FDA Warns Users about Faulty Components in 14 External Defibrillator Models

About 280,000 external defibrillators used worldwide in health care facilities, public places, or in the home may malfunction during attempts to rescue people in sudden cardiac arrest, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned today.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs, leading to death if not treated within minutes.

External defibrillators can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore normal heart rhythm when sudden cardiac arrest occurs.

Faulty components in defibrillators manufactured by Cardiac Science Corp. of Bothell, Wash., may cause the devices to fail to properly deliver a shock. In addition to failure to deliver needed shocks, other problems with the affected models may include interruption of electrocardiography (ECG) analysis, failure to recognize electrode pads, and interference or background noise that makes the device unable to accurately analyze heart rhythm.

The 14 models, which include automated and semi-automated devices, are:

• Powerheart models 9300A, 9300C, 9300D, 9300E, 9300P, 9390A and 9390E
• CardioVive models 92531, 92532 and 92533
• Nihon Kohden models 9200G and 9231 and
• GE Responder models 2019198 and 2023440.

The FDA recommends that hospitals, nursing homes and other high-risk settings obtain alternative external defibrillators and arrange for the repair or replacement of the affected defibrillators.

For all other users, including those who use the device at home or as part of public access programs, the FDA recommends using alternative external defibrillators if they are available, and arranging for the repair or replacement of the affected models.

If alternative external defibrillators are not immediately available, then FDA recommends continuing to use the affected devices if needed, because they may still deliver necessary therapy. The potential benefits of using the available external defibrillators outweigh the risk of not using any of the affected external defibrillators or the risk of device failure.

“The FDA is issuing this notice so that users can take the proper steps necessary to assure they have access to safe and effective defibrillators,” said Jeffrey Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

Cardiac Science recalled its Powerheart and CardioVive models, manufactured between August 2003 and August 2009, on Nov. 13, 2009. But the FDA has since learned that additional Cardiac Science models, two marketed under the Nihon Kohden name, and two marketed by GE Healthcare as GE Responder have similar problems.

Cardiac Science issued a software update for two of its Powerheart defibrillators in February 2010 and plans to issue similar software updates for other affected devices. However, FDA’s review of the updated software indicates that the software detects some, but not all, identified defects.

Nihon Kohden is based in Tokyo, Japan. GE Healthcare is located in Britain.

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OK, who do YOU think is at fault here?

Alright, here's the scenario. A 31 year old woman driving with an expired car registration. When they check it turns out this will be her 76th ticket. Yep, 76th. She owes close to $19,000 in fines. Yep, nineteen thousand in unpaid fines and court fees.

How does anyone get away with 76 traffic tickets and still end up driving? I know when I was younger I walked away from being ticketed a few times just because the cop either liked me or felt sorry for me, not sure which. I know how just having the lights pop on behind my car filled me with extreme trepidation. OK, they scared me half to death.

So I'll ask again... how in the world do you walk away from 75 tickets? Texas is supposed to be tough on crime. Somehow I think that this woman is going to pay her current bail, go out, grab a drink and get behind the wheel of a car again.

Yep. 76 tickets will land you in jail
HARLINGEN, Texas - Tickets for expired car registration usually don't result in jail time. Unless, of course, that ticket is a driver's 76th. Valerie Ortiz Sanchez, 31, was arrested Monday during a routine traffic stop when officers discovered she had 76 outstanding traffic warrants and nearly $19,000 in unpaid fines and court fees dating back nine years.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080116/ap_on_fe_st/odd76_warrants