Company Profile
Atraverse Medical, Inc. is a US-based manufacturer of next-generation left-heart access and radiofrequency (RF) technology, headquartered in Cardiff by the Sea, Encinitas, California. Founded in July 2022 by John Slump (CEO and President), Dr. Steven Mickelsen (Chief Translational Science Officer), and Eric Sauter (COO), the privately held company employs 32 people and has raised USD 69.6 million in total funding. On 24 April 2026, Johnson ＆ Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Atraverse Medical, with the transaction expected to close in the second quarter of 2026 subject to customary closing conditions.
Core Products ＆ Technologies
HOTWIRE™ Transseptal Access System
• HOTWIRE RF Guidewire: Radiofrequency-enabled guidewire designed for controlled transseptal puncture to access the left atrium; FDA 510(k) cleared May 2024; zero-exchange design with universal sheath compatibility; proprietary tip architecture enhances echocardiographic visualization by 25%
• HOTWIRE RF Generator: Integrated RF generator with impedance-sensing technology that automatically shuts off energy delivery upon transseptal crossing to minimize unnecessary RF exposure in the left atrium; FDA 510(k) cleared August 2025
• Fully Integrated System: Complete end-to-end, sheath-agnostic solution combining RF guidewire and generator; FDA 510(k) cleared December 2025
• Clinical Performance: Used in nearly 3,000 clinical procedures by close to 100 cardiac electrophysiologists and interventional cardiologists; multicenter first-in-human study of approximately 500 patients reported 100% procedural success with 29% of cases performed without fluoroscopy
Market Position ＆ Certifications
Atraverse Medical holds a specialized position in the left-heart access and transseptal puncture market for electrophysiology and structural heart procedures, competing with Boston Scientific (ProTrack RF Anchor Wire) and Abbott. Key strengths include:
• 3+ years of focused innovation in left-heart access technology
• First-mover advantage: First left-heart access system with impedance-guided technology and automatic energy shutoff mechanism
• Regulatory compliance: FDA 510(k) cleared (May 2024 for guidewire, August 2025 for generator, December 2025 for full system)
• Proven clinical adoption: Nearly 3,000 procedures performed since limited market release, demonstrating rapid physician acceptance
• Strategic acquisition: Integration into Johnson ＆ Johnson's cardiac ablation portfolio alongside Biosense Webster electrophysiology platforms
Corporate Timeline
2022 — Founded in July in Encinitas, California by John Slump, Steven Mickelsen, and Eric Sauter; team includes former Farapulse executives (acquired by Boston Scientific for USD 295M+ upfront)
2023 — Completed Series Seed financing rounds
2024 — HOTWIRE RF guidewire received FDA 510(k) clearance (May); completed oversubscribed seed round of USD 12.5 million alongside FDA clearance
2025 — HOTWIRE RF Generator received FDA 510(k) clearance (August); fully integrated system received FDA 510(k) clearance (December); closed USD 29.4 million financing to expand commercialization; presented first-in-human data at AF Symposium 2026 in Boston showing 100% procedural success in ~500 patients
2026 — Entered definitive agreement to be acquired by Johnson ＆ Johnson (April 24); transaction expected to close in Q2 2026
Target Markets ＆ Applications
• Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Transseptal access for catheter ablation procedures to treat AFib and other cardiac arrhythmias
• Structural Heart Interventions: Left atrium access for left atrial appendage closure, mitral valve repair, and other structural heart procedures
• Electrophysiology Labs: Integration into standard EP lab workflows to streamline transseptal puncture and reduce fluoroscopy exposure
• Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery: Controlled RF-enabled access as an alternative to traditional mechanical needle puncture
• Global Expansion: Leveraging Johnson ＆ Johnson's commercial infrastructure for worldwide distribution post-acquisition
Contact Information
Global Headquarters
Address: 2611 South Coast Highway 101, Suite 204, Cardiff by the Sea, Encinitas, California 92007, USA
Website: www.atraversemedical.com
