bad medical devices blog

The Kugel Mesh Patch, implanted in hernia patients until it was taken off the market in December of 2005, puts patients at risk for bowel perforations. The memory recoil ring, made to open the patch after it’s been implanted, can break and puncture the intestines or create dangerous passageways between the intestines and other […]

A recent article at lawyersandsettlements.com reported on yet another woman enduring dangerous and painful shocks to the heart from her Medtronic defibrillator, only this time it wasn’t the Sprint Fidelis leads doing the shocking. This woman’s defibrillator had the Sprint Quattro leads, which many doctors have resorted back to using after the recall of […]

The Mentor ObTape Vaginal Sling, a hammock-like device designed to replace eroded or weakened muscles in the urethra, went on the market in 2003 to provide women relief from bladder incontinence. Women implanted with the vaginal slings looked forward to avoiding embarrassing urine leaks and hoped to not have to run to the bathroom […]

Medtronic recalled its Sprint Fidelis leads in October after five deaths were attributed to the leads fracturing, but the problems and worry are far from over for those still implanted with the leads.
Every few weeks, there’s a news story on someone else whose defibrillator has sent them to the hospital or back to their doctor […]

Bayer Diabetes Care has notified healthcare professionals and consumers of a voluntary market recall of test strips (sensors) used exclusively with the Contour TS Blood Glucose Meter. The product was recalled because test strips from specific lots could result in blood glucose readings with a positive bias that could demonstrate 5 - 17% higher test […]

Cardinal Health has notified its customers of a voluntary recall for all Alaris Pump modules, model 8100 (formerly known as Medley Pump
module) shipped prior to September 27, 2007.
The recall covers Alaris Pump modules that were distributed to 46 States, the District of Columbia, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and Saudi Arabia. The pump module was recalled […]

On December 20, the FDA announced that Cardinal Health issued the following update to the company’s worldwide recall for its Alaris Pump
module:
On Nov. 5, 2007, Cardinal Health notified customers of a voluntary recall for all Alaris Pump modules, model 8100 (formerly known as Medley Pump module), shipped prior to Sept. 27, 2007. Serial numbers for […]

Medtronic announced Friday an agreement to settle lawsuits for its Marquis defibrillators, for which Medtronic issued a warning letter to physicians in February 2005 due to faulty batteries. The agreement will settle 2,682 cases for $95.6 million, plus $18.5 million in attorneys’ fees.
Medtronic began warning physicians in mid-February 2005 that devices with batteries manufactured […]

Although it’s been a few months since Medtronic recalled its potentially deadly Sprint Fidelis leads, which may fracture and shock patients to death or stop delivering life-saving shocks when needed, many patients implanted with the leads are still worried. Because it’s dangerous and expensive to replace the leads, those already implanted must simply wait […]

Per a recent New York Times article, 40 Illinois and Texas residents have been gotten blood infections from contaminated medical syringes. Doctors at Rush traced the infections this month to heparin-filled syringes that the patients used in home treatment for cancer and other ailments. The infections were caused by bacteria found in a […]