FDA Adverse Event Malfunction Summary report: N

HARMONIC ACE 36 CM

MDR report key: 1121929 · Received August 13, 2008

Report

Report Number
3005075853-2008-01169
Event Type
Malfunction
Date Received
August 13, 2008
Date of Event
June 26, 2008
Report Date
June 27, 2008
Manufacturer
ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC
Product Code
LFL
PMA / PMN Number
K042777
Removal / Correction Number
NA
Product Problem
Yes
Report Source
Manufacturer report
Reporter Location
FR
Reporter Occupation
OTHER

Narratives

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

EVALUATION SUMMARY: THE ANALYSIS RESULTS FOUND THAT THE DEVICE WAS RETURNED WITH THE BLADE NICKED AND CRACKED. THE DEVICE WAS TESTED WITH A GENERATOR AND AN ERROR CODE 5 WAS DISPLAYED. DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE BLADE, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE DEVICE WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL. 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 FURTHER CRACKED. THE IDENTIFIED BLADE DAMAGE MAY HAVE OCCURRED FROM EXTERNAL CONTACT DURING ACTIVATION. IN ADDITION, MINOR BLADE DAMAGE 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. COMPLAINT INFO IS TRENDED ON A REGULAR BASIS TO DETERMINE IF FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED. THE BATCH HISTORY RECORDS WERE REVIEWED WITH NO ANOMALIES NOTED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.

Description of Event or Problem · 1

IT WAS REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO AN UNKNOWN PROCEDURE, THE DEVICE DID NOT WORK. THEY USED ANOTHER LIKE DEVICE AND COMPLETED THE CASE WITH NO PATIENT CONSEQUENCE.

Devices

Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
1 HARMONIC ACE 36 CM LFL ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC NA E4KA5Y

Patients

Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
1 HANDPIECE| GENERATOR