Guidant Reports 6 More Defibrillator Failures

Guidant Corp. told U.S. regulators that it learned of six additional failures of implantable heart defibrillators since issuing a July notice about the devices used to regulate cardiac rhythms.

The failures occurred in the Contak Renewal and Renewal 2 brand of devices, the Food and Drug Administration said. The two devices were among models included in warnings Guidant sent to doctors in June.

The new reports of failures since a previous FDA notice July 14 bring the total worldwide to 21, including three cases in which patients died, the FDA said.