It is estimated that 10,700 Medtronic 6948 leads were implanted in patients in the United States. The Medtronic lead is also referred to as the “Sprint Fidelis 6948″ heart lead. In October 2007 Medtronic announced a recall of their 6948 lead after increasing reports of lead fractures. The leads (wires) connect a defibrillator to the heart by placing the leads in or on the heart muscle. The recalled Medtronic leads, including the Medtronic 6948 model, were only used to deliver therapy in defibrillators and they were not used with pacemakers. A lead fracture can cause the implanted defibrillator to deliver unnecessary shocks or not deliver shock therapy when required.
There are two main locations on the 6948 Sprint Fidelis lead where approximately 90 % of fractures are likely to occur:
1. The distal portion of the lead which affects the anode (ring electrode) and;
2. Near the anchoring sleeve tie-down, predominantly affecting the cathode (helix tip electrode), and occasionally the high voltage conductor.
The recalled Medtronic Sprint Fidelis 6948 leads were not only implanted in patients with Medtronic defibrillators. The leads were also used with defibrillators from other manufacturers such as St. Jude and Boston Scientific/Guidant. It is important to check your patient wallet card to identify which lead was implanted.

Medtronic has released software updates which are supposed to provide patients with 2-3 days advance notice of a potential lead fracture that could cause an unnecessary shock. This software is called Lead Integrity Alert and it is estimated that around 76% of patients will be warned before a lead fracture occurs.
We represent all Medtronic lead recall patients with implanted 6948 leads on a contingency basis which means that there are never any legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. For a free no-obligation consultation please call Toll Free at 1-888-343-5375 or fill out our short online contact form and an attorney will contact you to answer any of your questions.
We are a law firm dedicated to helping those injured by Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Defibrillator Lead.
Medtronic Recall Lawsuit
U.S. Food & Drug Administration Statement On Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Defibrillator
Medtronic Suspends Sprint Fidelis Defibrillation Leads (PDF)
U.S. FDA Class 1 Recall Report
If you or a loved one have been injured by the Medtronic Sprint Fidelis lead please contact us immediately. You may be entitled to compensation.
Some people who have been harmed by defective Medtronic leads have filed lawsuits against the manufacturer. But, before filing a Medtronic lead lawsuit, there are several things that you should know.
Which product is defective?
Medtronic Sprint Fidelis defibrillator leads were more prone to fracturing than previous generation models of leads. Defibrillators are implanted heart devices that [...]
Medtronic manufactured a type of heart defibrillator lead that had defective wires. The defective wires were “leads,” which connected the defibrillator to the heart. The leads would fracture, or break, on numerous defibrillators. The Medtronic lead fracture was deadly in some patients.
Which defibrillators were defective?
The Medtronic lead fracture would occur in the Medtronic Sprint Fidelis [...]
Medtronic has been has been involved in litigation for defective Sprint Fidelis heart defibrillator leads. These Medtronics lawsuits were initiated because the “leads,” which are wires that connect the defibrillator device to the heart, could break, causing serious injury, and even death in some patients.
How many defective leads were produced?
More than 268,000 Medtronic Sprint Fidelis [...]
If you are seeking Medtronic lawsuit dismissed 2010 information and news about the recall related to your internal cardioverter defibrillator, we can provide the necessary background, facts and resources you need.
Medtronic Defibrillator
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Patients across the country continue to file Medtronic Sprint Fidelis lawsuit claims spurred by lead recall of the Sprint Fidelis wires. As patients face long-term side effects from the faulty defibrillator wires, they seek compensation from the company they believe knew of the wire problems long before the recall was issued.
A defibrillator is a life-saving [...]