Boston Scientific issues alert regarding defibrillator

Boston Scientific has alerted physicians about a problem with its new generation of defibrillators.

The issue is with the company's S-ICD devices. Unlike typical implantable defibrillators, these devices don't use a wire to deliver a therapeutic electric jolt to a patient's heart. But Boston Scientific said in rare instances a protective fuse may prevent the implants from functioning properly. No patient deaths or injuries have been reported, the company says.

Boston Scientific advises patients using the devices to visit their doctors for a software update to address the problem. The update takes less than a minute to complete.

In a statement, Boston Scientific said it takes the issue of product performance reporting extremely seriously.

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