Product Safety News—Recall of Small Mechanical Heart Pump

Jessica Smagacz

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Today’s American Association of Justice’s News Brief reported on a company called Thoratec Corp. recalling batches of a small mechanical heart pump.

The device recalled is a medical device with catalog numbers 1355 and 102139 (distributed to 153 hospitals and distributors throughout the US and other countries). This device is the HeartMate II pump used as a temporary treatment method for patients waiting for heart transplants. It is also used for patients who are too ill for a transplant and are usually at the end-stage of heart failure.

The mechanical heart circulates blood to help patients survive while they are waiting for a transplant organ to become available. This pump is used for children, women, and small men.

Five people have died while using this mechanical heart. Thoratec has also received 27 reports over a five year period of wear and fatigue of an electrical wire connected to the device. 1,972 devices have been implanted in these five years.

Companies have a responsibility to consumers. A priority among companies is to make sure their products are not defective or inherently dangerous. For those who have sustained serious injuries from products you may want to contact the attorneys at Childers, Buck, and Schlueter to see how they can help protect your legal rights.