FDA Adverse Event Malfunction Summary report: N

HARMONIC AVE 36 CM

MDR report key: 1250805 · Received December 2, 2008

Report

Report Number
3005075853-2008-03366
Event Type
Malfunction
Date Received
December 2, 2008
Date of Event
October 9, 2008
Report Date
October 13, 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
KS
Reporter Occupation
OTHER

Narratives

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

DATE SENT: 12/2/2008. EVALUATION SUMMARY: THE DEVICE WAS RETURNED WITH THE BLADE SCRATCHED AND CRACKED. DURING FUNCTIONAL TESTING, AN ERROR CODE 5 WAS DISPLAYED AND THE BLADE TIP FURTHER CRACKED. THE DEVICE WILL STOP ACTIVATING, AND EITHER EMIT A SOLID TONE OR DISPLAY AN INSTRUMENT ERROR CODE 5 OR A SOLID TONE ON THE GENERATOR DISPLAY WHEN THE BLADE BECOMES DAMAGED. WHEN A BLADE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED SUCH AS SCRATCHED OR CRACKED, THE TITANIUM METAL IS FATIGUED WHEN CONTINUALLY ENERGIZED AND THIS RESULTS IN THE BLADE FURTHER CRACKING AND POSSIBLY BREAKING OFF. A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF AN ERROR CODE 5 (INSTRUMENT ERROR) IS BLADE DAMAGE. BLADE DAMAGE MAY OCCUR FROM EXTERNAL CONTACT WITH METAL OR PLASTIC DURING PRE-OP OR GENERAL USE. 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 DURING A THYROIDECTOMY PROCEDURE, THE DEVICE WAS NOT WORKING (DID NOT CUT AND COAGULATE). SURGERY WAS PROLONGED FIVE MINS. UNK HOW CASE WAS COMPLETED. THERE WERE NO ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES TO THE PT.

Devices

Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
1 HARMONIC AVE 36 CM LFL ULTRASONIC BLADE LFL ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC NA UNK

Patients

Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
1 HANDPIECE| GENERATOR