Medical equipment company Welch Allyn of Skaneateles Falls, N.Y., is recalling thousands of external defibrillators because of problems ranging from shocks, to blown fuses and unexpected shutdowns, the privately held company says.

There have been about 40 reported incidents and two deaths, although to the company's knowledge, the defects in the device did not contribute to the deaths, a spokesman said.

One of the deaths involved an apparently damaged device, after "a device with visible damage to the outside case delivered a low-energy shock," the company said on its website.

The recall involves certain AED10 and MRL JumpStart external defibrillators. The company said the units "may have a remote chance" of having one or more of the following problems:

• 14,012 units, manufactured between Oct. 3, 2002, and July 11, 2005, may deliver less electricity than required to resuscitate a patient.
• 10,735 units, made between Oct. 3, 2002, and Dec. 30, 2004, may shut down unexpectedly. The same number of units manufactured between the same dates need improved electromagnetic noise filtering software.
• 4,568 units, manufactured between May 18, 2004, and Dec., 30, 2004, may have reported blown F1 fuses, which would shut the decice down.
• 5,336 units, manufactured between Oct. 3, 2002, and July 26, 2004, may have voice-prompt features that could fail.
• 89 units serviced in 2007 and given software upgrades could shut down in cold weather.

The company said users should keep the defibrillators until they get replacements because the chance of a problem is so small.

Consumers can call 888-345-5356 for more information.

With files from the Associated Press