      Medtronic Defibrillator FAQsWhat is a defibrillator?Defibrillators are devices that deliver an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal heart rhythm. They are surgically implanted into patients who suffer from life-threatening heart arrhythmia. What is the defect in Medtronic Defibrillators?It has been found that a potential for problems in a battery shorting mechanism may occur in a subset of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators. If a short occurs, a depletion of the battery can take place within a few hours to a few days. The models that have shown to be affected include:
What should I do if I have a Medtronic defibrillator implanted?Medtronic has recommended patients with implanted models to continue routine follow-up procedures. They have also recommended patients to use the low battery voltage PatientAlert indicator and seek medical attention if warmth is experienced in the area surrounding the ICD and to monitor the device periodically. Has Medtronic recalled any of its defibrillators?Yes. In 2005 Medtronic recalled the above mentioned models of defibrillators. This recall affected 86,780 devices. According to documents uncovered by litigation, Medtronic discovered the defect in 2003 but continued to advertise and sell the devices.  |
