The Recall Desk
HighFDA (Devices)·Z-1429-2023·Announced 2023-05-03

Hamilton HAMILTON-C6 Ventilator Software Error Disables Patient Input Monitoring

The HAMILTON-C6 ventilator (103 units) has a software error that disables patient input monitoring when switching to adaptive ventilation modes with a connected controller or humidifier. The device will alarm but cannot respond to patient inputs.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: This is a FDA Class II medical device recall involving a critical ventilator function (patient input monitoring) with potential for patient harm. No illnesses or injuries have been reported, and the hazard remains theoretical. This qualifies as a risk-of-harm product where injury has not yet been reported, warranting a High severity score.

Plain-English summary

Hamilton Medical AG is recalling 103 HAMILTON-C6 ventilators (Software Version 1.2.1, UDI-DI: 07630002808590) due to a software error that affects patient safety monitoring during critical mode transitions.

When the ventilator switches to certain adaptive ventilation modes (ASV, APVcmv, APVsimv, INTELLiVENT-ASV, (S)CMV+, or SIMV+) and a controller or humidifier is connected and operational, the device enters "safety ventilation" mode but stops monitoring patient inputs. The device will emit an audible and visible alarm, but cannot respond to patient needs during this critical condition.

Affected units have been distributed nationwide across California, Massachusetts, Idaho, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Kansas, South Carolina, New York, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Virginia.

Patients and healthcare providers using affected HAMILTON-C6 ventilators should immediately review the safety alert from Hamilton Medical AG and contact the manufacturer or their equipment provider for guidance on software updates or device replacement.

The recalled product

Product
HAMILTON-C6, REF: 160021
Manufacturer
Hamilton Medical AG
Hazard
  • software-error
  • monitoring-failure
  • ventilation-failure

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Lot numbers (2)

  • Software Version: 1.2.1
  • UDI-DI: 07630002808590

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.