Recalls

Medical device recalls exceeded 1,000 in 2024, according to a recently published recall index report from Sedgwick. More than 10% of those recalls were class I, the FDA’s most serious category.

For the fourth time in as many years the FDA has issued a communication concerning a key accessory from Olympus used in several types of urological procedures. This time, however, the agency has added a class I recall confirmation to its original early alert on the device issued in December 2024. A device safety specialist provided Medtech Insight with a deeper understanding of the problem as well as overall scope safety.

While communications from the FDA have been scant since the presidential transition, early alerts from the agency’s device center are flowing again. The most recent alert includes an issue with numerous injuries and four deaths associated with a device used during cardiac procedures.

A failure to properly route cardiac events has led Philips to recall its heart monitoring software that interprets ECG data. Multiple injuries and two deaths are associated with the problem.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration is advising companies to get up to speed with its new recall procedure, which is designed to improve the timeliness of recalls, alerts and corrections, and reduce regulatory burden for sponsors.

The US FDA has labeled Hologic’s BioZorb Markers recall as Class I high-risk, highlighting safety concerns about devices cleared via the 510(k) pathway. The recall is due to reports of adverse events tied to the radiographic markers.

The settlement with the SEC closes out safety issues around the company’s Alaris infusion pumps. BD reportedly failed to alert investors or the FDA of known problems with the infusion pumps’ software for several years.

The US FDA has issued its first communication as part of a new pilot program the agency initiated to increase transparency in recalls of high-risk medical devices. The early alerts are meant to minimize the time between the FDA finding out about a potential issue and informing stakeholders.

A recent pilot program from public-private partnership MDIC attempted to apply the FDA’s established Voluntary Improvement Program framework to manufacturers with known compliance issues. Participants found an improved mindset, a better relationship with the FDA, and conclusions to ongoing enforcement actions.

This week, the US device center announced a pilot program to speed communications about high-risk recalls; Cardinal paid $3.9B for Advanced Diabetes Supply Group and GIA Alliance; a companion diagnostic for Merck lung cancer drug Tepmetko got FDA clearance; and more.

This week, Medtronic and Hologic announced major safety issues; the US government awarded $110m to innovators in women’s health; CDC partnered with Quest on a bird flu diagnostic; and more.

This week, Establishment Labs Holdings announced the FDA gave it premarket approval for Motiva breast implant, Cologuard lands FDA approval for Cologuard Plus and GE HealthCare gets FDA nod for a new imaging agent. The FDA announces another expansion for TAP into ophthalmology and radiology. The AAMI and CTA will join forces to develop standards for AI and ML-enabled health care products.  

Philips has issued a recall of various Trilogy ventilators due to safety issues that may affect their ability to properly function. The US FDA has designated the recall class I, its most serious.

Smiths Medical has recalled scores of Bivona tracheostomy tubes due to a manufacturing defect that can result in disastrous consequences. The company reports multiple injuries, and one death, linked to the devices.

This week, a Delaware court awarded Auris Health shareholders $1bn in a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson; Abbott recalled some FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors; and McKesson purchased a controlling interest in a Florida cancer care chain.

The VMSR program allows manufacturers of many low-risk devices to report adverse events on a quarterly basis. 

Inari Medical is updating use instructions for a clot-removing catheter due to the potential for serious adverse effects, including death.

This week, a medical group sued the FDA to block a lab-developed test rule; the FDA published guidance on device classifications; Defibtec issued a recall of its chest compression device and ICU Medical updated instructions for its infusion pump batteries; Maui Imaging raised a $4m DOD grant to put imaging tech into military-based trauma units.

Despite a March recall and a following update, Tandem’s t:slim X2 application is still causing the battery-depleting defect.

Philips has filed a lawsuit against a Pennsylvania lab it hired to analyze sound abatement foam that prompted widespread recalls of its CPAP machines. Philips alleges PSN Labs grossly overestimated the risk to patients, which led Philips to initiate a larger recall than it otherwise would have.