Use cautionMedical device recall · FDA · Published March 20, 2020
Physio-Control LifePAK 500 AED May Not Detect Patient Connection Due to Contact Plating
Physio-Control recalls LifePAK 500 AEDs with specific model numbers due to risk of failing to detect patient connection, potentially delaying critical cardiac treatment.
Automated External Defibrillators may not detect a patient connection due to mechanical wear-through of the contact plating on the therapy connector. The wear-through could result in the device not recognizing a patient is connected which could result in a delay in treatment
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Contact the company
📍Recalling firmPhysio-Control, Inc.11811 Willows Rd Ne · Redmond, WA 98052-2003
✎ GovInfoNow plain-language explainer
Physio-Control is recalling LifePAK 500 Automated External Defibrillators with certain model numbers because mechanical wear on the therapy connector could cause the device to fail recognizing a patient is connected. This delay in treatment could be life-threatening during cardiac emergencies. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/65615-physio-control-lifepak-500-aed-may-not-detect-patient-connection.
“Physio-Control LifePAK 500 AED May Not Detect Patient Connection Due to Contact Plating.” GovInfoNow, updated August 19, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/65615-physio-control-lifepak-500-aed-may-not-detect-patient-connection. Based on FDA recall #Z-1633-2020 (https://api.fda.gov/device/enforcement.json?search=recall_number:%22Z-1633-2020%22&limit=1).
The FDA announced on March 20, 2020, that Physio-Control, Inc. is recalling LifePAK 500 Automated External Defibrillators because mechanical wear-through of the contact plating may prevent detection of a patient connection, potentially delaying treatment.
Model numbers: 3005400-XXX, U3005400-XXX, 3011790-XXX/, U3011790-XXX
Lots: All Lots
Quantity: 173,459 units
The hazard
The automated external defibrillators may not detect a patient connection due to mechanical wear-through of the contact plating on the therapy connector. This wear-through could result in the device not recognizing a patient is connected, which could result in a delay in treatment.
Context
GovInfoNow's records show Physio-Control, Inc. has 17 other recalls on record since 2017-10-27. Other recent recalls of similar products include LIFEPAK 15 Defibrillators May Not Work Properly After Service (2026-04-13), Infant/Child Defibrillator Electrodes Recall: Pediatric Electrode Delamination Risk (2026-01-21), and LIFEPAK 15 Defibrillator Recall: Required Inspections Not Performed (2025-07-22).
How to tell if you have this one
Check your LifePAK 500 AED for model numbers starting with 3005400-XXX, U3005400-XXX, 3011790-XXX, or U3011790-XXX. The product was sold with all lots.
Brand
Physio-Control
Category
Medical device
Based on the official FDA remedy
What to do — step by step
Check Device Model
Identify your LifePAK 500 AED's model number to confirm if it is in the recall list.
Contact Manufacturer
Reach out to Physio-Control for guidance on next steps if your device is affected.
Where it went and when
Where it was distributed
Distributed nationwide, and outside the U.S.
Nationwide
Not listed
FDA distribution: “Worldwide distribution - US Nationwide distribution and countries of Afghanistan, American Samoa, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,…” States read from FDA’s own wording; “not listed” means the notice does not name it.
Distributed nationwide, and outside the U.S.
Recall timeline
FDA terminated this recall 3.8 years after the firm started it.
1Firm started the recall
2FDA classified it Class II
3Published in FDA’s Enforcement Report
4FDA terminated the recall
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official FDA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
Official source: FDA Recall #Z-1633-2020 (March 20, 2020) — FDA publishes no per-recall page; this is the official machine-readable enforcement record. Search FDA recalls for Z-1633-2020 to see it in context.
Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on August 19, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the FDA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official FDA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.