SPECIFIC PRODUCTS
PULSAR, PULSAR MAX,
PULSAR MAX II
DISCOVERY, DISCOVERY II
MERIDIAN, CONTAK TR
PACEMAKERS
The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency which is an executive agency of the UK Governments Department of Health has indicated that heart pacemakers or defibrillators known as Pulsar, Pulsar Max, Pulsar Max II, Discovery, Discovery II, Meridian and Contak TR manufactured between 25 November 1997 and 26 October 2000 may malfunction due to failure of a hermetic sealing component within the casing which may lead to ingress of body fluids thereby adversely affecting the devices performance. There is no anticipated failure time however the average failure time has been estimated at 44 months from implant with risk of failure increasing as time progresses.
Abnormal device behaviours resulting from failure of Pulsar, Pulsar Max, Pulsar Max II, Discovery, Discovery II, Meridian and Contak TR pacemakers can present a serious health risk to patients. The Guidant Corporation which manufactures these devices voluntarily notified doctors on July 18th 2005 of the defects and admitted that at least 69 of these models manufactured between 1997 and 2000 had failed causing 20 pacing failures, five incidents of fainting, and possibly one death. Over 78,000 pacemakers in this class were used worldwide of which 28,000 devices remain implanted, with approximately 1,400 in the UK. Warning signs of a malfunctioning pacemaker include :-
- irregular heart pacing
- early battery depletion
- advanced replacement warnings
- inappropriate reset warnings
If you have been injured by failure of a defective Pulsar, Pulsar Max, Pulsar Max II, Discovery, Discovery II, Meridian or Contak TR pacemaker then you may be able to claim damages. For free advice on no win no fee claims just complete the contact form and a member of The Law Society panel of personal injury experts will telephone you with no obligation. If after speaking to us you decide to proceed no further then you are quite at liberty to do so and you will not be charged for our advice.
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