BEUDAMED
    FDA Adverse Event Malfunction Summary report: N

    HARMONIC ACE 36 CM

    MDR report key: 1190825 · Received October 7, 2008

    Report

    Report Number
    3005075853-2008-02170
    Event Type
    Malfunction
    Date Received
    October 7, 2008
    Date of Event
    August 5, 2008
    Report Date
    August 20, 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
    HK
    Reporter Occupation
    OTHER

    Narratives

    Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

    DATE SENT: 10/07/2008. THE ANALYSIS RESULTS FOUND THAT THE DEVICE WAS RETURNED WITH THE BLADE SCRATCHED AND CRACKED. 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 DAMAGE MAY INCREASE IN SEVERITY DURING SUBSEQUENT ACTIVATIONS, AND MAY RESULT IN BLADE "LOCKOUT" LATER IN THE PROCEDURE. FOR THIS REASON THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS WERE INCLUDED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE: "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 HISTORY RECORDS WERE REVIEWED WITH NO ANOMALIES NOTED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.

    Description of Event or Problem · 1

    IT WAS REPORTED THAT DURING AN ENDOSCOPIC THYROIDECTOMY PROCEDURE, THE INSTRUMENT WAS WORKING IN A VASCULAR PLANE AND THE GENERATOR SHOWED AN INSTRUMENT ERROR. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, SOME DESICCATED TISSUE AND BLOOD CLOT WERE FOUND AT THE JAW OF THE INSTRUMENT. PER SURGEON DECISION AND NOT DEVICE-RELATED, THE CASE WAS CONVERTED TO OPEN AND 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 HARMONIC ACE 36 CM LFL ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC NA UNK

    Patients

    Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
    1 HANDPIECE| GENERATOR