Boston Scientific Sues J&J Subsidiary Atraverse Again: Hotwire Radiofrequency Guidewire Caught in Two Patent Lawsuits

The patent dispute between Boston Scientific (BSX.N) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) over cardiac procedure devices continues to escalate. A complaint made public on October 8, 2026 shows that Boston Scientific has again sued Atraverse Medical, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, alleging that Atraverse's Hotwire radiofrequency puncture guidewire infringes a newly granted patent held by Boston Scientific.

According to Medical Device Network, the complaint was filed on July 11, 2026, and made public on October 8. The patent at issue is U.S. Patent No. 12,733,955 (the "'955 patent"), entitled "Methods and Devices for Puncturing Tissue," which was granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on September 15, 2026.

The case docket number on CourtListener is 1:25-cv-01035-JLH, presided over by Judge Jennifer L. Hall of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. It should be noted that the case number corresponds to an original lawsuit filed in August 2025 involving a different patent (the "'238 patent"); the present '955 patent lawsuit adds new infringement claims on the basis of the original case.

Hotwire is a sterile, single-use radiofrequency guidewire device developed by Atraverse Medical. By delivering radiofrequency energy to a distal electrode, it assists physicians in puncturing the atrial septum during transseptal catheterization procedures, establishing a pathway into the left atrium to support subsequent treatments such as atrial fibrillation ablation. The product received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance in May 2024 and has since been commercially sold.

According to the complaint, Boston Scientific's infringement claims encompass both direct and indirect infringement. As to direct infringement, it alleges that Atraverse directly infringes at least claims 1 and 22 of the '955 patent by making, using, importing, offering for sale, and selling the Hotwire device. As to indirect infringement, it alleges that Atraverse induces clinicians to directly infringe the patent by instructing and encouraging physicians to use Hotwire in transseptal procedures.

Boston Scientific also alleges that Atraverse's infringement is willful. In support of this claim, the complaint sets out the parties' prior communications: on August 18, 2025, Boston Scientific first sued Atraverse, alleging infringement of the '238 patent; two days later, it sent a cease-and-desist letter stating that Hotwire would also infringe a soon-to-be-granted patent in the same family; and on September 17, 2026, two days after the '955 patent was granted, Boston Scientific's counsel notified Atraverse's counsel and provided a copy of the patent.

Boston Scientific requests that the court order Atraverse to pay an unspecified amount of monetary damages and issue an injunction prohibiting it from continuing the alleged infringing conduct.