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Medical device recalls: May 2018

The FDA posted 161 medical device recall records in May 2018, from 25 recall events by 24 companies. 42 are Class I, the most serious category.

Each product in a recall gets its own record, so one recall event can cover several records. What recall classes mean.

Companies with the most recall events

  1. Smith & Nephew, Inc. · 2 events, 3 records
  2. Covidien Medtronic · 1 event, 40 records
  3. Vyaire Medical · 1 event, 35 records, 35 Class I
  4. Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Inc. · 1 event, 24 records
  5. Boston Scientific Corporation · 1 event, 11 records
  6. Philips Medical Systems Nederlands · 1 event, 7 records
  7. Cook Inc. · 1 event, 6 records
  8. Baxter Healthcare Corporation · 1 event, 5 records

FDA root cause

  1. Process control · 50
  2. Component design/selection · 35
  3. Error in labeling · 24
  4. Device Design · 21
  5. Equipment maintenance · 9
  6. Nonconforming Material/Component · 8
  7. Software design · 5
  8. Employee error · 5

Class I recalls (42)

The most serious: a reasonable probability that using the device will cause serious health problems or death.

Class II recalls (119)

The device may cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, or the chance of serious harm is remote.

Source: FDA Medical Device Recalls and FDA enforcement reports (recall class), via openFDA. Records are grouped by the date the FDA posted them. Methodology · Not medical advice.