Recall of resmed S8 machines

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:37 am

From TheAge.co.au (story about the ResMed recall and stock shares:

"The cost of the recall, which is taking place across North America and Latin America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region, has been estimated at about $US59.7 million ($A71.9 million).

On Monday, ResMed reported an unexpected quarterly loss due to the recall.

The company posted third quarter net loss of $US15.4 million ($A18.53 million) compared with a profit in the prior-year quarter of $26.4 million.

"The voluntary recall we are announcing today reflects ResMed's absolute commitment to both quality and our patients," ResMed chairman and chief executive Peter Farrell said.

"We are confident our decision is in the best interests of our distribution partners and the many patients who rely on our devices to control their sleep-disordered breathing, although this initiative significantly impacts this quarter's earnings."

ResMed said patients could continue to use the S8 generators until they received a replacement device.

Shares in the company took a battering on Tuesday following news of the recall.
"
Resmed had fallen 13.3 per cent, or 79 cents, to $5.13 by 1424 AEST."

Seems that it has affected the company's share price after all. How long that effect lasts is another matter. The market movers in mysterious ways.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:50 pm

I'll try phoning the local Resmed office tomorrow to see what sort of response I get re my USA purchased machine.

(is a holiday here today - Anzac day - the day when we Ausssies celebrate our greatest military defeat - WW1 - twas at the hands of the Turks (and with considerable help from British military planners ) - we even go over to Turkey in big numbers on this day to share a beer with them & remember our fallen soldiers - one of those battles where we learned to respect each other )

DSM

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:54 pm

That is so civilized, DSM! Mutual respect between previous war time enemies. Bravo!

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:48 pm

This episode is NOT an instance of ResMed's superior human factors design, unless the user is a barbeque afficianado! Maybe that's it! The nifty ResMed S8 range is designed to help the user in all sorts of ways, including starting the Bar-B!!!!!

Mine's on the list. Ho hum.......

Chuck

risktaker99 · Post by **risktaker99** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:50 pm

RG,

Thank you for the info. I have a machine that is affected. I will call my DME tomorrow.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:53 am

I'm kinda curious as to how the S8 users who aren't "forum-readers" are being informed about this recall......by their DMEs?

If some of you ResMed S8 users that got your machines (that are on the list) from a B&M DME, and get contacted by your DMEs about this......it would be interesting to know.

Den

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:41 am

My S8 came from a DME and I have not heard anything from them.

I plan to keep them out of the loop unless they contact me first and offer up info/replacement/ or whatever the plan is

risktaker99 · Post by **risktaker99** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 1:37 pm

For everyone's info, I just spoke with a manager at my DME, Lincare who is one of the "big" gorilla's in the marketplace. They told me that they have not been given any specific directions as to how to handle the recall process.

I find it outrageous that Resmed has not simultaneously provided instructions to their distributors as well as the public.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 2:31 pm

risktaker99 wrote:For everyone's info, I just spoke with a manager at my DME, Lincare who is one of the "big" gorilla's in the marketplace. They told me that they have not been given any specific directions as to how to handle the recall process.

I find it outrageous that Resmed has not simultaneously provided instructions to their distributors as well as the public.

What can I add, it's not the first outragious thing they have done lately. Jim

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:54 pm

Well, yesterday I was the owner of a spiffy ResMed S8 AutoSet Vantage/H3i humnidifier combo. Then, I read RG's thread.

Today, I'm the owner of a spiffy new Respironics Magic Auto, as my S8 winds its way back to Oz, thanks to my very kind DME.

Its the end of my ResMed flow-generator days. I really liked that little machine, and really admired it's outstanding human factors and industrial design. But the fact is, the Respironics algorithm just works better for me!!!!

The Magic is kinda cute in a boring, post-modern industrial sort of way but it sure ain't WAY COOL like I thought the ResMed S8 was.

Oh well.......

Chuck

P.S. The REMstar Auto American Heritage edition remains my steadfast, tried and true partner most nights. The Magic will have to wait for sudden escapes to the country.

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Arizona-Willie · Post by **Arizona-Willie** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 4:34 pm

Resmed claims ONLY .2% failed.

Well, if they sold 100,000 units that would be 20,000 that failed according to the calculator on this computer.

It all depends on how many they have sold. But I wouldn't be surprised if it was well over 100,000 units.

But ONLY 7 have burst into flames. Ohhhhh Kayyyy

Hope the folks using them woke up in time to avoid becoming crispy critters.

What a rude awakening!!

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Mike2000 · Post by **Mike2000** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:53 pm

0.2% of 100,000 is 200 units, not 20,000......

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:55 pm

Arizona Willie, none have burst into flames (I agree, that would be a rude awakening!) According to the information they submitted to the FDA, the fault "has the potential to" cause damage, but only 7 have actually been reported as failing: " In seven cases worldwide, the short circuit caused thermal damage to the device, with a remote potential to ignite material external to the device. However, no significant property damage or patient injury has been reported." Elsewhere, they explain that the damage was confined to heat-distorted covers on the S-8's and one instance of a heat damaged table top. Obviously cause for worry (especially with oxygen in use, if that is the case), but fortunately, no one has been injured.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:50 pm

My educated guess on the nature of problem is that it is the way the power pins are installed on the power supply sub assembly where the power cord plugs in the the machine.

This original power connection design came out on electric shavers many years ago.

If these pins are not very securely crimped in place, they can cause over heating & possibly sparking at their base & at worst the sparks could cause blackening of the power cord plug that plugs onto these 2 pins in the power input socket on the machine.

Resmed would fix this by replacing the power supply sub-assembly.

Rather unfortunate for them. But thems the breaks.

DSM

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:29 am

risktaker99 wrote:I find it outrageous that Resmed has not simultaneously provided instructions to their distributors as well as the public.

That may well be a communication problem within the DME's organisation.

I contacted Air Liquide, my supplier here in Oz, and they certainly had been contacted by Resmed and were able to tell me what to do, and that was at 9am on the first day back after a public holiday.

Cheers,

Bill

Recall of resmed S8 machines

Human factors design

End of an era

How many failed?

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Airmini, Medistrom Pilot 24, CMS 60C Pulse Oximeter, ResScan 6