US: J&J accused of using catheter monopoly to push Cardiac Mapping System

A Johnson & Johnson subsidiary was hit with a suit in the Central District of California, claiming it’s leveraging its cardiac mapping technology monopoly to prevent “reprocessing” of the single-use catheters that make it work, reported Bloomberg Law.

J&J ‘s Biosense, with its CARTO 3 machine, has a greater than 50% share of the market for the mapping systems, according to the complaint. The machines, which cost US$400,000 to US$500,000, are used in electrophysiology studies and procedures to correct heart arrhythmias. There are about 3,000 of them nationwide, and Biosense’s allegedly only work with its own mapping and ultrasound catheters, which sell at higher prices.

According to its website, Biosense Webster is a global leader in the science of diagnosing and treating heart rhythm disorders. The company established its leadership in electrophysiology with the development of the first real-time, 3D cardiac mapping and navigation technology, as well as the first electrophysiology catheter.

Full Content: Bloomberg

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