EXHIBIT 5

                    [EPSTEIN BECKER & GREEN, P.C. LETTERHEAD]

                                  June 29, 1999

Board of Directors of
  Novoste Corporation
3890 Steve Reynolds Blvd.
Norcross, Georgia  30093

            Re: Stock Option Plan

Gentlemen:

            We have acted as counsel to Novoste Corporation (the "Company") in
connection with its filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") covering 1,400,000 shares (the "Shares") of the
Company's authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value,
issuable upon the exercise of options under the Company's Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan").

            As such counsel, we have examined originals, or copies certified to
our satisfaction, of the corporate records of the Company, agreements and other
instruments, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers of the
Company and such other documents as we deemed necessary as a basis for the
opinion hereinafter set forth.

            In such examination we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals
and the conformity to original documents of documents submitted to us as
certified or photostatic copies.

            On the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares
have been duly authorized and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance
with the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

            We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
aforesaid Registration Statement.

                                                  Very truly yours,

                                                  EPSTEIN BECKER & GREEN, P.C.


                                                  By: /s/ Seth I. Truwit
                                                      --------------------------
                                                          Seth I. Truwit