BEUDAMED
    FDA Adverse Event Malfunction Summary report: N

    HARMONIC ACE 36 CM

    MDR report key: 1190791 · Received October 9, 2008

    Report

    Report Number
    1527736-2008-03493
    Event Type
    Malfunction
    Date Received
    October 9, 2008
    Date of Event
    April 15, 2008
    Report Date
    April 17, 2008
    Manufacturer
    ETHICON ENDO SURGERY, INC. (CINCINNATI)
    Product Code
    LFL
    PMA / PMN Number
    K042777
    Removal / Correction Number
    NA
    Product Problem
    Yes
    Report Source
    Manufacturer report
    Reporter Location
    JA
    Reporter Occupation
    OTHER

    Narratives

    Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

    DATE SENT: 06/05/2008. THE ANALYSIS RESULTS FOUND THAT THE DEVICE WAS RETURNED WITH THE BLADE GOUGED AND CRACKED. THE DEVICE WAS TESTED WITH A GENERATOR AND AN ERROR CODE 5 WAS NOTED. DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE BLADE, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE DEVICE WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE "WHITE SMOG" REPORTED EVENT COULD NOT BE CONFIRMED, AS THE INSTRUMENT COULD NOT BE FURTHER EVALUATED. 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 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 MFG PROCESS.

    Description of Event or Problem · 1

    IT WAS REPORTED THAT DURING A THYROIDECTOMY PROCEDURE, THERE WAS A WHITE SMOG FROM THE TIP OF THE DEVICE. ANOTHER DEVICE WAS USED TO COMPLETE THE CASE.

    Devices

    Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
    1 HARMONIC ACE 36 CM NONE LFL ETHICON ENDO SURGERY, INC. (CINCINNATI) NA UNK

    Patients

    Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
    1 GENERATOR| HANDPIECE