Assisting Patients Injured by Surgical Catheters that Fracture and Migrate

The Driscoll Firm, LLC, is investigating claims of those who may have been harmed after undergoing a procedure which involved the use of surgical catheters which have since been voluntarily recalled by their manufacturers.

The catheters at issue are:

• Cook Medical Beacon Tip Catheters – On April 15, 2016, Cook Medical recalled more than four million surgical catheters featuring its Beacon Tip technology.
• Boston Scientific Fetch 2 Aspiration Catheters – On March 22, 2016, Boston Scientific issued a recall of 21,155 of these catheters. (The company acquired this line of catheters from Bayer Medical Care, Inc., in 2014.)

According to both manufacturers, the recalls were prompted by the risk of the devices fracturing and separating, which could in turn cause pieces to embolize to the heart or lungs.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified both recalls as Class I. This is the most serious category of recall. It means that the agency has determined that use of the recalled devices exposes a patient to the reasonable chance of serious injury or death.

If you believe that you or a loved one has been harmed by one of these surgical catheters, contact us today. We can provide a free consultation.

As a law firm that has litigated and resolved defective medical device claims on behalf of thousands of clients across the country, The Driscoll Firm has the skill, experience and resources you need to seek the answers, accountability and compensation you deserve.

We will charge no costs or fees unless we obtain a financial recovery for you.

What Problems Are Connected with Beacon Tip Catheters?

According to the FDA, surgeons use Beacon Tip Catheters to inject contrast dye into blood vessels in order to prepare the heart for a cardiac angiogram, which is an X-ray that is used to diagnose heart problems. A surgeon makes a small incision in the skin and inserts the catheter into a blood vessel.

In July 2015, Cook Medical issued an initial recall of certain catheters which used the Beacon Tip technology. In April 2016, the medical device company expanded the recall to all Beacon Tip catheters.

According to the company, the recall was prompted by reports that the catheter tip could split or separate, leading to pieces entering a patient’s bloodstream. The fractured pieces could, in turn, migrate to the heart or lungs, blocking blood flow and causing serious injury or death.

Cook Medical reports that “environmental conditions” such as storage temperature and humidity could be contributing to the problem. However, the company also recognized that “other undetermined contributors” could be involved as well.

The Driscoll Firm is investigating whether the catheters were defectively designed and whether the company failed to sufficiently warn doctors and patients about the fracturing and migration risks associated with these devices.

Contact us today to learn more about your legal rights and the legal options which may be available to you if you believe that you or a loved one may have been harmed after undergoing a procedure in which a Cook Medical Beacon Tip catheter was used.

What Problems Are Linked to Fetch 2 Aspiration Catheters?

According to Boston Scientific, surgeons use Fetch 2 Aspiration Catheters to remove small blood clots from coronary arteries.

Bayer Medical Care began to manufacture the devices in June 2014. After Boston Scientific acquired the line of surgical catheters, production continued through February 2016.

In April 2016, Boston Scientific initiated its recall of the devices due to reports that the shafts of the catheters could break and embolize, leading to obstruction of blood flow and the need of surgery to remove the device and its fragments.

The company states that it has received only reports of shaft breakage occurring during the surgical procedure. Thus, “there is no risk to patients who previously underwent a thrombectomy procedure” in which the device was used, according to Boston Scientific.

With that said, if you or a loved one has experienced any complications after undergoing a surgery in which you believe a Fetch 2 Aspiration Catheter was used, you owe it to yourself to protect your legal rights and explore all options available for seeking compensation for the harm you have suffered.

The Driscoll Firm is here to help you. Contact us for an immediate case review.

How Can Our Lawyers Help in Your Defective Surgical Catheter Case?

The reality is that most people who undergo a surgical procedure have no idea what type of medical devices their doctor used to carry it out. This is where an experienced lawyer can provide invaluable assistance to you.

At The Driscoll Firm, we can conduct an immediate investigation of your case, including reviewing your medical records. We can determine:

• The manufacturer and brand name of the catheter used in your case
• The specific lot number
• The date it was used and how it was used in your treatment.

We may also work with doctors and other medical experts to determine the link between the defective catheter and the harm you have suffered as well as the full extent of that harm.

We can then proceed to take legal action on your behalf, including filing a lawsuit in the appropriate state or federal court and working with you to ensure all forms and other paperwork are properly filed.

As we prepare your case for trial, we can also work towards pursuing a settlement that fully and fairly compensates you for all of your damages, including:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost income and diminished future earning ability
• Pain and suffering

• Loss of society, services and financial support
• Funeral and burial expenses (if a wrongful death occurred).

It is important to know that many defective medical device lawsuits may be filed in certain cases, leading to consolidation of the individual lawsuits.

For instance, lawsuits filed in different federal courts across the country may be centralized in a single U.S. District Court in what is called a “multidistrict litigation” proceeding, or MDL. The goal is to avoid inconsistent pretrial rulings and to allow pretrial matters to proceed as efficiently as possible.

As a reflection of the depth and breadth of our experience in complex defective medical product cases, our firm has been fortunate to have been appointed to leadership roles in such MDL cases.

If your case becomes part of a MDL, we will work hard to protect your rights and interests and pursue an outcome that meets your unique goals.

Contact Our Defect Hernia Mesh Lawyers Today

If you suspect that you or a loved one has been harmed by the use of a defective surgical catheter, get in touch with The Driscoll Firm without delay. We can get to work immediately on seeking compensation for you.

It starts with a free consultation. Contact us today.