On April 24, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health released a Public Health Notification to warn medical professionals about the danger of potential fires on several oxygen regulators and cylinder valves due to incorrect seals. According to the FDA, there have been 12 incidents of fires and explosions that injured several people. These explosions were known to occur even during routine checks of equipment.
The FDA believes that two types of washers called CGA 870 seals are responsible for the intensity and for sparking the fires. The first type is a metal bound rubber sealing washer, and the second is the plastic crush gasket designed to be used only once. Tightening the nylon seal can cause the plastic crush gasket to crack and damage the cylinder valve and regulator. This can cause oxygen to leak from the holding tank, and the resulting "flow friction" of compressed oxygen rushing out can cause spontaneous ignition of the nylon gasket.
Oxygen tanks are used in many different applications, including breathing aids, anesthesia, and emergency medical procedures. This means there are potentially thousands of people at risk for suffering horrendous and scarring injuries from burns and fires due to defective oxygen tank seals.
If you or someone you know was injured due to fires and explosions caused by the defective CGA 870 plastic crush gaskets, you may be able to seek financial compensation for your pain and suffering. Get in touch with a dedicated, compassionate, and experienced defective medical device attorney today, and fight for the restitution that you deserve.
Other Defective Medical Device Topics
- Aloderm Mesh
- Bard Composix Kugel Mesh Patch
- Baxter Hemodialysis Machine
- Baxter Dialysis Filter
- Blackstone Medical ICON Modular Fixation System
- Boston Scientific Express Stent & Taxus Stent
- Boston Scientific Flextome Cutting Balloon Device
- Cardinal Health Alaris Pump
- Cochlear Implants
- Cold Therapy Units
- Colleague Volumetric Infusion Pumps
- Cordis Corporation Balloon Catheters
- Guidant Device Recalls
- Johnson & Johnson Cypher Stent
- Medtronic Device Recalls
- Medtronic ICD
- Medtronic Pacemaker
- Minimed Diabetic Infusion Set
- Olympus Bronchoscope
- Oxygen Regulator Fires
- Shoulder Pain Pumps
- St Jude Device Recalls
- Shelhigh Medical Devices
- Stryker Hip Replacement
- Tainted Tissue
- Thermage Defective Device
- DePuy ASR Hip Implant
