Argon acquires Promex, liver biopsy device

Argon Medical Devices has added the TLAB transjugular liver biopsy instrument to its soft-tissue biopsy lineup after acquiring Promex Technologies, the product’s manufacturer, according to a news release.

The TLAB instrument allows a needle “to flex to acute angles and still function consistently,” the release said. The flexibility is due to “patented Flexcore technology” and is essential in transjugular liver biopsy where the needle must bend to enter the hepatic vein from the liver and collect a specimen via the vessel wall, according to the release.

“[Promex Technologies, doing business as] US Biopsy has been active in the transjugular liver biopsy market since the procedure was first pioneered in the 1990s,” George Leondis, president of Argon Medical, said in the release. “This unique experience was integral in designing TLAB with differentiated features that improve upon existing technologies. This acquisition allows us to leverage our current soft-tissue biopsy portfolio and further demonstrates our commitment to growth in the interventional space.”

With the acquisition, Argon Medical now offers devices to collect liver samples using either percutaneous or transjugular access approaches, according to the release.