FDA Devices recall · Reported April 2, 2014
HeartMate II System Controller Product Usage: HeartMate II is a mechanical device that circulates blood throughout the body when the heart is too weak to pump blood adequately on its own. It is sometimes called a a heart pump or VAD. HeartMate II is a small implantable LVAD. HeartMate II attaches to the heart and is designed to assist or take over the pumping function of the patients left ventricle, the main pumping chamber of the heart.
Discovery of serious injuries and deaths associated with the process of changing from a primary System controller to their back-up System controller in patients using the Pocket S…
Thoratec Corporation recalled HeartMate II System Controller Product Usage: HeartMate II is a mechanical device tha… - a critical-severity action.
HeartMate II System Controller Product Usage: HeartMate II is a mechanical device tha… was recalled by Thoratec Corporation in April 2, 2014. Reason: Discovery of serious injuries and deaths associated with the process of changing from a primary System contro…. Check the official notice for the remedy. Verify recall #Z-1228-2014 with the FDA Devices before acting.
The recall
Thoratec Corporation issued this critical-severity FDA Devices recall-Discovery of serious injuries and deaths associated with the process of changing from a primary System contro….
- Critical
- severity level
- 4K units
- affected scope
- Class I
- classification
- April 2, 2014
- reported
Sourced from official FDA Devices enforcement records. Verify recall #Z-1228-2014 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.
Recall Insight
This recall's affected scope, documented in the Recall Profile below, stays within a single-region or limited-distribution footprint. Distribution scope (see Distribution below) directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory.
Within the same product category the archive holds 6 closely related recalls, 6 from FDA Devices - clustering in a narrow category often points to a systemic quality-control or supplier issue rather than a one-off defect. Always verify the recall number against the official agency record before acting.
Medical Devices recalls over time
Where this recall sits in its category - 41,021 medical devices recalls on record
Of 88,244 recalls with an agency hazard classification, 19,068 are high severity, 64,652 moderate, and 4,524 low. A further 16,179 CPSC/NHTSA recalls have no agency class and are excluded from this split. This recall is classified high severity.
Counts reflect market size and reporting activity, not inherent danger, we do not rank products by risk from raw recall volume.
Product description
HeartMate II System Controller Product Usage: HeartMate II is a mechanical device that circulates blood throughout the body when the heart is too weak to pump blood adequately on its own. It is sometimes called a a heart pump or VAD. HeartMate II is a small implantable LVAD. HeartMate II attaches to the heart and is designed to assist or take over the pumping function of the patients left ventricle, the main pumping chamber of the heart.
Reason for recall
Discovery of serious injuries and deaths associated with the process of changing from a primary System controller to their back-up System controller in patients using the Pocket System controller model.
Recall Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | U.S. Food and Drug Administration |
| Severity class | Critical (Class I) |
| Status | Terminated |
| Recall number | Z-1228-2014 |
| Date reported | April 2, 2014 |
| Date initiated | March 4, 2014 |
| Recalling firm | Thoratec Corporation |
| Firm location | Pleasanton, CA |
| Affected scope | 4120 |
| Distribution | Worldwide distribution: US (nationwide) including states of: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, and WI; and countries of: Austria, Belgium… |
Profile values are sourced directly from the official FDA Devices enforcement record. Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
What to do with this recall
Match your product against the recall record, then act on the agency remedy.
- Check the recall number (Z-1228-2014) and product description against the item you own. Search the archive
- Confirm the current status with FDA Devices before acting, recall details can be updated.
- This is a Class I (high-risk) recall, stop using the product immediately and follow the disposal or return instructions. What to do next
This page summarizes the official FDA Devices record for research and awareness; it is not legal, medical, or safety advice. Verify with the issuing agency before acting.
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Nationwide recalls with similar severity or category timing
Drug and device notices outside this firm and state, matched by severity timing and product category.
Similar severity · nearest report date
Same archive severity grade (Critical), closest by report date among other firms and states.
Similar Medical Devices · nearest report date
Same product category, closest by report date among other firms and states (deduped against the severity set).
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Methodology · Corrections · Archive as of August 2026