Medtronic Model 37751 (neurostimulator)

Main article: Medtronic neurostimulators

2016: Problem with charging neurostimulators

On October 19, 2016, Medtronic warned of charging problems in its neurostimulators used for deep brain stimulation. The defect can be fatal for patients.

Medtronic sent letters to doctors in which it spoke about a malfunction of chargers for implantable neurostimulators under the designation Model 37751. In some cases, they cease to function and become unable to fully charge the medical device without resetting.

Some Medtronic customers complained that their chargers suddenly turned off, with a sound signal heard every five seconds, and all the information disappeared on the screen of the device. The manufacturer found that such an error most often occurs in chargers manufactured since November 2014 and having serial numbers that begin with the characters NKA4 or NKU4. In other cases, the percentage of marriage does not exceed 2%.

Medtronic warned of a life-threatening problem in its neurostimulators

Deep brain stimulation provides constant low electrical stimulation in a small region of the brain through implanted electrodes connected to the implanted battery. Brain stimulation is used to partially restore normal movements in Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia.

During a charger failure, the batteries of Medtronic Model 37751 implantable neurostimulators do not charge, as a result of which patients may feel the return of neurological symptoms. Loss of deep brain stimulation in some cases can lead to life-threatening injuries and even death. For example, without neurostimulation, people with Parkinson's disease may develop an akinetic crisis (complete inability to move), and epilepsy patients may experience an epileptic continuous seizure (when attacks last too long or follow each other without stopping).

To avoid problems with the Model 37751, Medtronic recommends leaving the charger connected to the power grid until the neurostimulator battery is fully charged.^[1]

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