FDA Devices recall · Reported April 22, 2020
Merlin PCS 3650 Software Upgrade Kit, REF 3330 St. Jude Medical The MerlinTM Patient Care System (MerlinTM PCS) Model 3650 is a portable, dedicated programming system designed to interrogate, program, display data, and test St. Jude MedicalTM implantable devices and leads.
Internal testing of software identified software anomaly scenarios where if non-applicable shock energy value is selected, the device will continue to use the previously programme…
Abbott recalled Merlin PCS 3650 Software Upgrade Kit, REF 3330 St. Jude Medical The MerlinTM Patient C… - a moderate-severity action.
Merlin PCS 3650 Software Upgrade Kit, REF 3330 St. Jude Medical The MerlinTM Patient C… was recalled by Abbott in April 22, 2020. Reason: Internal testing of software identified software anomaly scenarios where if non-applicable shock energy value…. Check the official notice for the remedy. Verify recall #Z-1700-2020 with the FDA Devices before acting.
The recall
Abbott issued this moderate-severity FDA Devices recall-Internal testing of software identified software anomaly scenarios where if non-applicable shock energy value….
- Moderate
- severity level
- Class II
- classification
- April 22, 2020
- reported
Sourced from official FDA Devices enforcement records. Verify recall #Z-1700-2020 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 moderate severity.
Counts reflect market size and reporting activity, not inherent danger, we do not rank products by risk from raw recall volume.
Product description
Merlin PCS 3650 Software Upgrade Kit, REF 3330 St. Jude Medical The MerlinTM Patient Care System (MerlinTM PCS) Model 3650 is a portable, dedicated programming system designed to interrogate, program, display data, and test St. Jude MedicalTM implantable devices and leads.
Reason for recall
Internal testing of software identified software anomaly scenarios where if non-applicable shock energy value is selected, the device will continue to use the previously programmed energy level and the user will not be alerted that the selected value was not retained.
Recall Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | U.S. Food and Drug Administration |
| Severity class | Moderate (Class II) |
| Status | Terminated |
| Recall number | Z-1700-2020 |
| Date reported | April 22, 2020 |
| Date initiated | February 28, 2020 |
| Recalling firm | Abbott |
| Firm location | Sylmar, CA |
| Affected scope | Software Version 24.6.1 installed into 4733 programmers |
| Distribution | U.S. AK, Al, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, and WV. OUS: None - the firm stated that there are no OUS consignees assoc… |
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-1700-2020) 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.
- Follow the documented remedy (refund, replacement, repair, or disposal) rather than general advice. 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 (Moderate), 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