Boston Scientific Lynx Mesh Lawsuit Alleges Bladder Erosion Required Multiple Surgeries

Lawsuit claims Lynx mesh is made of materials that cause hyperinflammatory responses, resulting in pain, fibrotic reactions and mesh disintegration.

A California woman has filed a Boston Scientific pelvic mesh lawsuit, claiming the company’s Lynx mesh products are prone to shrinkage, contraction and deformation, which caused her to suffer severe internal injuries.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Tina Hinojosa in California Superior Court on July 23, naming Boston Scientific Corporation as the defendant, as well as unidentified individuals the plaintiff expects to identify during the discovery process.

Hinojosa alleges that the Boston Scientific Lynx mesh eroded into her bladder, resulting in pain, suffering and the need for multiple corrective surgeries.

Transvaginal Mesh Problems

The Boston Scientific Lynx Suprapubic Mid-Urethral Sling System is one of numerous pelvic mesh products marketed and sold by medical device manufacturers to support the bladder and address issues such as pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

However, more than a decade ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began warning about transvaginal mesh problems, such as the mesh eroding into the vagina, contracting or shrinking, which can lead to infections, pelvic pain, vaginal scarring and other painful complications.

In 2019, the results of an FDA investigation determined that transvaginal mesh carried higher risks than benefits, and subsequently ordered all transvaginal mesh products to be pulled from the market, indicating manufacturers had failed to show the agency that the implants’ benefits were worth the potentially life-changing medical risks.

As a result of design defects associated with the products, more than 100,000 transvaginal mesh lawsuits have been filed in prior years against Boston Scientific and other manufacturers, who have paid billions in settlements to resolve the litigation. Despite the transvaginal mesh settlements, hundreds of individual cases are still proceeding through state and federal courts.

Lynx Mesh Defect Allegations

Hinojosa’s lawsuit states she was first implanted with the Boston Scientific Lynx mesh in April 2024. She notes that the FDA had warned about the potential risks of similar designs since 2011, indicating that they were associated with “contraction with vaginal shortening, vaginal tightening and vaginal pain.”

According to the complaint, the Lynx mesh malfunctioned, eroding into Hinojosa’s bladder, causing pain, suffering and the need for additional medical care. On August 14, 2024, months after the mesh was first implanted, she had to undergo multiple corrective surgeries.

“Defendants’ Pelvic Mesh Products contain monofilament polypropylene mesh and/or collagen. Despite claims that polypropylene is inert, the scientific evidence shows that this material as implanted in Tina Hinojosa is biologically incompatible with human tissue and promotes a negative immune response in a large subset of the population implanted with the Products.”

– Tina Hinojosa v. Boston Scientific Corporation

Hinojosa indicates the negative response by the human body allegedly causes inflammation of pelvic tissue, which can result in severe adverse reactions. Additionally, the filing points out that the Lynx mesh can also cause hyperinflammatory responses, resulting in chronic pain and fibrotic reactions, as well as disintegration after implantation.

The complaint indicates Boston Scientific knew of these problems yet failed to provide adequate warnings to patients or medical professionals. It presents claims of negligence, design defect, manufacturing defect and failure to warn. Hinojosa seeks both compensatory and punitive damages.

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