Biosense Webster Receives the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Award for Excellence in Technology for its Cardiac Ablation Systems

Palo Alto, Calif. — August 8, 2006 — Frost & Sullivan selected Biosense Webster, Inc. as the recipient of its 2006 Excellence in Technology Award in the cardiac rhythm management market for its longstanding commitment to developing clinically safe and complete cardiac ablation systems. The company is known for its exceptional technologies in the electrophysiology (EP) diagnostic, therapeutic, and electroanatomic cardiac mapping industry.

Each year, this Award is presented to a company that has pioneered the development and introduction of a technology in the market; a technology that has either impacted or has the potential to impact several market sectors. This Award recognizes a company’s successful technology development that is expected to bring significant contributions to the industry in terms of adoption, change, and competitive posture.

Traditionally, anti-arrythmia medications have been the first method of treatment for cardiac arrythmia; however a significant number of patients report little or no benefit from those drugs. Over the last 15 years, cardiac ablation has become an increasingly prominent method for effectively and permanently curing these disorders with or without supplementary medication.

“As the leader in cardiac navigation systems, Biosense Webster’s technology includes the largest installed base of navigation systems worldwide in leading hospitals and teaching institutions,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Venkat Rajan. “With proprietary products such as the CARTOMERGE™ Image Integration Software Module, the THERMOCOOL® Irrigated Tip Catheter and the LASSO® Circular Variable Mapping Catheter, the company offers the widest range of product offerings in the industry, including custom catheter designs and both traditional and soft-tip models.”

One of the biggest concerns with RF ablation has been the high temperature of the device tip, which can lead to unnecessary scarring of tissue surrounding the ablation site. The THERMOCOOL® catheter is the first power controlled, open-loop irrigated tip catheter. It is designed to maintain safe tip-to-tissue temperatures so physicians can apply the power needed to create a wider variety of lesion types and effectively monitor catheter tip cooling.

Biosense Webster’s recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the combination of their CARTO™ remote maneuvering technology (RMT) EP navigation system and NAVISTAR® RMT catheter with the Niobe Magnetic Navigation System is a groundbreaking advancement in magnetic systems that will lead to more reproducible procedural outcomes. Through this system, electrophysiologists can steer the catheter remotely, map the electrical activity of the heart, and ablate targeted areas that require treatment with high precision and reduced procedure times.

Biosense Webster also introduced the CARTOMERGE™ image integration module, which is a technological breakthrough for diagnosing heart arrhythmias. The module enables electrophysiologists to create 3-D electroanatomical maps that are registered with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images.

“Merging the CT/MRI image with the CARTO™ XP System 3-D map gives electrophysiologists a more precise view of the heart, allowing them to better navigate catheters to targeted points within the heart,” notes Rajan. “Through these advanced navigational systems, Biosense Webster is able to treat both a broader range of indications and a greater number of patients.”

About Biosense Webster, Inc.

Biosense Webster, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, pioneered EP 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, 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 CartoMerge™ Image Integration Software Module, the ThermoCool® Irrigated Tip Catheter and the Lasso® Circular Variable Mapping Catheter, the company is changing the way electrophysiologists diagnose and treat arrhythmias.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company’s industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. To learn more about Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices program please visit http://www.awards.frost.com/ or http://www.medicaldevices.frost.com

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Frost & Sullivan

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