DePuy Pinnacle Litigation Update

    A DePuy Pinnacle Multi-district litigation (“MDL”) status conference was held on September 10, 2013 at the U.S. District courthouse in Dallas, Texas. The conference was held before the Honorable Ed Kinkeade, the judge overseeing the federal multidistrict litigation against DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson, Inc. regarding the DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement devices.

    Judge Overrules Biomet’s Preemption Claims

    On August 21, 2013, Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr., the Judge presiding over the consolidated litigation in federal court regarding the Biomet M2a Magnum, rejected Biomet’s preemption argument to obtain dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Leslie and Allison Caccia.

    FDA Requires Packaging Changes to Fentanyl Patches

    The FDA issued a Safety Alert requiring all manufacturers of Fentanyl patches, brand name Duragesic, to change the packaging to make the name and strength of the patches more visible.  This Safety Alert comes after the FDA has received reports of deaths from accidental exposure to fentanyl patches.

    Stryker ShapeMatch Technology Differs from Traditional Templating Concepts

    According to an article written by Tilman Calliess and Henning Windhagen, “Kinematic Alignment in Total Knee Arthroplasty with Stryker Shapematch Technology”, published by Springer Link, the Stryker ShapeMatch technology differs fundamentally from other templating concepts with respect to the alignment philosophy of the implant and the soft tissue management.