Guidant and Medtronic Defibrillators

Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators (ICD) are designed to detect and irregular heart rhythm and, upon detection, to shock the heart back into a normal heartbeat pattern. At least 45 defibrillator failures have resulted in the deaths of at least two people caused by a flaw discovered in Guidant Corp's cardiac defibrillator implants. Guidant Corp. admits that the failure and death rate may be much higher because ICD's are not routinely evaluated after death. Guidant has recalled 50,000 of the defective devices and 38,000 of them were implanted in the United States. Several of the models pose a danger of malfunction and are included in the recall.

Medtronic, Inc. has also issued a warning on February 11, 2005, which advided phyusicians about a potential battery shorting mechanism that may occur in some of their ICD's. Device with batteries manufactured between April 2001 and December 2003 may exhibit this shorting action. When shorting occurs, battery depletion can take place within a few days.