News Tagged ‘Sprint Fidelis lead

Man says faulty defibrillator felt like being kicked by horse

kicking horse 100x100“It felt like having a horse inside you trying to kick its way out of your chest,” says Bill Storms of Delaware, Ohio, describing what it felt like when the Medtronic cardiac defibrillator implanted in his chest began malfunctioning and sending electrical jolts through his body. The 38-year-old truck driver said his device misfired 138 times over a five-hour period before the device was eventually turned off.

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Alabama man injured by cardiac defibrillator sues manufacturer

Beasley Allen Law Firm attorneys P. Leigh O’Dell and Ted G. Meadows filed a lawsuit on April 29, 2009, on behalf of Patrick M. Lancaster of Alabama, alleging that the plaintiff suffered injuries as a result of having been implanted with a Sprint Fidelis Lead manufactured by Medtronic, Inc. The lawsuit names defendants Inc., Puerto Rico, Inc., and Puerto Rico Operations Co.

The complaint incorporates by reference the relevant portions of the Master Consolidated Complaint for Individuals on file with the Clerk of the Court for the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota in the matter In Re , INC., SPRINT FIDELIS LEAD PRODUCT LIABILITY LITIGATION.

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Patients, doctors face tough choice about removing faulty heart devices

Doctors and their patients with recalled Medtronic defibrillators implanted in their chests may soon be faced with making difficult decisions about whether to undergo life-threatening surgery to remove the faulty heart devices to prevent possibly fatal events, according to the New York Times.

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Higher number of fatalities connected with Medtronic heart device

Medtronic Inc. has issued a letter to doctors stating that a defective lead wire in its popular heart defibrillator, which was recalled in October 2007, may have contributed to the deaths of 13 individuals in which the heart devices were implanted, according to the Star Tribune. That death toll is up from the medical device company’s original estimate two years ago of five deaths.

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Study shows heart leads may fail as they age

heart lead graphic 150x150Congressional dems seek reversal of Supreme Court Decision

A new study published Monday in the Heart Rhythm medical journal suggests that the more than 200,000 recipients of  Medtronic heart defibrillator leads may be at a greater risk than previously thought.

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FDA approves software update for faulty defibrillator

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a software update from Medtronic that will help detect fractures in the company’s Sprint Fidelis cardiac defibrillator lead. The software will alert both patients and physicians of a possible fracture in the lead. Earlier intervention in the event of such a fracture will help patients avert the serious complications that can arise.

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Lead shocks send patient to psychiatrist

A patient affected by Medtronic’s 2007 of defibrillator leads is suing the company, claiming unnecessary shocks led to post-traumatic stress syndrome that required psychiatric treatment.

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Poor FDA scrutiny of Medtronic Sprint Fidelis lead

The 2007 Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Defibrillator Lead could just be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to defective implantable medical devices. That’s because the number of medical devices meant to be implanted in patients’ bodies is rapidly rising. Unfortunately, despite their rising numbers, as the case of the Sprint Fidelis Lead recall illustrates, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is doing a poor job of regulating implantable devices, and often ignores reports of device failures until someone dies.

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Medtronic settles defective defibrillator lawsuits for $114 Million

Medtronic Inc., the maker of the defective Sprint Fidelis Defibrillator Lead, announced last week that it had reached a settlement agreement regarding another of its faulty medical devices. The company has agreed to pay out $114 million to settle product liability lawsuits filed as the result of injuries cased by its malfunctioning Marquis line of implanted cardiac defibrillators. Despite the huge settlement agreement, said it does not admit liability in the litigation.

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Recalled heart implant gives man shock of his life

In early December, Jerry Jackson received the shock of his life. Or six. The 63-year-old Mineola resident was sweeping crumbs off the bed where his granddaughter sat when a sudden surge in his chest caused him to twist in agony.

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