FDA Issues Class I Recall for Newport HT70 and HT70 Plus Ventilators
The FDA recently issued a Class I recall, the highest level of a recall, on the Newport HT70 and HT70 Plus ventilators. These devices provide breathing support for those who can’t breathe on their own. The company which owns the ventilators, Medtronic, is recalling the ventilators after they discovered a software glitch could shut down the device without warning. For those who require continual ventilator support, this is bad news. The ventilators could turn off without the user knowing, leading to severe health consequences afterwards. A software update from Medtronic to fix the issue is expected soon. In the meantime, users and caregivers of the recalled ventilators should be vigilant when using these devices and, if possible, have a way to monitor the device’s activity when away from the patient. If you are affected by this recall, you can call Medtronic’s Technical Support Department at 800-255-6774.
– Daniel Keum