Recalled Medical Devices Received Fast-Track FDA Approval

A recently recalled medical device, the Axxent FlexiShield Mini, was originally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 510(K) process.

2011-05-04

NEW YORK, NY, May 04, 2011 (Press-News.org) Patients are at risk of life-threatening injuries from a device meant to protect healthy tissue from unwanted radiation during cancer treatment. The medical device, called the Axxent FlexiShield Mini, has been classified as the most serious type of recall.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recalls of this level involve "situations in which there is a reasonable probability that use of these products will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."

"Unsurprisingly, the shield was approved by the FDA via an abbreviated process used for devices that are considered substantially similar to products already on the market. This process, known as 510(K), allows a manufacturer to obtain market approval with little clinical testing and no testing on humans," said New York personal injury lawyer David Perecman.

Most of the medical devices recalled for life-threatening or very serious hazards were cleared for market through the 510(K) process, according to a study published in 2011 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The drug agency cleared the Axxent FlexiShield Mini in June 2009. However, the device was flawed and left hundreds of particles of the metal tungsten in women's breasts. The tungsten particles could pose significant health risks for these women in the future, understands New York personal injury lawyer Perecman.

According to The New York Times, neither the manufacturer, iCAD Inc., nor the FDA could explain what went wrong with the shields.

They were taken off the market in February.

So far, 29 women are known to have been affected. Some of the women are considering having mastectomies to rid their bodies of the tungsten particles.

New York personal injury lawyer Perecman urges mammography and breast cancer patients to contact their doctors for follow up procedures.

If an individual has been injured by a defective medical device, he or she should contact an experienced New York personal injury lawyer to investigate whether or not they may be entitled to compensation.

Article provided by The Perecman Firm, P.L.L.C.
Visit us at www.perecman.com

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