Impella Heart Pump Lawsuit Updated With New Allegations Over Perforated Left Ventricle

Lawsuit notes that the Impella pump, which is used to keep blood flowing during open heart surgery, has been linked to numerous recalls, injuries and patient deaths over the last several years.

An Ohio woman has refiled a class action lawsuit against Impella manufacturers, claiming her husband died due to specific defects associated with the controversial heart pump’s design, updating allegations and claims in response to a motion that sought to have the original complaint thrown out.

Rebecca Lester originally brought the Impella heart pump lawsuit in May 2025, following the death of her husband, Garry Lester, in 2021. The complaint indicated his fatal heart injury was caused by known safety problems with the pump that Abiomed and Johnson & Johnson ignored for years.

The Impella heart pump is a device used during open heart surgeries, which is about the size of a pencil. It is inserted through the femoral artery in the leg, where it is then guided up to the heart’s left ventricle.

The device is supposed to help the patient’s circulation by transferring oxygen-rich blood into the ascending aorta, maintaining blood flow throughout the body during surgery. However, since they were introduced, Impella heart pumps have been plagued by problems, resulting in multiple recalls and dozens of patient deaths, as well as lawsuits seeking damages for individuals who had one of the devices placed in their body.

Just before an initial status conference in late July, the manufacturers filed a motion to strike Lester’s class action claims, as well as a motion to dismiss parts of the litigation, including claims of fraudulent concealment, fraudulent misrepresentation and violations of Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act. Abiomed and Johnson & Johnson argued that the class action claims cover too wide a range of devices and models used in different patients.

U.S. District Judge Patricia A Gaughan, of the Northern District of Ohio, gave Lester until October 3 to file an amended complaint addressing the defendants’ issues before she began making rulings.

Lester filed an amended complaint (PDF) on the deadline. Three days later Judge Gaughan issued a text-only order rendering the defendants’ motion to dismiss moot.

Impella Heart Pump Lawsuits

Federal health regulators have repeatedly warned of lower-than-expected patient survival rates, heart valve damage and blood clot risks linked to Impella pumps.

In 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a Class I recall for Impella Left Sided Blood Pumps, following reports of heart ventricle perforations, which linked the device to 129 injuries and 49 deaths. That same year, another recall was issued for Impella 5.5 with SmartAssist pumps due to purge fluid leaks that led to device malfunctions, heart valve damage and a heightened risk of severe injuries, with 179 related complaints.

Additionally, the FDA issued a Class I recall for Impella RP Flex catheter systems in June 2023, following inadequate safety instructions regarding blood clot risks. This issue was associated with 12 reported injuries and posed a serious risk of death and other complications.

To date, one other Impella wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the manufacturers, brought by Christopher Urqhart and Amy Ehlers, who allege that Nancy June Urqhart died from intravascular hemolysis following the use of an Impella 5.5 pump during open heart surgery. The family indicates the device caused Urqhart’s blood cells to break down, leading to severe complications that resulted in her death just three days after the procedure.

As concerns over the device continue to mount, Impella heart pump lawyers continue to investigate similar cases on behalf of patients and families who suspect an Impella heart pump may have caused injury or death. Free case evaluations are being provided to help individuals determine whether they may be eligible to pursue a product liability or wrongful death lawsuit.