Doctor and patient

Credit: CDC

Hospira, Inc., has announced a medical device correction for the GemStar Docking Station (list number 13075), used in conjunction with the GemStar infusion pump.

The correction follows customer reports of 2 malfunctions that may occur with the docking station.

The company is not recalling the product but is notifying US customers of the potential malfunctions and providing instructions for overriding these errors.

The errors could potentially cause delays or interruptions in therapy. And this might result in serious adverse events or death, but there have been no such events reported to date.

Potential malfunctions

The GemStar Docking Station is an accessory to the GemStar infusion pump (sold separately) and provides an alternate power source to the GemStar pump.

When the docking station is used in conjunction with a GemStar Phase 3 pump (List 13000, 13100 or 13150), there is a risk that the GemStar Phase 3 pump may fail to power up while connected to the docking station.

When a GemStar Phase 3 (List 13000, 13100 or 13150) or GemStar Phase 4 pump (List 13086, 13087 or 13088) is used in conjunction with both a docking station and an external battery pack accessory (List 13073), the GemStar pump may display error code 11/003 and give an audible alarm, indicating excessive input voltage from the external sources.

If the GemStar pump detects what is perceived to be more than 3.6 volts, as measured on the external voltage input, the pump will stop the infusion. This will trigger an audible alarm, and the device will display alarm code 11/003.

If a GemStar fails to power up or the 11/003 error code stops an infusion, a patient’s therapy might be delayed or interrupted. This could result in significant injury or death, although there have been no reports of death or serious injury associated with these malfunctions to date.

The products impacted by these issues have been in distribution since February 2002.

Responding to/preventing malfunctions

Hospira is advising that healthcare professionals weigh the risk/benefit to patients associated with the use of the docking station when administering critical therapies. Clinicians should consider the use of an alternative pump, particularly in patients for whom a delay or interruption of therapy could result in serious injury or death.

However, the company says there is no need to return the GemStar Docking Station at this time. Instead, Hospira recommends that users take the following actions.

To avoid a failure to power up, turn on the pump before connecting it with the docking station. This will prevent the failure to power up.

To mitigate the potential for an 11/003 error code, remove the external battery pack accessory (List 13073) from the docking station and pump prior to installing the pump in the docking station.

In addition, clinicians should stop using a docking station in conjunction with an external battery pack accessory (List 13073). Contact Hospira to discuss an appropriate alternative option.

Docking station users who experience a failure to power up or an 11/003 error code should report the issue to Hospira by calling 1-800-441-4100 (M-F, 8am-5pm CT) or emailing ProductComplaintsPP@hospira.com.

For additional assistance or to obtain a copy of the Urgent Medical Device Correction letter and/or a reply form, contact Stericycle at 1-866-792-5451 (M-F, 8am-5pm ET).

On May 1, 2013, Hospira announced that it would begin the process of retiring the GemStar family of infusion devices in accordance with the company’s global device strategy. As of July 31, 2015, Hospira will consider the products within the GemStar Infusion System family retired and will no longer support them.

Adverse reactions or quality problems related to the GemStar Docking Station can be reported to the US Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Program.

Hospira announces device correction for infusion pump docking station