Medtronic Will Recall Battery Packs Used In Medical Devices

Medtronic PLC said Wednesday it is voluntarily recalling about 10,000 battery packs used in medical devices that monitor patient breathing because of the risk of heat damage. The company said seven of the defective battery packs reportedly had this occur, one of which "involved a fire resulting in smoke inhalation and minor burns." The battery packs, models 016400 and 010520, are used in the company's Covidien Oridion-labeled Capnostream 20 and Capnostream 20p Patient Monitors, for use in hospitals and the home. Customers with the affected battery packs were sent a letter last week by Medtronic and in the interim, the company recommends using the monitors with the batteries removed.