BERLIN, June 22 /PRNewswire/ --

- State-of-the-Art Navigational Mapping System Offers Unique Combination of Accuracy, Speed and Efficiency

BERLIN, June 22 /PRNewswire/ --

Biosense Webster, Inc., a worldwide leader in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, will showcase the CARTO(R) 3 System, the most advanced three-dimensional imaging technology for use by electrophysiologists in treating cardiac arrhythmias, commonly referred to as irregular heart rhythms, here at EUROPACE, the official Congress of the European Heart Rhythm Association.

The CARTO(R) 3 System is the world's most advanced 3D mapping platform and builds upon our long-standing commitment to electrophysiologists and their patients, said Shlomi Nachman, Worldwide President, Biosense Webster, Inc. We look forward to introducing this system at EUROPACE in advance of full product launch in the third quarter of this year.

The CARTO(R) 3 System offers three unique features: Advanced Catheter Location (ACL) Technology, Fast Anatomical Mapping (FAM), and a streamlined workflow feature set referred to as CONNECTION OF CHOICE(TM). These three features work in tandem to enhance a physician's ability to treat an array of simple and complex cardiac arrhythmias.

ACL allows for accurate visualization so physicians can clearly pinpoint all catheters in the anatomy with precision and clarity. It can visualize up to five catheters simultaneously with clear distinction of all electrodes.

FAM is a leading-edge technology that quickly and accurately creates an anatomical map as a catheter is moved throughout the cardiac chamber similar to the way that a global positioning system can immediately track where a car may be. Images are high-resolution and similar to the clarity seen in CT-like maps.

CONNECTION OF CHOICE(TM) is enabled by a brand new CARTO hardware configuration featuring a central connection point for all catheters and equipment while preserving the signal quality of intracardiac electrograms. Catheter connections have been re-designed for plug-and-play functionality and automatic catheter recognition. All of these enhancements have been developed to streamline and simplify workflow in the EP lab.

Procedure time is consistently cited by EPs as the most significant barrier to increased use of ablation therapy to treat cardiac arrhythmias, said Nachman. All of the enhancements offered by the CARTO(R) 3 System have been developed to streamline and simplify workflow in the EP lab.

One of the leaders of the recent external evaluations, Professor Gerhard Hindricks, M.D., University Leipzig-Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, in Leipzig, Germany, offered praise for the CARTO(R) 3 System.

The CARTO(R) 3 System is an exciting technology that represents a major step forward for electrophysiologists. I was especially impressed with the Fast Anatomical Mapping [FAM] feature. I was able to create a map quickly and the accuracy was excellent, said Professor Hindricks. In addition, I was pleased with how the system merged with our CT scan. Overall, the evaluation was a great experience for the whole lab team who enjoyed the new quick system set up.

According to Dr. Carlo Pappone, Director of the Department of Arrhythmology at San Raffaele University Hospital in Milan, Italy, another of the EPs participating in the external evaluation for CARTO(R) 3, After performing ten procedures using the CARTO(R) 3 technology, I believe this system will increase the use of ablation to treat Afib.

The CARTO(R) 3 System will be released throughout the European Union, Australia and Canada in the third quarter of 2009. The CARTO(R) 3 System is currently pending U.S. FDA 510(k) review and clearance.

The CARTO(R) 3 System is the latest in a series of innovations from Biosense Webster. In recent months, the company has launched the NAVISTAR(R) RMT THERMOCOOL(R) Catheter in the U.S. and Europe and the EZ STEER(R) THERMOCOOL(R) Bi-Directional Catheter in the U.S. Earlier this year, the FDA approved the NAVISTAR(R) THERMOCOOL(R) Catheter, including its bidirectional EZ STEER(R) Catheter platform, as safe and effective for the treatment of drug refractory recurrent symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation when used with compatible three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping systems like the CARTO(R) System. The NAVISTAR(R) THERMOCOOL(R) Catheters are the first and the only ablation catheters approved by the FDA for the treatment of AFib.

Dr. Hindricks and Pappone are compensated for their time as consultants to Biosense Webster.

About Biosense Webster, Inc.

Biosense Webster, Inc., a Johnson Johnson company, pioneered electrophysiology diagnostic catheters more than 30 years ago and continues to lead the industry as an innovative provider of advanced diagnostic, therapeutic and mapping tools. As the leader in navigation systems and ablation therapy, Biosense Webster, Inc.'s technology includes the largest installed base of navigation systems worldwide in leading hospitals and teaching institutions. With proprietary products such as the CARTO(R) XP System, the CARTOSOUND(TM) Image Integration Software Module, the THERMOCOOL(R) Irrigated Tip Catheter and the LASSO(R) Circular Variable Mapping Catheter, the company is changing the way electrophysiologists diagnose and treat arrhythmias.

BERLIN, June 22 /PRNewswire/ --

Contact: Christopher Allman, (o) +1-908-5414807, (m) +1-305-5866024, CAllman1@its.jnj.com. Europe: Liliane Cuccu, +32-479424499, lcuccu@its.jnj.com.