Following a $40 million settlement with the Justice Department, those who have filed lawsuits against Infuse Bone Graft maker Medtronic Inc. are facing a stall in their complaints, because the manufacturer may get immunity if the device gets approved for uses by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that have been at the center of allegations against the company.

Spinal surgery patients who wish to file an Infuse Bone Graft lawsuit are encouraged to seek legal counsel right away.

The Infuse Bone Graft is a piece of technology made by Medtronic that’s designed to help repair bone in certain types of spinal injuries. Unfortunately, it has been alleged that the device may be linked to serious complications and risks.

The Infuse Bone Graft is designed to be implanted in the spine. It is intended to fix degenerative disc disease by separating vertebra back to their original, pre-degenerative state. It does this with a rigid support structure and the use of bioengineered proteins which encourage bone tissue to grow around them by using a collagen material, which is used to fuse and reinforce part of the spine to combat degenerative disc disorder.

Older versions of spinal fusion surgery required material from the patient’s own bodies to perform a similar procedure. Specifically, surgeons had to harvest some of the patients’ own bone, usually from the chin or crests of the hip in order to get raw material to fuse the bone.

Potential Infuse Bone Graft Complications

The Infuse Bone Graft has been at the center of several controversies and lawsuits. These Infuse Bone Graft lawsuits allege that the device could cause a host of serious side effects and complications including increasing the risk of cancer, infection, nerve injury, sterility, and problems with the urinary tract system.

In 2006, there were several Infuse Bone Graft settlements from whistle-blower lawsuits because it had been promoted for off label uses. It was also at the center of a $40 million dollar settlement with the Department of Justice. These allegations hold that the device’s manufactures concealed these risks from regulators and the general public.

The Bone Graft class action lawsuits allege that Medtronic marketed the device for off-label purposes that were not approved by the FDA. Many medications and medical devices may be used for procedures other than their FDA-approved purpose. However, according to federal law, manufacturers are not supposed to market medical devices for other uses besides what has been approved by the federal agency.

Bone Graft lawsuits claim that off-label uses accounted for 80 percent of the device’s usage.

Since the Justice Department finished their official investigation short of censure, people with complications from this surgical device have had some trouble seeking legal action. One of the key stumbling points is that federal investigators had not pressed the case.

This limits lawsuits, as it would imply that the FDA’s approval of the device could leave the Medtronic immune to lawsuits.

However, since off-label use was so widespread, there could easily be openings for class action lawsuits by people who suffered complications after using the device for promoted, but off-label uses.

File an Infuse Bone Graft Class Action Lawsuit Claim

If you’ve suffered serious spinal surgery complications after having an Infuse Bone Graft implanted, you may have been through a harrowing ordeal. The kinds of complications allegedly linked to this device include medical emergencies, some of which may require surgical intervention. When facing such challenges, many people feel overwhelmed, or even depressed.

But you need to remember that regardless of the challenges you are facing, you still have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain a measure of control over your situation. You can start by visiting the Infuse Bone Graft Lawsuit: Medtronic Spine Surgery Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can enter information about your situation for a legal review by a trained expert with a background in this type of litigation. The initial consultation is completely free of charge and can guide you on the critical next steps to take in your situation. So act now!