FDA Adverse Event Injury Summary report: N

BIPOLAR TRIGGER-FLEX PROBE

MDR report key: 1052619 · Received May 27, 2008

Report

Report Number
2428235-2008-00002
Event Type
Injury
Date Received
May 27, 2008
Date of Event
April 21, 2008
Report Date
April 25, 2008
Manufacturer
ELLMAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Product Code
KNS
PMA / PMN Number
K003126
Adverse Event
Yes
Report Source
Manufacturer report
Reporter Location
NJ, US
Reporter Occupation
OTHER

Narratives

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

THE TRIGGER-FLEX INTENDED USE IS TO ABLATE DISC TISSUE. DURING INTENDED USE, ACCESS TO THE DISC IS GAINED WITH A TREPHINE AND THEN THE TRIGGER-FLEX IS INSERTED THROUGH AN ENDOSCOPE CHANNEL SO THAT THE ACTIVATED TRIGGER-FLEX TIP IS IN CONTACT WITH THE TISSUE TO BE ABLATED. IN THIS SURGERY, THE TRIGGER-FLEX BIPOLAR PROBE WAS USED TO MECHANICALLY "ENTER THE DISC" AND OPPOSED TO USING A TREPHINE. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THIS ACTION CAUSED THE TIP TO BREAK. WE HAVE RECEIVED THE PROCEDURE VIDEO WHICH CONFIRMED THE MISUSE AND RESULTANT FAILURE.

Description of Event or Problem · 1

THE TRIGGER-FLEX BIPOLAR PROBE WAS USED TO MECHANICALLY "ENTER THE DISC" DURING AN ENDOSCOPIC SPINE PROCEDURE INSTEAD OF USING A TREPHINE. THIS ACTION CAUSED THE TIP OF THE PROBE TO BREAK. WHEN THE INSTRUMENT WAS WITHDRAWN, AND IT WAS REALIZED THAT THE TIP HAD BROKEN, THE C-ARM WAS USED TO LOCATE THE TIP FRAGMENT. THE FRAGMENT WAS THEN REMOVED VIA AN ENDOSCOPIC GRASPING FORCEPS FROM WITHIN THE PATIENT. THE PATIENT SUFFERED NO ADVERSE REACTION.

Devices

Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
1 BIPOLAR TRIGGER-FLEX PROBE TRIGGER-FLEX BIPOLAR SYSTEM KNS ELLMAN INTERNATIONAL, INC. 080101294

Patients

Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
1 Required Intervention ELLMAN SURGI-MAX| RICHARD WOLF MEDICAL INSTRUMENT'S ENDOSCOPIC| SYSTEM