I-Flow Corp

I-Flow currently faces 212 lawsuits from people who claimed they were harmed by the company’s ON-Q pain pumps used for shoulder surgery, yet the company says it is optimistic that it can skirt the claims made against it. The most damning evidence includes a recent study published by The American Journal of Sports Medicine that identified intra-articular pain pumps as the likely cause of a condition known as chondrolysis. Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis (PAGCL) is a specific type of chondrolysis associated with shoulder pain pumps.

PAGCL is a painful and debilitating condition in which the cartilage in the shoulder wears away causing bone to rub against bone. It can greatly decrease range of motion and cause weakness in the shoulder. There is no cure for PAGCL, and in severe cases, shoulder replacement surgery is required.

I-Flow’s total revenue for the first six months of 2009 increased 7 percent to $68 million, up $4.3 million over the first six months of 2008. First six month sales of the company’s On-Q product lines increased 5 percent, or $2.2 million, compared to the first six months of 2008. I-Flow projects a yearly revenue of $139.7 million to $146 million, over analysts’ average expectation of $138 million.

Sources:
Fox Business
Orange County Business Journal

SOURCE: Pain Pumps › I-Flow enjoys profits amid spike in product liability lawsuits