Personal Injury Lawsuit

Although it may seem that everyday brings a new list of products that have been recalled due to some dangerous defect, it is important to stay up to date with information regarding products that may affect the health of you and your family. Missing information about a recall could lead to devastating consequences.

Medtronic defibrillators fall under this category. In recent months, Medtronic has come under fire as an extremely dangerous defect which effects certain models of their defibrillators has come to the attention of the public. This defect and the problems it causes are detailed below, but if you or someone you love has been injured as a result of this device, contact a defibrillator lawsuit lawyer immediately to schedule a free initial consultation.

What a Defibrillator Does

The Medtronic defibrillator is a device that is implanted in a patient’s chest to automatically monitor the consistency of that patient’s heart rhythm. It works like almost any other defibrillator, sending a ’shock wave’ to the patient’s heart when the heartbeat falls out of rhythm. The device is meant to work an average of ten years at a time, as any replacement necessities with this device require additional surgery.

The Problem with Medtronic Defibrillators

Recent reports regarding the defective nature of this product involve one main component of the overall system, the Sprint Fidelis Wire Lead. This wire lead is implanted into the patient’s chest along with the main unit of the system. It is used to send the shock wave that jolts the heart back into a steady rhythm.

This wire lead is a critical component of the defibrillator in general. Unfortunately, the wire lead has been found to malfunction in several different situations. Specifically, the wire lead has shown a tendency to tear once inside the patient, which means that the shock that is sent from the main component of the device never reaches the heart.

The Consequences

When a product such as a defibrillator does not work properly, that means that the heart is not going to be shocked back into rhythm when it needs that support. Any heartbeat that remains irregular can lead to the ultimate failure of the heart. Heart failure can lead to immediate and deadly consequences.