Faulty Electrical Leads

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Lead Wires: The electronic wires, known as Sprint Fidelis leads, that are attached to implanted heart devices such as ICDs (implantable cardioverter defibrillators) appear to be prone to fracture.  These faulty electrical lead wire fractures are failing to provide the correct shock (either no shock or too many shocks) to certain patients who have Medtronic heart devices implanted since 2004.

At issue are Medtronic models 6930, 6931, 6948 and 6949 leads.

Warning from Medtronic: Medtronic recently advised doctors, and now patients have been warned by Medtronic of this risk of the leads failing.  The defibrillators with Sprint Fidelis leads are implanted devices with a least one lead connecting the patients heart and the device.  The affected Sprint Fidelis leads can often be identified by the Patient ID card which would contain any of these numbers: 6930, 6931, 6948, 6949. (The number usually appears at the start of a long set of numbers on the patient ID card.)   

What are the Chances of Failure?  Medtronic reports a small chance of fractures on the Sprint Fidelis leads.  The FDA says the risk is 1%, but that is based on past adverse event reports.  The risk could prove to be much higher now that the public is being made aware and doctors know what to look for.

Should your doctor remove the lead? Patients with Sprint Fidelis leads face a risk in handling this problem as well.  While there is a problem with the lead, Medtronic advises that it is even more likely that a patient will experience complications from removal than from a problem with a Sprint Fidelis lead.  So it seems that patients are stuck in a dilemma, whether to leave the recalled leads in the body or remove them and face the risks attached with removal. Medtronic says that an independent panel of physicians that they have obtained information from recommends against removing Sprint Fidelis leads except in very unusual circumstances.

Contact A Lawyer:
Many patients with Sprint Fidelis leads are now hearing from their doctor’s office regarding this problem. We think it is wise to stay in close contact with your doctor about this recall and all health considerations.  We also encourage you to contact our office for any questions you have about your legal right to hold Medtronic accountable for the faulty lead wires.

Please fill out the form below to see if you have a Sprint Fidelis Defibrillator Lead Wire case.

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* Click on the Disclaimer, below, for Terms

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PERSONAL INFORMATION

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MEDICAL INFORMATION

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Which manufacturer's device has been implanted?
What was the date you received your implant?	January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902
Which model lead wires were used?	-Please Select- Sprint Fidelis Model 6930 Sprint Fidelis Model 6931 Sprint Fidelis Model 6948 Sprint Fidelis Model 6949 Other
If 'Other' Please Specify:
Did your lead wires break or fracture?	Yes No
What complications have you had from the defibrillator leads (wires, electrodes)?
Were your lead wires replaced or capped?	Yes No
What recommendations have your doctors made about replacing these wires (leads)?
If wires replaced or implant removed, what was the date of removal or replacement of your implant or wires?
January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902
Please be specific and tell us about your experience with the Defibrillator and Leads:
Please enter any questions or comments/questions in this space: