The encyclopedia · Product & Design · Product decision · 2026
HeartSine Samaritan PAD: AEDs recalled that may fail mid-shock
A membrane tail defect can stop the defibrillator at any point — even during a shock. Sold at Costco Canada; Health Canada recall Aug 1, 2026; no injuries.
HeartSine · 2026-08-01
What happened
Health Canada recalled the HeartSine Samaritan PAD automated external defibrillators — SAM 350P, 360P and 500P, made by Stryker's HeartSine — on August 1, 2026, after a membrane tail issue was found to fail an internal component.
The failure can render the device inoperable at any point, including while preparing or delivering a shock. It surfaced in a non-standard rework process and quality testing, not in patient use; no incident or injury was reported.
Costco Canada sold the units (items 1116470 and 1116561 with variants). Owners return a recall acknowledgment by August 31, 2026 and keep a maintenance supplement with the manual until a replacement arrives — and keep using the device if there is no alternative, because the chance of failure is very low.
Why it happened
- A membrane tail issue can fail an internal component — the AED may die at any point, even mid-shock; Health Canada recall Aug 1, 2026
- Found in rework and quality testing, not in use — no injury reported, but the device's one job is the moment it must not fail
- Owners with no alternative are told to keep relying on it — the recall asks rescuers to bet on a very low failure rate
The lesson
A defibrillator sells one promise: it works on the worst day. A recall that says keep using it if you must prices that promise at the failure rate — and leaves the buyer carrying the bet.
Sources
- Health Canada — HeartSine Samaritan PAD SAM 350P/360P/500P membrane tail recall (Aug 2026)
- The Star — Urgent recall notice issued for defibrillator device sold at Costco (Aug 2026)
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