The Recall Desk
HighFDA (Devices)·Z-1551-2014·Announced 2014-05-14

GE Healthcare Recalls Nellcor SpO2 Upgrade Kits Due to Software Defect

GE Healthcare is recalling 301 Nellcor SpO2 Upgrade kits because a software defect may cause false positive or false negative oxygen saturation and pulse rate alarms.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall is classified as FDA Class II. The hazard involves a software defect that could lead to missed or false alarms for critical vital signs (oxygen saturation and pulse rate), representing a risk of harm where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

GE Healthcare is recalling 301 units of the Nellcor SpO2 Upgrade kit, which consists of a circuit board and is an integral component of the Nellcor SpO2 device. These devices are used for continuous noninvasive monitoring of functional oxygen saturation of arterial hemoglobin (SpO2) and pulse rate, and are also used to provide controlled infrared heat to neonates who are unable to thermo-regulate based on their own physiology.

The recall is being issued because the medical device software may be defective. This defect may cause user-set alarm limits to result in false positive or false negative oxygen saturation and pulse rate alarm notifications to the caregiver.

The affected units were distributed worldwide. Consumers and healthcare facilities should stop using the affected devices and contact GE Healthcare for further instructions on how to resolve the issue.

The recalled product

Product
Nellcor SpO2 Upgrade kit, consists of a Nellcor SpO2 circuit board, an OEM part manufactured by a third party supplier; and an integral component of the Nellcor SpO2 device. Controlled infrared heat to neonates who are unable to thermo-regulate based on their own physiology wi
Manufacturer
GE Healthcare
Affected units
301

Distribution

Distribution scope not specified by the agency.

Part of a larger recall action

This product is one of 5 recalled by GE Healthcare under a single FDA (Devices) recall action. The agency files each product separately, so the size of the action is not visible from this page alone.

See all 5 products in this recall →