GDT Guidant Corp

Amended Class Action Lawsuit Filed By Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP Against Guidant Corporation, Now Includes Claims on Behalf of Individuals Implanted With Nine Different Guidant Pacemakers RADNOR, Pa., July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement was issued today by the law firm of Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP: The law firm of Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP, which filed a national class action lawsuit last week on behalf of all persons implanted with recalled Guidant (NYSE:GDT) heart defibrillators, has amended its Class Action Complaint to include claims on behalf of individuals implanted with nine different pacemakers made by Guidant. On July 18, 2005 Guidant voluntarily warned physicians that replacements might be needed for nine pacemaker models made between 1997 and 2000. The models include: PULSAR MAX, PULSAR, DISCOVERY, MERIDIAN, PULSAR MAX II, DISCOVERY II, VIRTUS PLUS II, INTELIS II and CONTAK TR. The warning issued by Guidant says that a sealing component in the pacemakers has degraded in some cases, resulting in higher-than-normal moisture in the devices and possible malfunction. Guidant said that it has identified 69 failures among pacemakers. Pacemakers are devices used to help the heart beat in regular rhythm. A pacemaker is used primarily to correct slow heart rates, while an implantable defibrillator detects and corrects both fast and slow heart rates. A pacemaker uses batteries to send electrical impulses to the heart to help it pump properly. An electrode is placed next to the heart wall and small electrical charges travel through the wire to the heart. Most pacemakers are designed to correct abnormally slow arrhythmias, (bradycardias). Abnormally slow heart rhythms can cause weakness, fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness, loss of consciousness, or even death. On June 16, 2005, Guidant announced that it was recalling 50,000 faulty defibrillators due to potentially life-threatening malfunctions in 6 different devices. On June 24, 2005, Guidant advised that it was recalling an additional 5 devices. The following devices are affected under FDA recall classification: VENTAK PRIZM 2 DR, Model 1861, manufactured on or before April 16, 2002 CONTAK RENEWAL, Model H135, manufactured on or before August 26, 2004 CONTAK RENEWAL 2, Model H155, manufactured on or before August 26, 2004 VENTAK PRIZM AVT VITALITY AVT RENEWAL AVT CONTAK RENEWAL 3 CONTAK RENEWAL 4 RENEWAL 3 AVT RENEWAL 4 AVT RENEWAL RF The class action lawsuit filed by Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP against Guidant seeks to: (1) inform the public that users and consumers of Guidant heart devices are at an increased risk of harm and/or death, (2) establish a medical monitoring fund so that every consumer may be tested and treated for the adverse effects of Guidant heart devices, (3) reimburse monies paid for the product, and (4) provide compensation to all victims for personal injuries and death. Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP is a nationally recognized law firm active in pharmaceutical drug and device litigation, pending in federal and state courts across the nation. Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP has taken an active leadership role in drug and device litigation, including the Hormone Therapy litigation currently pending in Pennsylvania state court, where Schiffrin & Barroway is appointed lead liaison counsel, supervising an active docket of almost 1500 cases. For more information on Schiffrin & Barroway, please visit http://www.sbclasslaw.com/. If you or anyone you know is implanted with or has been implanted with one of the Guidant heart devices at issue, you/they may be members of the class described above. Please contact us at: CONTACT: Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP Tobias L. Millrood, Esq. () Steven D. Resnick, Esq. () 280 King of Prussia Road Radnor, PA 19087 1-888-348-6787 (toll-free) or 1-610-822-0273 DATASOURCE: Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP CONTACT: Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP: Tobias L. Millrood, Esq. () or Steven D. Resnick, Esq. (), +1-888-348-6787 or +1-610-822-0273 Web site: http://www.sbclasslaw.com/

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