Boston Scientific Warns Doctors of ICD Battery Issue

Boston Scientific recalled and issued a safety advisory for some of its implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) because of accelerated battery depletion, which could shorten the life of the devices.

This issue occurred in the company's Vitality line of ICDs and in the Contak Renewal line of cardiac resynchronization therapy devices.

The problem may reduce the time between elective replacement indicator and end of life to less than three months, the company said.

As of April 5, 19 of approximately 73,000 devices worldwide were confirmed to have accelerated battery depletion, the company said.

Devices in this subset have been removed from distribution and are being retrieved from hospitals, the firm said.