Medtronic drug pump recalled by FDA
The Food and Drug Administration has recalled the SynchroMed E1 pump for potential failure in a Medtronic drug pump. The recalled Medtronic drug pumps were deemed a “class 1”, the most serious type, by the Food and Drug Administration last August. The drug pump used to treat pain, spasticity and cancer was recalled after motors failed because of gear-shaft wear. They were manufactured in Fridley and Puerto Rico before September 1999. Fortunately, no deaths or serious injuries have been reported. There are currently estimated to be 52,000 patients using the pump with about 8,000 of them that have the type that could fail. Medtronic in August informed doctors of the possible pump failure and encouraged them to monitor patients using the device.
