Events

Recall of SynchroMed EL Drug Infusion Pump

According to New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, this recall involved a device in New Zealand that was produced by Medtronic Inc.

What is this?

A correction or removal action taken by a manufacturer to address a problem with a medical device. Recalls occur when a medical device is defective, when it could be a risk to health, or when it is both defective and a risk to health.

Learn more about the data here
  • Type of Event
    Recall
  • Event ID
    14927
  • Event Initiated Date
    2013-06-28
  • Event Country
    New Zealand
  • Event Source
    NZMMDSA
  • Event Source URL
    https://medsafe.govt.nz/hot/Recalls/RecallSearch.asp
  • Notes / Alerts
    Data from New Zealand is current through July 2018. All of the data comes from the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, 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 recall data from the U.S. and New Zealand.
  • Extra notes in the data
    Recalling Organisation: Medtronic New Zealand Limited, Unit 16 Mezzanine Level, 5 Gloucester Park Road, Onehunga, AUCKLAND
  • Reason
    Manufacturer is undertaking a hazard alert for the following 3 issues:, internal electrical shorting - an electrical short can occur when ions from the drug solution and humidity permeate through the drug patrhway tubing inside the pump and interact with the feedthough over time. this may present as a motor stall, or low battery reset/ alarm and leads to a loss or reduction in therapy., priming bolus - patients may receive unintended drug at a high rate of infusion in the csf during the priming bolus and a period of reduced concentration of drug wll occur following the priming bolus., pump refill - this is a re-issue and update of information sent to patient in dec 2010.
  • Action
    Manufacturer to issue advice regarding use

Device

SynchroMed EL Drug Infusion Pump

Manufacturer

Medtronic Inc
  • Manufacturer Parent Company (2017)
    Medtronic plc
  • Manufacturer comment
    “If our surveillance systems identify a potential performance issue, our personnel promptly evaluate the problem, including, when appropriate, conducting root cause investigations and internal testing to assess whether the product continues to meet specifications and defined performance criteria,” Medtronic told ICIJ in a statement. “In some cases, based on this evaluation, Medtronic may determine that a recall is necessary.” The company said that it communicates with healthcare providers and/or patients and provide recommendations to address such issues. Medtronic noted that these communications can include letters, emails, calls, press releases, physician notifications and social media postings, as well as informing the FDA and other regulators of the actions.
  • Source
    NZMMDSA