Johnson & Johnson's Electrophysiology Unit Hit with Permanent Injunction in Antitrust Case Over Device Reprocessing

Aug 30, 2025 10:30 CST Updated 10:30

Johnson & Johnson

Medical Device R&D and Manufacturer

Johnson & Johnson andNew Developments in the Litigation Between Medical Device Reprocessing Company Innovative Health. Since June,Judgment of the Central District Court of California$442 million in compensation.

Recently, Johnson & Johnson has receivedUnited States District Court for the Central District of California"Permanent Injunction":

When customers purchase cardiac mapping equipment from Biosense Webster, a division of Johnson & Johnson now referred to as Johnson & Johnson MedTech, from a reprocessing company, Johnson & Johnson must not refuse to provide clinical support.
Prohibit Johnson & Johnson from implementing any new technology that would prevent the reprocessing equipment from functioning properly;
Johnson & Johnson must submit a detailed report to the court every six months, explaining the measures taken to ensure compliance. Senior executives of the company must also certify, "under penalty of perjury," that they are fully compliant with the injunction.

The validity period of this ban is five years.But the court reserves the right to adjust the term based on "current market conditions."

Statements from All Parties

Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI)Association of Medical Device Reprocessors，AMDR）

"Hospitals and patients have long paid the price for Biotronik's anti-competitive behavior. This ruling reaffirms that leading device manufacturers must not abuse their market power to prevent hospitals from providing the best care to the most patients at the lowest cost while minimizing environmental impact. The jury verdict, along with the judge’s injunction, sends a strong signal to the medical technology industry: the judicial system is vigilant and will not tolerate monopolistic practices. The court’s decision establishes AMDR members as legitimate guardians of sustainable practices within the healthcare system. We thank Innovative Health for its leadership throughout this six-year litigation process."

---Daniel J. Vukelich AMDRChairman and Chief Executive Officer

Johnson & Johnson (Always Oppose the Judge's Ruling）

"We have always believed that our actions are pro-competitive and that we have fulfilled our responsibility to ensure patient safety and product performance. We are carefully evaluating the verdict and reviewing all legal options, including appeals. Johnson & Johnson Medical Technologies remains committed to upholding the highest standards in supporting our customers and providing critical care solutions."

Case Background

Innovative HealthIn the lawsuit filed in 2019, Innovative Health pointed out that Johnson & Johnson illegallyCarto 3The expert technical support is bundled with the purchase of new catheters, allowing Johnson & Johnson to maintain its monopoly地位 in the cardiac mapping catheter market. The complaint states: "Johnson & Johnson inCarto 3The clinical support (tying product market) sector has sufficient economic strength to coerce customers into purchasing its high-density mapping catheters and ultrasound catheters (tied products).

Johnson & Johnson was ultimately ordered to pay $442.2 million in compensation. However, Innovative Health did not stop there—it subsequently requested the court to issue a permanent injunction prohibiting Johnson & Johnson from restricting services based on whether the devices have been reprocessed.

For innovative medical device companies, this is undoubtedly a huge blow. After spending hundreds of millions or even billions developing innovative technologies, they end up being exploited for free by reprocessing companies.Reprocessing companies only need to clean and sterilize high-value consumables recycled from hospitals before selling them back to hospitals at high prices for clinical reuse. Although reprocessing appears to be more environmentally friendly, it can stifle the innovation drive of medical device companies, leading to a slowdown in medical technology advancements. In the future, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic,Industry giants like Intuitive will faceReprocessing Company's Huge Challenge.