• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

MassDevice

The Medical Device Business Journal — Medical Device News & Articles | MassDevice

  • Latest News
  • Technologies
    • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
    • Cardiovascular
    • Orthopedics
    • Neurological
    • Diabetes
    • Surgical Robotics
  • Business & Finance
    • Wall Street Beat
    • Earnings Reports
    • Funding Roundup
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Initial Public Offering (IPO)
    • Legal News
    • Personnel Moves
    • Medtech 100 Stock Index
  • Regulatory & Compliance
    • Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
    • Recalls
    • 510(k)
    • Pre-Market Approval (PMA)
    • MDSAP
    • Clinical Trials
  • Special Content
    • Special Reports
    • In-Depth Coverage
    • DeviceTalks
  • Podcasts
    • MassDevice Fast Five
    • DeviceTalks Weekly
    • OEM Talks
      • AbbottTalks
      • Boston ScientificTalks
      • DeviceTalks AI
      • IntuitiveTalks
      • MedtechWOMEN Talks
      • MedtronicTalks
      • Neuro Innovation Talks
      • Ortho Innovation Talks
      • Structural Heart Talks
      • StrykerTalks
  • Resources
    • About MassDevice
    • DeviceTalks
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Leadership in Medtech
    • Manufacturers & Suppliers Search
    • MedTech100 Index
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • Whitepapers
    • Voices
Home » Report: Fewer recalls, farther-reaching implications in Q4

Report: Fewer recalls, farther-reaching implications in Q4

February 25, 2014 By Arezu Sarvestani

Report: Fewer recalls, more recalled devices in Q4

Click to enlarge.

Medical device companies closed 2013 with what seemed like good news, reporting the fewest number of recalls in 7 quarters, but that figure may be "deceiving," analysts said.

Recalls were down 20% in Q4 but the number of recalls alone isn’t enough to paint a rosy picture. Recalls posted in the quarter had significant reach, adverse patient effect and political impact, according to a study compiled by medical waste disposal company Stericycle.

Q4 medtech recalls reached further quarter-over-quarter, growing more complex. More than 75% of the quarter’s medtech recalls affected patients across the U.S. and more than 70% also affected patients in Europe.

A single unnamed device maker comprised 9% of the quarter’s recall activity, according to the report. Other high-profile medtech recalls during the 4th quarter included Intuitive Surgical’s (NSDQ:ISRG) warnings of stalled surgical robots and Abbott Diabetes Care’s (NYSE:ABT) recalled blood glucose testing strips.

The trend was similar across other health-impacting industries, including pharmaceuticals and food-makers. Although the total numbers appeared to drop, other compounding factors suggest a recall landscape that was more grim than at first glance.

"Even in categories where recall events were down, factors such as geography, amount of affected units and – in one recall – death show that the impact of a recall cannot be measured by the numbers alone," researchers said. "These are just a few of the elements contributing to the industry’s growing complexity. Each trend brings a unique set of challenges for brands, presenting new obstacles to overcome in order to effectively and efficiently manage a recall across the globe."

Filed Under: Food & Drug Administration (FDA), News Well, Recalls, Regulatory/Compliance

More recent news

  • Comphya raises CHF 7.5 million for neurostim to treat ED
  • Fujifilm launches intelligent automation features for digital radiography
  • Integer appoints former iRhythm CEO to board
  • MMI debuts robotic surgery instruments, digital surgery platform
  • Synchrony Medical wins FDA nod for airway clearance system

Primary Sidebar

“md
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest med device regulatory, business and technology news.

DeviceTalks Weekly

See More >

MEDTECH 100 Stock INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
MDO ad

Footer

MASSDEVICE MEDICAL NETWORK

DeviceTalks
Drug Delivery Business News
Medical Design & Outsourcing
Medical Tubing + Extrusion
Drug Discovery & Development
Pharmaceutical Processing World
MedTech 100 Index
R&D World
Medical Design Sourcing

DeviceTalks Webinars, Podcasts, & Discussions

Attend our Monthly Webinars
Listen to our Weekly Podcasts
Join our DeviceTalks Tuesdays Discussion

MASSDEVICE

Subscribe to MassDevice E-Newsletter
Advertise with us
About
Contact us

Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy