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Injured from a Corlink Device?

The CorLink device is a safe and effective technique to construct anastomoses between the aorta and sapehnous vein grafts during coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The CorLink device allows the cardiac surgeon to avoid clamping the aorta. To date, clamping the aorta has been necessary to construct hand-sewn bypass grafts to the aorta. Clamping the aorta is known to cause injury to the aorta and potential embolization of particulate atheromatous debris to the brain, in some cases resulting in stroke. The Corlink device was approved by the FDA on December 26, 2001 and was developed by Bypass Inc. and distributed through Cardiovations, a J&J subsidiary.

Similar Defective Medical Devices
The Corlink device is very comparable to the St. Jude Symmetry Bypass Aortic Connector. The St. Jude Symmetry Bypass Aortic Connector has been associated with a high occurrence of heart attacks, respiratory failure, and has been linked several deaths. The adverse effects associated with the St. Jude Symmetry Aortic connector include graft narrowing, valve leakage, failed deployment, and occlusion.

Pharmaceutical Whistleblower
Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon, Inc. fired its Chief Medical Officer because of his insistence that unsafe medical products be recalled, Dr. Joel Lippman claims in a Middlesex County Court. Lippman claims that during his 15 year in high ranking medical positions at Ethicon and Ortho McNeil, another J & J division, Johnson & Johnson repeatedly releases or refused to recall dangerous product to which he objected.

Shortly after joining Ethicon, Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson in 2000, former Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joel Lippman, says, he objected to the release of its Corlink device because data showed it  “caused occluded arteries”. He says he also objected because of the lack of adequate studies to justifying the product’s release” and because a competing company had released a similar product, which had to be recalled and resulted in numerous product liability suit.” Lippman says his boss told him that “if he continued to oppose the launch of Corlink, his action could affect his bonus and standing with the company.”

Legal Help for Corlink device users
If you or a loved one suffered injuries from a Corlink device, contact Parker & Waichman, LLP for a free case evaluation. Call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) or fill out the short form to the right.