J&J’s Cordis Unit Recalls Balloon Catheters

Johnson & Johnson’s Cordis subsidiary issued a world-wide recall for about 132,000 balloon catheters used to expand blood vessels after it was determined problems with the devices could cause injury or death. There have been no reported deaths associated with the “Dura Star RX” and “Fire Star RX PTCA” balloon catheters, according to a Cordis spokesman. The recall affected about 57,000 devices in the U.S., but isn’t a material financial issue for the company. J&J said the recall doesn’t affect Cordis’s Cypher drug-coated cardiac stent, as the stent isn’t delivered on these balloons. SOURCE: Wall St. Journal