On July 13, 2011, the FDA announced that patients undergoing pelvic organ prolapse repair with a surgical mesh may be at a greater risk for transvaginal mesh complications than women pursuing other surgical treatments. Because the manufacturers of transvaginal meshes failed to warn patients and doctors about this increased risk, women suffering mesh complications may be able to file a claim seeking compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Exactly who are the manufacturers?
A total of nine manufacturers offer different transvaginal mesh medical devices:
- American Medical Systems
- Boston Scientific
- Caldera
- Bard
- Ethicon
- Gynecare
- Johnson & Johnson
- Mentor
- Sofradim
The most frequently-used meshes which have caused injuries to women are manufactured by Johnson & Johnson/Ethicon, Bard, AMS, and Boston Scientific.
Below you can read information on the transvaginal mesh devices made by each of these companies. All of these devices have caused serious side effects to women that have received them, including:
- Severe pain;
- Serious infection;
- Bleeding;
- Painful sexual intercourse; and
- Erosion of the device.
Manufacturers of Transvaginal Mesh
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon Women’s Health & Urology division is responsible for manufacturing numerous transvaginal mesh devices. This division of Johnson & Johnson offers treatment solutions for a range of female pelvic and reproductive organ health conditions. Brand names of Johnson & Johnson/Ethicon’s transvaginal mesh patches include:
- Ethicon TVT
- Gynecare TVT
- Gynemesh PS
- Prolene Polypropylene Mesh Patch
- Secur
Bard
Bard is another manufacturer of transvaginal mesh patches. The company is based in Georgia, and manufactures, distributes, and markets several medical devices. Brand names of Bard’s transvaginal mesh patches include:
- Avaulta Plus™ BioSynthetic Support System
- Avaulta Solo™ Synthetic Support System
- Faslata® Allograft
- Pelvicol® Tissue
- PelviSoft® Biomesh
- Pelvitex™ Polypropylene Mesh
American Medical Systems or AMS
SPARC® is a type of transvaginal mesh patch made by the Minnesota-based American Medical Systems. SPARC is designed to treat stress incontinence.
Boston Scientific
Massachusetts-based Boston Scientific has been making medical devices for over 25 years, and is responsible for making potentially defective and harmful transvaginal mesh systems, which have been known to be fatal. Boston Scientific’s transvaginal mesh patch brands include:
- Advantage™ Sling System
- Obtryx® Curved Single
- Obtryx® Mesh Sling
- Prefyx Mid U™ Mesh Sling System
- Prefyx PPS™ System
Unfortunately, these mesh manufacturers continued to make these unsafe mesh devices, and currently more than 75,000 women who received transvaginal mesh implants last year are claiming the transvaginal mesh surgeries led to internal injuries. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against the transvaginal mesh makers.
If you are one of the thousands of women who has suffered severe pain from transvaginal mesh, call the Strom Law Firm today to speak to one of our female attorneys regarding your case.
