The Region : Firm Recalling Artificial Heart Valves

An Irvine-based medical products firm has announced that it is recalling one of its artificial heart valves because of a mechanical defect that has caused 14 deaths, a company spokesman said. Officials at Shiley Inc. are asking surgeons not to implant any of its 29-, 31- and 33-millimeter Bjork-Shiley 60-degree Convexo-Concave heart valves manufactured between March and June, 1982, because the struts that hold the valve together could fracture. Frank Haskins, Shiley executive vice president, said about 2,700 of the valves have been implanted worldwide, and 21 one of those have failed.