Biosense Webster’s Heliostar Radiofrequency Balloon Ablation Catheter Launched in Europe

October 13, 2022—Biosense Webster, Inc., part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech, announced the European launch of the CE Mark–approved Heliostar radiofrequency (RF) balloon ablation catheter, which is indicated for use in catheter-based cardiac electrophysiological mapping of the atria and—when used with a compatible multichannel RF generator—for cardiac ablation.

According to Biosense Webster, the Heliostar is fully integrated with the company’s Carto 3 system, a three-dimensional mapping solution. Its features a compliant balloon that can conform to varied pulmonary vein anatomy and provides the ability to achieve single-shot pulmonary vein isolation in 12 seconds.

The company further noted that use of the Heliostar balloon ablation catheter, with the Lassostar catheter and Carto 3 system, may reduce fluoroscopy time and exposure. Shorter procedural time may require less anesthesia and radiation and may result in less facility time.

The Heliostar device is not commercially available in the United States, advised Biosense Webster.