FDA Adverse Event Malfunction Summary report: N

ULTRACISION HARMONIC SCALPEL CURVED SHEARS (LCS) - PISTOL GRIP 36 CM - 15 MM ACT

MDR report key: 1112541 · Received August 11, 2008

Report

Report Number
1527736-2008-03926
Event Type
Malfunction
Date Received
August 11, 2008
Report Date
June 13, 2008
Manufacturer
ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.
Product Code
GEI
PMA / PMN Number
K002981
Removal / Correction Number
NA
Product Problem
Yes
Report Source
Manufacturer report
Reporter Location
GM
Reporter Occupation
OTHER

Narratives

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

EVALUATION SUMMARY - THE ANALYSIS RESULTS FOUND THAT THE DEVICE WAS RETURNED WITH THE BLADE SCRATCHED AND CRACKED. DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE BLADE, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE DEVICE WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE DEVICE WILL STOP ACTIVATING, AND EITHER EMITS A SOLID TONE OR DISPLAYS AN INSTRUMENT ERROR CODE 5 ON THE GENERATOR DISPLAY WHEN THE BLADE BECOMES DAMAGED. THE DEVICE WAS TESTED WITH A GEN04 AND AN ERROR CODE 5 WAS NOTED. WHEN A BLADE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED, SCRATCHED OR CRACKED, THE TITANIUM METAL IS FATIGUED WHEN CONTINUALLY ENERGIZED AND THIS RESULTS IN THE BLADE FURTHER CRACKING AND POSSIBLY BREAKING OFF. DURING THE ANALYSIS PROCESS, THE BLADE WAS TESTED FOR SCRATCHES AND CRACKS AND THE BLADE BROKE OFF. THE IDENTIFIED BLADE DAMAGE MAY HAVE OCCURRED FROM EXTERNAL CONTACT DURING PRE-OP OR GENERAL USE. IN ADDITION, MINOR BLADE DAMGE MAY INCREASE IN SEVERITY DURING SUBSEQUENT ACTIVATIONS, AND MAY RESULT IN BLADE "LOCKOUT" LATER IN THE PROCEDURE. THEREFORE, THE INSTRUCTIONAL INSERT STATES: "AVOID ACCIDENTAL CONTACT WITH ALL METAL OR PLASTIC INSTRUMENTS OR OBJECTS WHEN THE INSTRUMENT IS ACTIVATED. CONTACT WITH STAPLES, CLIPS OR OTHER INSTRUMENTS WHILE THE INSTRUMENT IS ACTIVATED MAY RESULT IN CRACKED OR BROKEN BLADES, WHICH MAY BE IDENTIFIED BY GENERATOR SOLID TONE OR INSTRUMENT ERROR". EACH DEVICE IS VISUALLY INSPECTED AND FUNCTIONALLY TESTED PRIOR TO SHIPMENT, AND DAMAGE OF THIS MAGNITUDE WOULD HAVE BEEN DETECTED AT THIS PROCESS. WE HAVE DOCUMENTED THE CIRCUMSTANCES AS THEY WERE REPORTED TO US. IN ADDITION, COMPLAINT INFORMATION IS TRENDED ON A REGULAR BASIS TO DETERMINE IF FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED. THE BATCH RECORD WAS REVIEWED AND NO ANOMALIES WERE NOTED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.

Description of Event or Problem · 1

IT WAS REPORTED THAT DURING AN UNKNOWN PROCEDURE, THERE WAS NO FUNCTION AFTER A FEW TIMES. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. ANOTHER DEVICE WAS USED TO COMPLETE THE CASE. THERE WERE NO ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES TO THE PATIENT.

Devices

Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
1 ULTRACISION HARMONIC SCALPEL CURVED SHEARS (LCS) - PISTOL GRIP 36 CM - 15 MM ACT GEI ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC. NA D4JK0Z

Patients

Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
1 HANDPIECE| GENERATOR