Abbott Laboratories has issued a recall of all Ellipse Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators manufactured between April 5, 2019, and May 29, 2019, because of exposed aluminum wires within the device, potentially preventing defibrillation.
The Ellipse Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators, formerly manufactured by St. Jude Medical (now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abbott), provide pacing for patients with bradycardia and electric shock or pacing for patients with tachycardia. The device is implanted under the skin in the upper chest area with leads running into the heart.
The recall has been issued because electrical failures have occurred; Abbott has determined that these failures are caused by a faulty manufacturing process that left some aluminum wires in the leads partially exposed. Wires without proper insulation are likely to short, leaving the device without the ability to provide high voltage therapy.
Abbott is aware of no related reports of electrical failure in any of the devices that have already been implanted, the Food and Drug Administration announced, and no reports of patient harm, adverse events, or death have occurred. All affected devices that were implanted have either been replaced or are scheduled to be replaced, the agency said.