous transformation over the past few decades. The transition from open surgical biopsy to vacuum-assisted breast biopsy is a typical example. The Breast Surgery Group of the Chinese Surgical Society of the Chinese Medical Association is actively carrying out a series of key initiatives, including promoting consensus and guidelines, establishing platforms for frontline physicians to exchange ideas, and continuously improving standardized training systems that meet international standards while being suitable for national conditions, all with the aim of promoting the standardization and normalization of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Innovative technologies and products have played a significant role in this process. Today, the new generation of breast biopsy and excision needles developed by a local Chinese team is undoubtedly an important advancement, benefiting both doctors and patients through innovation."

Innovations in Breast Rotational Excision Technology: A New Era of Protection for Women’s “Glandular” Health

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. The latest data from the World Health Organization shows that in 2020, there were as many as 2.26 million new cases of breast cancer worldwide, surpassing lung cancer to become the number one cancer globally. Among these, Chinese breast cancer patients account for approximately 19% of the global total. Among malignant tumors threatening women's health, breast cancer has become a real "silent killer." However, breast cancer is not untreatable or unpreventable. With the increasing prevalence of women’s health screenings, more women are able to detect suspicious breast lesions at an earlier stage, and benign conditions can be cured and healed more quickly with active and appropriate treatment methods.

Currently, the main method for obtaining breast lesion tissue and removing lesions is minimally invasive vacuum-assisted biopsy and excision. Compared with traditional surgery, this procedure achieves higher precision in removal, causes less damage, and ensures a safer and more efficient surgical process. In China, approximately 700,000 patients with benign breast tumors undergo biopsy or surgical treatment using breast biopsy and vacuum-assisted systems each year.

"Deformity and scarring are common concerns among clinical patients, but health and beauty are not mutually exclusive choices," introduced Professor Yu Zhigang, Secretary General of the Breast Surgery Group under the Surgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and professor at the Second Hospital of Shandong University. "The clinical application of vacuum-assisted breast biopsy and excision technology in China has exceeded 20 years, achieving goals such as less invasive wounds, more efficient surgeries, and enhanced intraoperative safety, preserving the physical health of patients to the greatest extent, improving treatment comfort, and significantly enhancing prognosis and quality of life."

The launch of the Encor Disposable Breast Biopsy System with a flushing tube marks another innovative product in the development of breast biopsy technology. Building on its existing performance, this new product introduces a flushing function — an industry-first solution designed to address the issue of blood and tissue samples clotting during procedures, which can obscure sample clarity. The added flushing feature prevents blood clots from forming in the sample chamber, ensuring stable vacuum pressure and improving surgical efficiency. It also helps surgeons achieve a clearer field of view for more effective resection, while minimizing the risk of blood splatter, reducing infection control risks, and offering better protection for medical professionals.

Boosting Local R&D Innovation in China, Promoting Standardization of Breast Health Diagnosis and Treatment

With the increasing application of vacuum-assisted breast biopsy and rotating excision technology in China, clinical practice has gradually revealed several pain points in the use of existing rotating excision biopsy needles. These include: unstable negative pressure, sample blockage, low surgical efficiency; dull cutting tips, long operation time, and greater patient injury; inconsistent sample sizes, low diagnostic efficiency; and blood contamination of samples, leading to high infection control risks.

Targeting these practical pain points in Chinese clinical practice, the BD Medical China cross-departmental innovation and R&D team independently developed the EnCor disposable breast biopsy needle with a flushing tube. This next-generation product was first exhibited at the 5th China International Import Expo in 2022, where it became a highly anticipated star exhibit, receiving special coverage in CCTV-2's Economic Information Broadcast focusing on the CIIE. With its successful launch today, "the exhibit has become a product," truly benefiting clinicians and patients.

Mr. Hua-Jian Liang, Vice President of the Oncology Diagnostics Division, Greater China Region, BD Medical, stated: "The BD Ancy Breast Biopsy Probe family has been accompanying the growth of China's breast health initiatives for fifteen years, consistently focusing on developing high-quality products to provide clinical solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor-related diseases. We actively promote localized R&D innovation in China, accelerating the debut and implementation of innovative products in China, empowering technological innovation in domestic breast health care. Moving forward, we will continue to safeguard the breast health of women in China through ongoing investments in various areas such as standardization of breast disease diagnosis and treatment, expansion of product and service availability, and collaboration between industry, academia, research, and medical sectors."

"The official launch of the EnCor disposable breast biopsy and excision needle with a flushing tube marks a new achievement in BD's deepening of local innovation, as well as a new starting point for our 'In China, For Global' strategy," said Mr. Deng Jianmin, Global Senior Vice President of BD and General Manager of Greater China. "In the future, BD will continue to advance its 'Dual-Engine' innovation: on one hand, introducing BD’s globally leading innovative products and solutions to China, accelerating local implementation and promoting widespread adoption; on the other hand, actively driving local R&D based on the actual needs of Chinese researchers, clinicians, and patients, with greater speed and higher relevance, contributing to the Healthy China initiative."