A 68 year old male was admitted to the hospital for a cardiac catheterization due to moderate coronary heart disease. During the procedure the tip of the imaging catheter broke off and became lodged in the patient's coronary artery. The physician attempted to remove the broken tip: however, while attempting to insert a guide wire, the wire also fractured leaving a second foreign body. Both the catheter and wire were made by the same medical device manufacturer. Since the physician was unable to retrieve the broken objects, a stent was inserted to exclude the objects from circulation. Two days after discharge the patient went into cardiac arrest and died at his home. He was survived by his wife. A civil action against the medical device manufacturer resulted in a settlement of $775,000.00.