PlainRecalls

Elscint APEX Helix, dual-head, multi-purpose, Slip-Ring, digital gamma camera Product Usage: The intended use of the Quasar system is to perform general Nuclear Medicine imaging procedures for detection of radioisotope tracer uptake in the patient body, using a variety of scanning modes supported by various acquisition typed and optional imaging features designed to enhance image quality in Oncology, Cardiology, Neurology and other clinical diagnostic imaging applications. The scanning mode

Reported: July 31, 2013 Initiated: June 13, 2013 #Z-1789-2013 50 units

GE Healthcare, LLC issued this FDA Devices recall on July 31, 2013. Classified as Critical severity (Class I). Approximately 50 units are affected. The recall was issued because: GE became aware of an incident at a VA Medical Center facility in the US in which a patient died due to injuries sustai…. This recall notice is sourced from official FDA Devices enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This FDA Devices action (record #Z-1789-2013) was formally reported on July 31, 2013, with the manufacturer initiating the action on June 13, 2013. It is classified under Critical severity (Class I), with a current status of Terminated. GE Healthcare, LLC is listed as the recalling firm, operating out of Waukesha, WI. Federal records indicate 50 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: GE became aware of an incident at a VA Medical Center facility in the US in which a patient died due to injuries sustained while being scanned on an Infinia Hawkeye 4 Nuclear Medicine System. Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: Worldwide Distribution - US Nationwide including Guam, Puerto Rico and the countries of : Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus…. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by FDA Devices. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 13 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Critical

Units Affected

50

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Recall Progress (industry avg ~60%) 60.0%

Product Description

Elscint APEX Helix, dual-head, multi-purpose, Slip-Ring, digital gamma camera Product Usage: The intended use of the Quasar system is to perform general Nuclear Medicine imaging procedures for detection of radioisotope tracer uptake in the patient body, using a variety of scanning modes supported by various acquisition typed and optional imaging features designed to enhance image quality in Oncology, Cardiology, Neurology and other clinical diagnostic imaging applications. The scanning modes include planar (Static, Multi-gated, Dynamic, Whole body scanning) and tomographic (SPECT, Gated SPECT, Whole body SPECT, Camera based PET). Acquisition types include single and multi-isotope/multi-peak frame/list mode single-photon and positron imaging. Optional imaging-enhancement features include assortment of collimators, gating by physiological signals, real-time automatic body contouring, and CT-based attenuation correction and functional anatomic mapping.

Reason for Recall

GE became aware of an incident at a VA Medical Center facility in the US in which a patient died due to injuries sustained while being scanned on an Infinia Hawkeye 4 Nuclear Medicine System.

Details

Recalling Firm
GE Healthcare, LLC
Units Affected
50
Distribution
Worldwide Distribution - US Nationwide including Guam, Puerto Rico and the countries of : Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea (Republic of), Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam.
Location
Waukesha, WI

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the FDA Devices recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Severity class Critical (Class I)
Status Terminated
Recall number Z-1789-2013
Date reported July 31, 2013
Date initiated June 13, 2013
Recalling firm GE Healthcare, LLC
Units affected 50
Distribution Worldwide Distribution - US Nationwide including Guam, Puerto Rico and the countries of : Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, De…

Profile values are sourced directly from the official FDA Devices enforcement record. Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Scale of Impact

50 units affected — limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units) ✓ This recall
Multi-state (10K – 100K units)
Large-scale (100K – 1M units)
Massive (≥1M units)

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
Elscint APEX Helix, dual-head, multi-purpose, Slip-Ring, digital gamma camera Product Usage: The intended use of the Quasar system is to perform general Nuclear Medicine imaging procedures for detection of radioisotope tracer uptake in the patient body, using a variety of scanning modes supported by various acquisition typed and optional imaging features designed to enhance image quality in Oncology, Cardiology, Neurology and other clinical diagnostic imaging applications. The scanning modes include planar (Static, Multi-gated, Dynamic, Whole body scanning) and tomographic (SPECT, Gated SPECT, Whole body SPECT, Camera based PET). Acquisition types include single and multi-isotope/multi-peak frame/list mode single-photon and positron imaging. Optional imaging-enhancement features include assortment of collimators, gating by physiological signals, real-time automatic body contouring, and CT-based attenuation correction and functional anatomic mapping.. Recalled by GE Healthcare, LLC. Units affected: 50.
Why was this product recalled?
GE became aware of an incident at a VA Medical Center facility in the US in which a patient died due to injuries sustained while being scanned on an Infinia Hawkeye 4 Nuclear Medicine System.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the FDA Devices on July 31, 2013. Severity: Critical. Recall number: Z-1789-2013.
Where was the recalled product distributed?
Distribution: Worldwide Distribution - US Nationwide including Guam, Puerto Rico and the countries of : Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea (Republic of), Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam..
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (Z-1789-2013) against your product. Visit the official FDA Devices website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
Should I stop using a recalled medication or medical device?
Do not stop using a recalled medication or device without consulting your healthcare provider first, as abruptly discontinuing treatment could pose its own health risks. Your doctor can advise on alternatives or whether the recall applies to your specific product lot. Check the recall number and lot information against your product packaging.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as critical severity, meaning the product carries a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences or death. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

Compare this recall with Endo-Model Replacement Plateau; Item Number: 15-0027/11; →

Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).