A medical device is any product or equipment, such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, vertebral body replacement (VBR), hip or other joint replacement, artificial heart valve or stem, cosmetic implant, rod, or spinal cage, used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease.

A home healthcare medical device is any product or equipment used in the home environment by persons who are ill or have disabilities. Examples include a ventilator wheelchair infusion pump, blood glucose meter, or apnea monitor.

People facing serious health conditions rely on medical devices to improve health, prolong life, and enable active living. Despite their promises, however, medical devices sometimes fail to work as they should. They may even cause serious personal injury or wrongful death. If medical devices lead to such harms, the Law Office of Dane E. Johnson, personal injury lawyer in Portland, Oregon, can help.

A defective medical device injury lawsuit may be based on a product that is defective in any of three ways:

Design defect. The medical device may be designed in such a way that it contributes to personal injury or wrongful death. Examples include heart valve replacement and repair products manufactured by St. Jude Medical using Silzone® coating on the sewing cuff fabric. The silver coating was designed to reduce the risk of endocarditis, an infection of the heart’s inner lining. But paravalvular leaks (“PVL”) occurred, usually between the heart tissue and the attached valve sewing ring. PVL can cause endocarditis, which can lead to reduced heart functioning, heart failure, and death if not diagnosed and treated promptly.

Manufacturing defect. One particular unit of the product is made in a defective way that causes harm. Examples include oxygen therapy nebulizers, such as those manufactured by Teleflex. Such products are designed to create a fine mist to ensure that the medical gases supplied to patients’ airways are humidified. A manufacturing defect in some nebulizers can lead to a failure to provide humidification, causing discomfort and irritation.

Warning defect. Labeling on medical devices may be insufficient to warn of risks, leading to patient harm.

The Law Office of Dane E. Johnson is investigating cases involving these and other medical devices:

Zimmer Hip Implant Durom® Cup (hip replacement)
Bard® Composix® Kugel® Mesh Hernia Patch (surgical patch)
Mentor ObTape® Vaginal Sling
Synthes USA, Ti Synex II Vertebral Body Replacement (VBR)
Edwards Lifesciences CardioVations EndoClamp Aortic Catheter
Physio-Control Inc. LIFEPAK CR Plus Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Draeger Medical Inc. Stabilet Infant Warmer
Luv N’ Care Gel-Filled Teether
Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm Quick-Set Insulin Infusion Set

We welcome your contact for a free, no-obligation attorney consultation on all potential defective medical device claims. Please contact us online, or call the Law Office of Dane E. Johnson toll free at (800) 714-3204. If you or a loved one need immediate legal assistance in Oregon with a medical product liability injury question, please call Portland, Oregon injury attorney Dane Johnson directly at (503) 975-8298.

The Law Office of Dane E. Johnson is dedicated to helping improve product safety and keeping consumers aware of the risks that dangerous products pose. The following is the most recent defective medical device recall and consumer safety information available as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):