The FBI is investigating Johnson and Johnson's surgical device that breaks down growths in the uterus so that they can be easily removed.

The federal officials are probing whether the company already knew that the device known as a laparoscopic power morcellator could spread cancer in women who used it. It was withdrawn from the market last year.

The device was used by surgeons during certain minimally-invasive hysterectomy procedures or to remove uterine fibroids. It grounds up tissue so that it could easily be removed through tiny incisions.

A warning was issued by the US FDA about the cancer risk in April 2014. It said that morcellation could worsen the patient's likelihood of long-term survival. The FDA implemented its most serious warning on the device in November.

The medical device is being made by Ethicon, a division of Johnson & Johnson. It urged doctors to stop its use. When J&J/Ethicon was asked about the investigation it told CBS News they have not been contacted by the FBI regarding morcellation devices.

However, the FBI has interviewed at least one of the affected patients, Dr. Amy Reed, who is an anesthesiologist and mother of six. She underwent a hysterectomy with a morcellator at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital in
2013. Follow-up testing showed that she had cancer that had spread through her abdomen.

Reed's husband, Dr. Hooman Noorchashm, said that they reached out to the FBI in late 2013. The agents and in New Jersey finally listened to them. They were interviewed last October about their concerns.

J&J may have been alerted about the risks as early as 2006. However, it didn't remove the device from the market till July 2014.