Recalled LINX Device Caused Recurrence of GERD Symptoms, Requiring Surgical Removal: Lawsuit

Deral Vincent filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota on July 30, 2026, against Torax Medical Inc. and Ethicon Inc., both Johnson & Johnson subsidiaries, over the LINX Reflux Management System.

The LINX device is a surgically implanted ring of magnetic beads held together by titanium wires, positioned around the lower esophageal sphincter to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by preventing stomach acid from flowing backward. The FDA approved the device in March 2012.

Vincent alleges that the defendants placed a defective device into commerce without adequate testing or proper warnings about potential problems. He claims the device provided minimal benefits, his acid reflux symptoms returned, and he required additional surgery to remove the failed implant from his body.

The LINX system has been associated with reports of failures since approval, including broken implant pieces migrating through patients' bodies and causing complications such as organ perforation and other health injuries. Vincent contends the device was defectively designed and inadequately warned.

A trial in related LINX litigation is scheduled to begin in June 2027. The current status of Vincent's specific case was not detailed in the available information.

This is a curated brief from the PlaintiffWire news desk. Read the original report at AboutLawsuits.