Events

Recall of Merlinhome RF Remote Monitoring Transmitter Model EX1150

According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration, this recall involved a device in United States that was produced by St Jude Medical Cardiac Rhythm Management Division.

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
    71995
  • Event Risk Class
    Class 2
  • Event Number
    Z-2784-2015
  • Event Initiated Date
    2015-08-18
  • Event Date Posted
    2015-09-28
  • Event Status
    Terminated
  • Event Country
    United States
  • Event Terminated Date
    2016-05-19
  • Event Source
    USFDA
  • Event Source URL
    https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfres/res.cfm?id=139556
  • Notes / Alerts
    U.S. data is current through June 2018. All of the data comes from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, except for the category Manufacturer Parent Company.
    The Parent Company was added by ICIJ.
    The parent company information is based on 2017 public records.
  • Extra notes in the data
    Pulse generator, permanent, implantable - Product Code NVZ
  • Reason
    Some devices exhibit backup vvi operation due to a backup reset.
  • Action
    The notification material is in the form of a Physician Letter was delivered to physicians by FedEx overnight service. The mailing went out on August 17, 2015 for receipt on August 18, 2015. The firm's notification letter identifies clinical implications. Clinical Implications In the event that an Ellipse, Fortify Assura, Unify Assura, or Quadra Assura ICD enters the back-up safety mode, the nominal operational settings will be VVI pacing mode, 67 ppm, 5.0v/0.6ms with bipolar pacing output and defibrillation settings of aVF detection rate of 146 bpm and 36J high voltage therapy. In the event an Assurity or Allure pacemaker enters backup mode, it will have output settings of VVI pacing mode, 67 ppm, 5.0v/0.6ms with unipolar pacing. This anomaly can only occur when the patient is being actively monitored by a Merlin@home bedside transmitter. If a device enters backup mode, the ICD will deliver a patient vibratory alert and the pacemaker will deliver a patient audible alert. If backup operation is encountered, St. Jude Medical Technical Services (1-800-722-3774) can assist with non-invasively restoring the device to normal operation. The firm's notification also idenfities recommendations and mitigations. Recommendations and Mitigations Once available, a Merlin@home transmitter software update will be performed automatically over its telephone, broadband or cellular connection without requiring any action from you or your patients. No changes to the patients remote or in-clinic follow up schedules are required. In the event a patients device reverts to back-up mode, the firm recommends bringing the patient back in the clinic to clear the condition and return the device to full functionality. If you have any questions or concerns contact the local St. Jude Medical representative or St. Jude Medical's Technical Services Department.

Device

Merlinhome RF Remote Monitoring Transmitter Model EX1150
  • Model / Serial
  • Product Classification
    Cardiovascular Devices
  • Device Class
    3
  • Implanted device?
    Yes
  • Distribution
    Worldwide Distribution-US (nationwide) and foreign distribution to the following: Japan, France, Austria, Canada, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, South Africa, Great Britain, Australia, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Portugal, Singapore, Norway, Poland, Ireland, Czech Republic. Denmark, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, Switzerland.
  • Product Description
    Merlin@home RF Remote Monitoring Transmitter Model EX1150. || Intended to aid in the remote support of SJM implantable pacemakers and ICD's.
  • Manufacturer
    St Jude Medical Cardiac Rhythm Management Division

Manufacturer

St Jude Medical Cardiac Rhythm Management Division
  • Manufacturer Address
    St Jude Medical Cardiac Rhythm Management Division, 15900 Valley View Ct, Sylmar CA 91342-3577
  • Manufacturer Parent Company (2017)
    Abbott Laboratories
  • Manufacturer comment
    “We are in constant communication with regulatory agencies and competent authorities worldwide which allows us to implement global recalls or in-country communication quickly and effectively,” Abbott, which now owns St. Jude Medical told ICIJ in a statement. In addition to sending global notices to physicians worldwide, we also make sure that product advisories are available online and classification of product recalls and product advisories are determined by global regulatory bodies which can impact the timing in any given country. MD companies follow varying regulations in different countries. In come countries software is not regulated so a recall in one country related to software would not be classified as a recall or field action in another. In addition, review cycles within the regulatory process can be different in each country which can impact communication and recall timing.
  • Source
    USFDA