Lawsuit.com - Find an experienced Thoratec VAD lawyer to handle your Thoratec VAD lawsuit.

Welcome to Lawsuit.com
Username:
Password:

Our mission is to provide each client with the most effective ethical representation possible, and to preserve and promote the civil justice system.

Recall of Certain Thoratec VADs

Posted on April 29, 2008

Thoratec, a manufacturer of medical devices, is conducting two recalls related to its TLC-II ventricular assist device (VAD) systems.

One recall applies to TLC-II paracorporeal VADs manufactured between January 1, 2004 and October 2, 2006. The problem is with the collet nuts that connect the VAD to the inflow cannula. When these components were redesigned, the newer inflow cannula had a smaller diameter. If the newer cannula is used with the older design of collet nut, the cannula can disconnect from the pump and result in severe patient bleeding.

The older collet nuts for the inflow cannula are black in color, whereas the newer ones are white. The company says that black collet nuts should not be used with any VAD. Hospitals should make sure that all patients are using the redesigned white collet nut that is packaged with the redesigned inflow cannula.

The other recall affects the portable driver that can be used with the TLC-II VADs. This driver is a mobile unit that powers the blood pump when a patient is ambulatory and it can be used with either the paracorporeal or implantable VAD. The problem is that the driver's compressor motor may wear out much earlier than the expected 3000 hours of use. If that happens, the driver could stop working without warning, which would stop the patient's circulatory support.

This recall includes all drivers manufactured since September 2005. The company says that hospitals should check their current inventory and not use drivers with more than 1500 hours of use until they have been serviced. Hospitals should contact Thoratec to arrange for servicing.

Patients on VAD support with a TLC-II portable driver should immediately contact their hospitals to determine if their device is affected by this recall. Patients should also have a back-up driver and hand-pumps available at all times, and they or their caregivers should be trained in back-up procedures.

Additional Information:

FDA MedWatch Safety Alert. Thoratec Paracorporeal Ventricular Assist System (PVAD). July 27, 2007.
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/safety07.htm#PVAD

FDA MedWatch Safety Alert. Thoratec TLC-II Portable Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Driver. July 27, 2007.
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/safety07.htm#TLCII

Lawsuit Membership
Law firms interested in becoming part of this unique legal community should apply here.

Lawsuit Video Tips
To become a participating member of Lawsuit.com you must supply a video about your firm, talk about the litigation you find important, and how you help your clients. For ideas and video tips on effective videos click here.

Become an Editor
Lawsuit.com is currently building one of the largest human-edited legal video databases in the Web 2.0 World. Want to help? Apply here to become an Editor. Comment

Find a Thoratec VAD Attorney

Fill out the form below to start your claim:

First Name:
Last Name:
City:
State:
Zip:
Phone:	-- * req
* Please include a valid phone number for contact purposes. It will be treated as confidential.
Alt Phone:	-- (optional)
Email:
Claim:
Please fill out the Firstname field. Please fill out the Lastname field. Please enter a city name. Please select a state. Your zipcode entry must be 5 numbers. Please enter a valid phone number. The alternate phone number you entered is invalid. Please enter a valid email or a phone number. Please enter a valid email. Please enter a case description, helping us to determine your legal needs. Please check the confirmation box then click on the submit button. Your question will be referred to an attorney near you. If your question is of a legal nature, then by submitting this form you agree you are not forming a formal attorney / client relationship.

Firm of the Month

April 2008 - Personal Injury California

Stanton T. Mathews & Associates has built its practice on representing and fighting for the rights of accident victims in Laguna Hills, California and the surrounding Counties of Central Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino. With over 64 years of combined personal injury legal experience; the personal injury lawyers at Stanton T. Mathews & Associates have the experience and ability to provide personal injury/accident legal solutions to the residents of Laguna Hills, California and throughout the entire State of California.