Health Canada is recalling several pacemakers built by St. Jude Medical after the company warned doctors and patients about a battery defect.
The batteries of the devices could die earlier than expected, Health Canada warned, with no warning.
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The effected devices are:
- Fortify Assura DR
- Fortify Assura VR
- Fortify DR
- Fortify ST DR
- Fortify ST VR
- Fortify VR
- Quadra Assura
- Quadra Assura MP
- Unify Assura
- Unify
- Unify Quadra CRT-D
St. Jude said that two deaths have been linked to the problem with 10 more patients losing consciousness after the devices stopped working. The company did say, however, that the issue is rare: “The vast majority of devices sold worldwide have not experienced premature battery depletion.”
Health Canada is urging anyone using these devices to contact the clinic responsible for their follow-up care immediately.
Almost 350,000 people around the world have defibrillators affected by the issue.
—with files from The Associated Press
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