Safety Alert for Vital Signs Hygroscopic Condenser Humidifier Passive Humidification Device (HCH) for Vital Signs Anesthesia Breathing Circuits

According to Department of Health, this safety alert involved a device in Hong Kong that was produced by GE Healthcare.

What is this?

Alerts provide important information and recommendations about products. Even though an alert has been issued, it does not necessarily mean a product is considered to be unsafe. Safety Alerts, addressed to health workers and users, may include recalls. They can be written by manufacturers, but also by health officials.

Learn more about the data here
  • Type of Event
    Safety alert
  • Date
    2011-08-04
  • Event Country
  • Event Source
    DH
  • Event Source URL
  • Notes / Alerts
    Hong Kong data is current through September 2018. All of the data comes from the Department of Health (Hong Kong), except for the categories Manufacturer Parent Company and Product Classification.
    The Parent Company and the Product Classification were added by ICIJ.
    The parent company information is based on 2017 public records. The device classification information comes from FDA’s Product Classification by Review Panel, based on matches of data from the U.S. and Hong Kong.
  • Extra notes in the data
    Medical Device Safety Alert
  • Reason
    Fda class i recall: ge healthcare vital signs hygroscopic condenser humidifier passive humidification device (hch) for vital signs anesthesia breathing circuits it has come to our attention that the u.S. food and drug administration (fda) has issued a class i recall concerning ge healthcare vital signs hygroscopic condenser humidifier passive humidification device (hch) for vital signs anesthesia breathing circuits. the vital signs hch is sold as part of the vital signs anesthesia breathing circuit. an hch is used to maintain moisture in the patient's airway during mechanical ventilation. the affected device may have an occlusion that can prevent proper flow of the medical gases or oxygen, possibly resulting in insufficient oxygen delivered to the patient. clinical users have been directed to not use the anesthesia circuits containing the vital signs devices passive humidification device (hygroscopic condenser humidifier, or "hch"), or the stand alone hch device with the affected product item numbers and lot numbers, and to isolate all affected product. according to the local supplier, hong kong is not affected. for details, please visit the following fda website: http://www.Fda.Gov/medicaldevices/safety/listofrecalls/ucm266542.Htm if you are in possession of the affected product, please contact your supplier for necessary actions.

Device

  • Model / Serial
  • Product Classification
  • Product Description
    Medical Device Safety Alert: [4 Aug 2011] GE Healthcare Vital Signs Hygroscopic Condenser Humidifier Passive Humidification Device (HCH) for Vital Signs Anesthesia Breathing Circuits
  • Manufacturer

Manufacturer