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Biosense Webster
Biosense Webster was founded in 1995 in Israel as a developer of catheter-based cardiac mapping systems, and was acquired by Johnson & Johnson the...
Biosense Webster
Biosense Webster was founded in 1995 in Israel as a developer of catheter-based cardiac mapping systems, and was acquired by Johnson & Johnson the following year. It now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary within J&J's MedTech segment, with its global headquarters in Irvine, California, and R&D and manufacturing facilities in Israel. The company's core business is electrophysiology catheters and 3D mapping platforms — the CARTO system — used to diagnose and ablate abnormal heart tissue causing arrhythmias. It competes primarily with Abbott's EnSite system and Medtronic's Arctic Front cryoablation balloon. Products span mapping catheters, ablation catheters, sheaths, and access devices. The firm holds over 2,000 patents worldwide. Biosense Webster employs roughly 7,000 people, per public filings. Johnson & Johnson does not break out Biosense Webster's standalone financials, but the MedTech segment that includes it generated roughly $27.4 billion in 2023 (per J&J 10-K, February 2024). The firm operates in over 100 countries. In 2023, J&J announced a $400 million investment to expand its Irvine manufacturing facility. The key structural differentiator: Biosense Webster functions as a dedicated R&D and manufacturing arm inside a conglomerate, not as an independent firm — lacking its own capital allocation decisions or external fund structure. Its mandate is to maintain J&J's electrophysiology market leadership through continuous innovation, with no access to outside capital markets or a separate governance board.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
1995
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Irvine
Corporate office
Irvine, CA, United States
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Is Biosense Webster a family office or an investment firm?
No — Biosense Webster is a medical device manufacturing subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, not a family office or asset manager. It develops catheter-based systems for treating cardiac arrhythmias. The firm does not manage third-party capital or make external investments.
What is the CARTO system and why does it matter?
CARTO is Biosense Webster's flagship 3D electroanatomical mapping platform, used by electrophysiologists to create real-time 3D models of a patient's heart during ablation procedures. It is the most widely used mapping system globally and is a key competitive advantage against Abbott and Medtronic systems.
Does Biosense Webster have independent decision-making or report to Johnson & Johnson?
Biosense Webster operates as a business unit within J&J's MedTech segment, with its leadership reporting to J&J's corporate structure. Strategic decisions such as acquisitions, pricing, and large capital expenditures require J&J board approval. The firm has no separate governance or capital allocation autonomy.
What scale does Biosense Webster operate at?
While J&J does not disclose subsidiary-level revenue, Biosense Webster's over 3 million procedures performed and 7,000 employees place it among the largest electrophysiology device companies globally. J&J's MedTech segment, which includes Biosense Webster, reported $27.4 billion in 2023 sales (per J&J 10-K, February 2024).
Where are Biosense Webster's major R&D and manufacturing sites?
The corporate headquarters is in Irvine, California, with additional R&D and manufacturing operations in Israel, including a facility in Yokneam. A $400 million expansion at the Irvine site was announced in 2024 to increase catheter production capacity.
What competitive advantage does Biosense Webster have?
The company holds over 2,000 patents and its CARTO mapping platform is the gold standard in electrophysiology. Being part of J&J gives it a massive distribution network, clinical research infrastructure, and regulatory expertise — but it also means slower independent innovation cycles compared to smaller startups.
How does Biosense Webster make money?
Revenue comes from selling disposable electrophysiology catheters, mapping systems, and capital equipment to hospitals and electrophysiology labs globally. The business model is volume-driven — per-procedure catheter usage generates recurring revenue, supplemented by capital equipment sales of the CARTO platform.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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