NIR ON™ Ranger™ w/SOX™ PREMOUNTED STENT SYSTEM

October 8, 1998

Dear Colleague: 

This is to alert you to a serious problem with the NIR ON™ Ranger™ w/SOX™ PREMOUNTED STENT SYSTEM manufactured by Boston Scientific/SCIMED (Maple Grove, MN). We have received reports of device failures, including: balloon ruptures leading to vessel dissection; balloon leaks resulting in incomplete stent deployment and/or stent migration; and difficulty deflating and removing the stent delivery system. At this time, the manufacturer is aware of one patient death and 26 patient injuries associated with these failures. The manufacturer is currently conducting a total market withdrawal of the catheter.

Cause of problem

We have recently learned that the balloon portion of the delivery catheter develops pinhole leaks and ruptures at inflation pressures as low as 3 ATM. This problem manifests during the stent deployment procedure. Preliminary failure investigation conducted by the manufacturer indicates that the cause of the balloon problem appears to be related to the SOX™ manufacturing process.

Recommendations

The FDA considers Boston Scientific/SCIMED’s market withdrawal of the product as a total product recall. We believe the use of this defective product poses a substantial risk to patients. We recommend that you take the following actions:

1. Immediately discontinue use of the product. We have information indicating that these device failures may result in emergency interventions, including coronary bypass surgery.

2. Return all unused catheters to the manufacturer. Boston Scientific/SCIMED will exchange the affected product with the NIR ON™ Ranger™ without SOX™ at no cost.

3. Contact the manufacturer for product specific information. For further information regarding the product recall and exchange program, call the SCIMED customer service line at 888-724-6334.

Background information

The NIR ON™ Ranger™ w/SOX™ Premounted Stent System is a coronary artery stent delivery system. It was approved for commercial distribution on August 12, 1998 and is available in 12 models. As stated in the product labeling, the catheter is indicated for use in:

• patients with symptomatic ischemic disease due to discrete de novo lesions in native coronary arteries (length < 25 mm with a reference vessel diameter of 3.0 to 4.0 mm);
• treatment of abrupt or threatening closure in patients with failed interventional therapy (in lesions with reference diameters in the range of 2.5 to 4.0 mm); and
• patients with symptomatic ischemic heart disease due to lesions in saphenous vein bypass grafts (with lesion length < 30 mm and reference vessels diameter in the range of 3.0 to 4.0 mm).

Reporting adverse events

FDA is interested in obtaining data on malfunctions and adverse events involving this device. Practitioners who are employed by health care facilities that are subject to FDA’s user facility reporting requirements should follow the reporting procedures established by their facility. All other practitioners may submit these reports directly to MedWatch, FDA’s voluntary reporting program. The reports may be submitted by phone at 800-FDA-1088, by fax at 800-FDA-0178, or by mail to: MedWatch, FDA, HF-2, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

Getting more information

If you have questions about this Notification, please contact FDA's  Division of of Small Manufacturers, International and Consumer Assistance (DSMICA) by e-mail at dsmica@fda.hhs.gov or by phone at 1-800-638-2041 or 301-796-7100

FDA Medical Device Public Health Notifications are available on the Internet. You can also be notified through email each time a new Public Health Notification is added to our web page. To subscribe, visit: http://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=USFDA_39.

Sincerely yours,

Larry G. Kessler, Sc.D.
Director
Office of Surveillance and Biometrics
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Food and Drug Administration