For a number of reasons, 2009 was a big year for the atrial fibrillation ablation market. Early in the year, Biosense Webster received FDA approval for its radiofrequency ablation catheter, the first such device to launch in the US with a specific AF indication. That approval was much more than just a landmark event for J&J; it changed the landscape of the AF industry, reinvigorating interest in the funding and development of new catheter-based technologies--a trend that has extended through to 2010 and will likely continue in the years ahead.

Each month, Start-Up presents a comprehensive review of young, private life science companies that have received venture funding during the month, including companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic and research instrumentation & reagent sectors.

Catheter ablation dominated the biannual EuroPACE meeting held in Lisbon at the end of June. In addition to the range of manual catheter ablation systems, remote catheter navigation and mapping also attracted large audiences.