Philadelphia Medical Product Liability Lawyers

Common Types of Defective Medical Devices and Dangerous Drugs

Medical devices are created with the intention of correcting injuries, improving quality of life and ultimately saving lives. However, when these devices are defective or used improperly by medical professionals, the results can be devastating. While all medical devices must be tested and approved by the FDA, the manufacturer is ultimately responsible for ensuring the product’s safety, and sometimes they will try to cover up the problem instead of rectifying it. As a result, the FDA is responsible for issuing a product recall. Sadly, this often happens after hundreds, if not thousands, of consumers have been injured by the device.

The following are examples of some of the more common defective medical devices:

• Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filters: Small, cage-like devices insert into the IVC, protecting patients from blood clots in the lungs, heart and brain. They are used in patients who cannot take other blood-thinning drugs.

• Da Vinci Surgical System: A surgeon guides the robotic arm of a surgical robot, using a high-powered camera, joysticks and foot pedals. This type of intuitive surgery has been associated with high rates of injuries.

• DePuy Orthopaedics ASR Hip Replacement Systems: Data suggests that the system’s metal-on-metal design is defective due to the toxic metal particles that can be released into the bloodstream. The side effects of metallic poisoning include hearing loss and vision impairment. Some patients require revision surgery from the device deteriorating or failing entirely.

• Medtronic Medical Devices: Medtronic’s Infuse Bone Graft and Infusion Pump have injured thousands of patients.

• • The infusion pump delivers pain and other medication to patients with chronic conditions. The device has been known to inject a drug into a patient’s tissue. The FDA called for a Class 1 recall, which is its most severe classification.

• • The Infuse Bone Graft was approved for the surgical repair of the lower spine, not the cervical spine. Due to Medtronic’s aggressive marketing, the device was used for cervical spine fusions, which resulted in severe injuries.

• Power Morcellators: These surgical devices that are commonly used to remove fibroids have been known to spread undetected cancerous cells throughout the abdominal cavity.

• Transvaginal Mesh: This device is used to treat urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The FDA has reported serious injuries in close to 3,000 women who received treatment using the device. Complications include erosion of the outer vaginal lining, infections, internal bleeding, pain and recurrence of POP.

• Essure: This is a form of sterilization for women, which involves implanting two metal coils onto the fallopian tubes. Over a three-month period, tissue forms around the coils, blocking the fallopian tubes so that sperm is unable to reach the eggs. Reports of injuries include chronic pain, severe migraines, ectopic pregnancy, device migration, puncture or tearing of the uterus or colon.

• Pacemakers: A defective pacemaker can stop or fail to maintain a proper heart rhythm.

• Heart Valve Implants: If these devices break or leak, it can result in repeated surgeries or death.

• Improperly Sterilized Gynecological Devices: When improperly cleaned, they can cause infection, infertility and miscarriage.

• Xarelto: Xarelto is an anticoagulant or blood thinner used to treat patients with atrial fibrillation or individuals with pulmonary embolisms. Currently, the FDA label carries a “black box” warning informing users that the drug comes with serious health risks. Patients are at risk for serious or fatal bleeding.

Philadelphia Medical Product Liability Lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler Represent Victims of Defective Medical Devices

If a defective medical device has injured you or someone you love, you may be eligible for financial compensation. Philadelphia defective medical device lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler have over 30 years experience holding negligent manufacturing companies responsible for their actions. For a complimentary consultation, call us today at 800-369-0899 or contact.