BEUDAMED
    FDA Adverse Event Injury Summary report: N

    *

    MDR report key: 178354 · Received July 22, 1998

    Report

    Report Number
    MW1014211
    Event Type
    Injury
    Date Received
    July 22, 1998
    Date of Event
    July 14, 1998
    Report Date
    July 20, 1998
    Manufacturer
    EVEREST & JENNINGS, INC.
    Product Code
    ITI
    Product Problem
    Yes
    Report Source
    Voluntary report
    Reporter Location
    NJ, US
    Reporter Occupation
    RISK MANAGER

    Narratives

    Description of Event or Problem · 1

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM MFR ON 8/19/1998: REP REPORTS THAT THE WHEELCHAIR IS STILL FUNCTIONING. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN ANY DAMAGE TO THE OPERATIONS OF THE CHAIR. ACCORDING TO REP, THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS CONFINED TO THE BATTERY SET-UP OF THE CHAIR. THIS FACILITY IS USING AN ALTERNATIVE BATTERY CHARGER TO CHARGE A THIRD BATTERY FOR A VENTILATOR, WHICH RAISES A SAFETY CONCERN: AS THE TYPE OF HARDWARE BEING USED IN THIS SET-UP IS WHAT REP BELEIVES TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THEY ARE USING METAL SQEEZE CLIPS TO CHARGE THE BATTERIES WHILE IN THE BATTERY BOX AND APPARENTLY SOMETHING FELL DOWN OR CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE METAL CLIP THEREBY SHORTING OUT THE BATTERY AND CAUSING THE FIRE. BASED ON THE REP'S OBSERVATION, THE FIRE WAS DEFINITELY NOT A RESULT OF ANY MALFUNCTION WITH THE WHEELCHAIR ITSELF, BUT RATHER WHOEVER SET UP THE CHARGING UNIT. IT IS CO'S SUGGESTION THAT THE FACILITY CHANGE OUT ALL CHARGER PLUG-INS, AND PLACE A LEAD OFF OF THE BATTERY WITH ANDERSON'S PLUGS SO THAT THEY CAN SIMPLY PLUG IN AND OUT. ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE THE XCALIBER WHEELCHAIR WAS MANUFACTURED IN AUGUST OF 1991 AND HAS UNDERGONE MANY YEARS OF USE, IT IS CO'S RECOMMENDATION THEY CONSIDER ORDERING NEW WHEELCHAIRS, AS IT IS CO'S EXPERIENCE THAT THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A POWER WHEELCHAIR UNDER NORMAL USE IS APPROXIMATELY 7 YEARS.

    Devices

    Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
    1 * ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR ITI EVEREST & JENNINGS, INC. X CALIBER, LAY BACK SYSTEM *

    Patients

    Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
    1 34 YR Required Intervention