3M Company and Arizant HealthCare Inc. are facing a new Bair Hugger lawsuit, from an Indiana man alleging he developed a deep joint infection after the device was used during his procedure.

The man filed the Bair Hugger lawsuit after discovering the temperature control device, which is frequently used during shoulder, knee, or hip replacement surgery, is linked to deep joint infections.

Plaintiff Mervin C. chose to file the Bair Hugger lawsuit after discovering the manufacturing companies either knew or should have known about the alleged correlation between the Bair Hugger device and deep joint infections.

According to the Bair Hugger lawsuit, Mervin underwent surgery on June 6, 2012 in which the warming blanket device was used. Like many other patients undergoing surgery, the Bair Hugger warming blanket was utilized to keep his body temperature stable during surgery.

Following surgery, he developed a deep joint infection. Mervin had to be readmitted to the hospital in January 2014. Doctor diagnosed him with an infected left hip arthoplasty and had him undergo surgical implantation of an infection treatment system.

A few months later, Mervin needed further hospital care to have his left hip implant reimplanted. Mervin alleges the infection in his hip was caused by the Bair Hugger used in his surgery, and he opted to file the Bair Hugger lawsuit after learning other patients had similar experiences.

Overview of Bair Hugger Complications

The Bair Hugger is a disposable warming blanket that is connected to a portable heater that blows hot air onto the patient’s skin during surgery. This device is meant to help regulate the patient’s body temperature while under anesthesia, by filtering air and then forcing warm air into the blanket.

The Bair Hugger warming blanket has been used since 1988, and has gained popularity after the device was shown to reduce bleeding and shorten the amount of recovery time needed.

However, a number of patients have reportedly developed serious deep joint infections after the device was used during their surgery, particularly following hip replacement, knee replacement, and shoulder replacement procedures.

Studies have also reported this correlation. One 2011 study published in the American Journal of Infection Control found 58 percent of forced air warmer devices had produced and emitted airborne bacterial particles. Even though deep joint infections can induce permanent damage, plaintiffs claim 3M and Arizant failed to warn the general public.

Mervin’s Bair Hugger lawsuit is being filed in MDL No. 2666, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries. By joining an MDL, Mervin will avoid potential problems like conflicting rulings from different judges or wait long periods of time for the litigation process to progress.

Mervin is filing this Bair Hugger lawsuit raising claims of negligence and failure to warn. Mervin states that at no point in time did 3M or Arizant warn him or his physician about potential bacterial infection developing on joints in conjunction with the Bair Hugger warming blanket.

This Bair Hugger Lawsuit is Case No. 0:18-cv-00251-JNE-FLN, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.