Guidant Pacemakers and Defibrillators
Guidant Pacemakers and Defibrillators have been recalled over the past two years due to defects in the devices which could lead to serious side effects including death.In July 2005, Guidant Corp. issued a recall for their pacemakers because of a faulty sealing component that caused moisture to leak into the pacemakers and affect the electronic controls. The defect caused the pacemakers to either stop pacing or increase to an excessive pace.
The initial recall occurred after 69 reports of pacemaker failures, some of which lead to consumers losing consciousness. Guidant voluntarily recalled the pacemakers and offered to replace them at no charge.A second recall of Guidant Pacemakers occurred in the summer of 2006.
Guidant Corp also recalled thousands of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) due to a manufacturing defect that could cause the defibrillators to short-circuit or malfunction.
The ICDs are implanted into patients with congestive heart failure, abnormally fast heart rhythms or irregular heartbeats. Devices that malfunctioned either failed to shock the heart when needed or sent a shock when it was not necessary. Signs that a defibrillator is defective include a rapid heart rate, loss of consciousness, heart failure, and an audible beep.The recalled devices include:
- PULSAR® MAX Models 1170, 1171, 1270
- PULSAR Models 0470, 0870, 0970, 0972, 1172, 1272
- DISCOVERY® Models 1174, 1175, 1273, 1274, 1275
- MERIDIAN® Models 0476, 0976, 1176, 1276
- PULSAR MAX II Models 1180, 1181, 1280
- DISCOVERY II Models 0481, 0981, 1184, 1186, 1187, 1283, 1284, 1285, 1286
- CONTAK TR® Model 1241
- VIRTUS PLUS® II* Models 1380, 1480
- INTELIS II Models 1483, 1484, 1485, 1384, 1385, 1349, 1499
- Insignia and Nexus pacemakers
- Contak Renewal TR and TR 2 cardiac resynchronization pacemakers
- Ventak Prizm 2, Vitality, and Vitality 2 ICDs (implantable cardioverter defibrillators)
Guidant Pacemakers and Defibrillators in the News
[ GUIDANT Class Action: Boston.com] Aug-24-07: Boston Scientific Corp. agreed to pay $195 million to settle a class-action suit related to allegations that Guidant hid problems with implantable heart devices prior to being acquired.[ GUIDANT: BizJournals] Jul-13-07: Boston Scientific Corp. agrees to pay upwards of $195 million to settle more than 4,000 lawsuits it faces regarding faulty heart defibrillators.
[ GUIDANT: Madison St Clair Record ] Jun-27-07: Fourteen people with heart conditions filed a defective product lawsuit against Guidant Corp. regarding defibrillators and/or pacemakers they claim were defective and required them to be hospitalized.
[ GUIDANT: MarketWatch ] Mar-02-07: Boston Scientific reveals that the tally of lawsuits related to 2005 issues with Guidant Pacemakers and Defibrillators, has grown to more than 1,175 cases.
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