Hamilton Medical Removes Coaxial Breathing Circuit Set

Hamilton Medical, Inc. ventilator coaxial breathing circuits are used to connect HAMILTON-C1/T1/MR1 ventilators to a patient tube or respiratory mask in the course of ventilation of a patient. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is aware that the manufacturer Hamilton Medical has sent a letter to consumers recommending that specific coaxial breathing circuit sets used with HAMILTON-C1/ T-1/MR1 ventilators should be removed from where they are sold or used. The company has said that some of these sets, preassembled with an expiratory valve set, don’t perform as intended. Sometimes the expiratory valve membrane sticks to the sealing ring on the body of the expiratory valve, which can impair the valve opening and expiratory gas flow. The problem, the letter says, won’t be noticed during the pre-operative test of the ventilator unless a test lung is actively ventilated. If the expiratory valve membrane is stuck to the sealing ring, within the first breaths after ventilation starts, the problem becomes apparent. If your breathing or your loved one’s breathing was impaired and injuries were sustained, you should call the seasoned Chicago-based product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group.

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Whether the expiratory gas flow is impaired, the end-expiratory flow is too low, or the end-expiratory pressure is too high, the ventilator’s “Exhalation Obstruction” alarm will be triggered. When expiratory flow is obstructed, there is an inappropriately low amount of ventilation and impeded gas exchange. This can result in acute respiratory compromise, which in turn can result in inadequate ventilation and hypoxemia. The latter exists when there is an unusually low amount of oxygen in the blood in the arteries.

As of July 2, the company has reported four serious injuries and no deaths linked to the impaired expiratory gas flow arising out of certain coaxial breathing circuit sets. If you were injured or a loved one died as a result of this issue, you should consider bringing a product liability lawsuit. These are lawsuits pursued when one or more product defects—whether a marketing, manufacturing, or design defect—can be proven. Manufacturing defects are flaws in how the product is made; generally, these occur when the manufacturer deviates from the design specifications. Design defects are flaws in the specifications or design itself. Marketing defects typically involve failure to warn of known dangers.

Our lawyers will not only need to establish a defect but will also need to establish a theory of liability. Every state has its own recognized theories of liability, but generally these are negligence, strict liability, statutory violations, breach of contract, and breach of warranty. In most cases, strict liability is the theory most favorable to plaintiffs. Unlike negligence, which also requires proof that a standard of care was violated, strict liability requires us to show: (1) an actionable defect, (2) the defect caused injuries, and (3) damages.

If we are able to establish a manufacturer’s liability, we may be able to recover compensatory damages for the injuries arising out of the breathing circuit set on your behalf. These can include medical bills, wage loss, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, loss of consortium, and out-of-pocket costs.

Discuss Your Injuries With a Product Liability Attorney

If you suffered injuries from a coaxial breathing circuit set, please call the experienced Chicago-based product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group to determine whether you have a viable claim. Complete our online form or call us at 312.462.1700.