A-Z List of Medical Devices

Bair Hugger Blanketactive litigation

The Bair Hugger Normothermia System helps those undergoing orthopedic surgery to maintain a normal core body temperature. Thousands of legal claims have been filed by patients who used one claiming the system caused infections. Some patients have also suffered burns due to the product.

Bladder Meshnot accepting new claims

Surgically implanted bladder mesh treats stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse (POP). It supports organs that may shift out of place. This synthetic sling can cause its own set of problems – some of them debilitating or permanent.

Bone Cementnot accepting new claims

Bone cement is used in various orthopedic surgeries, commonly for knee replacements. It’s an adhesive that may cause chronic pain, a restricted range of motion, swelling, or instability around the knee. One sign of trouble after a knee replacement surgery is a loosening of the tibial component which may require surgery on your replaced knee.

Calaxo Bone Screwsnot accepting new claims

Before the FDA recalled them in 2007, these screws were used in knee surgeries. They were supposed to dissolve in the knee over a long period of time. Some of them dissolved too soon, creating severe problems in some users.

Cold Therapynot accepting new claims

Cold therapy (or “cryotherapy”) devices treat swelling after surgery. After filling this device (which is like a cooler) with ice water, a cooling pad is placed on the affected body part. A pump circulates ice water to the cooling pad, keeping it cold for extended periods. Side effects can be nerve and skin damage, including frostbite.

CPAP and BiPAPnot accepting new claims

Millions of Philips CPAP, BiPAP, and ventilator machines of various models have been recalled. The devices have been linked to serious lung injuries and an increased cancer risk.

DaVinci Surgical Robot Dangersnot accepting new claims

Da Vinci® surgical robots are used in more than 2,000 medical facilities. It’s capable of performing complex laparoscopic surgeries, such as hysterectomies and prostate removals, while surgeons control the machine using a separate console. Patients may be injured by improperly or insufficiently trained surgeons or because the machine doesn’t give the same feel as a surgeon using his or her hands.

DePuy Attune Kneenot accepting new claims

Some DePuy Orthopaedics Attune knee replacement devices are defective – with a higher failure rate than expected being reported to the FDA. Problems include “de-bonding” (loosening) of the device from connected bones, causing painful swelling and inflammation which may lead to instability, loss of muscular control, and other infection-based injuries.

Endoscopeactive litigation

An endoscope is a thin tube with a camera that sends images to a nearby screen attached to one end, inserted into the body, and used to diagnose or treat a health issue. Lawsuits against manufacturers of some endoscopes claim they are too complex to be properly cleaned, causing bacterial infections in patients.

Eon® IPGnot accepting new claims

St. Medical’s Eon® and Eon Mini™ implantable pulse generator (IPG) devices are used to manage severe pain. The failures of long-life, rechargeable batteries, were largely responsible for a major recall of these devices. Many patients reported uncomfortable or high heat when the devices were recharged. In some cases, patients needed revision or removal surgery.

Essurenot accepting new claims

This implant is a permanent birth control device inserted in a patient’s fallopian tubes. It has been linked to miscarriages, severe bleeding, autoimmune problems, chronic pain, hair loss, and even death. More than 750,000 Essure devices have been sold. The FDA has received up to 30,000 complaints of adverse health events due to the device.

Exactech Optetrak Kneeactive litigation

Since its FDA approval in 1994, the Exactech Optetrak knee replacement system has undergone several revisions. A 2011 version may cause knee pain, reduced range of motion, swelling, loss of mobility, instability, and difficulty in maintaining balance.

Hernia Mesh Injuryactive litigation

Abdominal and hernia surgeries involve a wide range of “mesh,” patch, and plug products. Mesh is a medical device which reinforces damaged or missing tissue. Possible side effects include infection, chronic pain, abscesses, organ perforation or puncture, allergic reaction, mesh erosion, hernia recurrence, and corrective surgery.

Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filtersactive litigation

IVC filters are implanted into patients who may suffer an artery blockage in the lung or a pulmonary embolism. If one falls apart, its pieces can cause serious injuries. Corrective surgeries are needed and, if not performed in time, filter fragments could cause death.

Knee Replacementsnot accepting new claims

Knee surgery is common in patients from 45 to 64 years old. Many knee replacements were built to last five to ten years and designed for inactive, elderly patients, and not for long term use. Many patients have suffered failures of these implants, which can cause pain, decreased mobility, additional surgery, and lifelong side effects.

Medtronic Infuse Bone Graft Implantnot accepting new claims

The Medtronic Infuse bone graft can cause severe and permanent complications when misused. Healthcare professions have used it in ways not approved by the FDA and patients may not be aware of this before surgeries.

Mirena® IUDnot accepting new claims

This intrauterine device is inserted into the uterus for up to five years at a time. They carry a risk of a puncture of the wall of the uterus, causing serious, long-lasting internal injuries. The product prevents pregnancy by releasing a hormone that helps prevent egg fertilization. This hormone may also cause strokes and a condition that mimics the symptoms of brain tumors.

Paragard IUDactive litigation

A variety of problems have been reported by users of this medical device — from breaking apart inside the body, to puncturing the uterus, to causing infections that can potentially result in sterility.

Power Morcellatorsactive litigation

This surgical tool is used mostly for gynecologic procedures and operations. It has sharp, rotating blades that chop and mince human tissue then pull it back into a waiting receptacle. It can’t recover all the tissue removed and if some of it is malignant, it can spread cancer in the body.

Shoulder Joint Replacement Implantsnot accepting new claims

Implanting a replacement for a failing shoulder joint can result in deep tissue infections and metal-on-metal joints can release metallic debris potentially damaging surrounding tissue, known as metallosis. The tissue dies and becomes a mass of dark necrotic tissue, causing a variety of secondary complications.

ST. JUDE PACEMAKERnot accepting new claims

Pacemakers use batteries to deliver shocks to the heart to keep it beating correctly. Pacemakers should give users enough warning a battery will fail so it can be replaced. Some St. Jude pacemakers have a defective battery design that could cause total battery failure in as little as 24 hours. If this happens, the user won’t have enough time to have it replaced and the pacemaker will cease working.

Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler Infectionnot accepting new claims

The Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler is a device used in open-heart surgeries. It’s linked to a pathogen called mycobacterium chimaera, which can cause a potentially deadly infection, possibly several months or years after the surgery. There is a high death rate, most likely because by the time it’s diagnosed, the organism has been in the patient for a long time.

Stryker® Hip Replacements active litigation

These metal hip implants promise a durable, efficient alternative to other hip replacements. But they have been recalled due to several serious health complications. Due to metallosis, additional hospitalizations and painful corrective surgeries may be needed to alleviate pain and swelling caused by the implants.

Surgical Staples active litigation

Because surgical staples are often used internally, when they are defective or poorly placed, serious injury can result. Staples can be malformed, staplers can misfire, or surgeons can use the wrong size or or put them in the wrong area. Surgical staples injuries can lead to internal bleeding, organ damage, infections and even death.

Talcum Powderactive litigation

The use of talcum powder by women who regularly apply the product directly to their perineal area or undergarments frequently and regularly for extended periods could cause ovarian cancer. The potential cause is contamination by asbestos fibers, a known cancer-causing substance.

Textured Breast Implantactive litigation

Textured breast implants are linked to a rare form of cancer, breast implant anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016. The next year the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated at least nine deaths caused by this cancer occurred in the US.

Transvaginal Mesh Failurenot accepting new claims

Vaginal mesh prevents organs from falling out of place following surgery to treat pelvic organ prolapse. Use of this mesh can cause bladder perforation, pelvic bleeding, urinary incontinence, and pain during intercourse.

Zimmer Knee Replacement Recallsnot accepting new claims

More than a thousand legal claims have been filed against Zimmer, which makes several types of knee implants, due to injuries caused by these products. There are many ways a knee replacement can fail, requiring additional surgeries and causing harm.