BEUDAMED
    FDA Adverse Event Malfunction Summary report: N

    ULTRACISION HARMONIC SCALPEL CURVED SHEARS, SCISSOR-GRIP HANDLE - 14 CM

    MDR report key: 1823681 · Received November 16, 2007

    Report

    Report Number
    1527736-2007-07819
    Event Type
    Malfunction
    Date Received
    November 16, 2007
    Report Date
    September 26, 2007
    Manufacturer
    ETHICON ENDO SURGERY, INC (CINCINNATI)
    Product Code
    GEI
    PMA / PMN Number
    K002981
    Removal / Correction Number
    NA
    Product Problem
    Yes
    Report Source
    Manufacturer report
    Reporter Location
    GM
    Reporter Occupation
    OTHER

    Narratives

    Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

    (B)(4). BLADE CRACKED DUE TO ACTIVATION WITHOUT TISSUE (DEVICE A) AND BLADE CRACKED-SCRATCHES (DEVICE B). EVALUATION SUMMARY: THE ANALYSIS RESULTS FOUND THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE DEVICE A ON A GEN04, IT GAVE AN ERROR CODE 5. VISUAL EXAMINATION FOUND AN AREA OF THE BLADE THAT WAS DISCOLORED DUE TO HEAT GENERATED FROM CONTACT BETWEEN THE BLADE AND TISSUE PAD. FURTHER ANALYSIS FOUND A CRACK PROPAGATING FROM THE HEAT-AFFECTED AREA OF THE BLADE. THIS FAILURE IS CAUSED DUE TO ACTIVATION OF THE DEVICE WHILE CLAMPED WITHOUT TISSUE BEING PRESENT. THEREFORE, THE INSTRUCTIONAL INSERT STATES: "CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO APPLY PRESSURE BETWEEN THE INSTRUMENT BLADE AND TISSUE PAD WITHOUT HAVING TISSUE BETWEEN THEM. THIS CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE INSTRUMENT." DEVICE B WAS RETURNED WITH THE BLADE SCRATCHED AND CRACKED. DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE BLADE, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE DEVICE WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL. AN ERROR CODE 5 WAS NOTED. 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. 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. 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 A THYROID PROCEDURE, THE DEVICE DID NOT FUNCTION AFTER FIVE MINUTES. TOOK A NEW INSTRUMENT AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. THERE WAS NO PATIENT CONSEQUENCE.

    Devices

    Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
    1 ULTRACISION HARMONIC SCALPEL CURVED SHEARS, SCISSOR-GRIP HANDLE - 14 CM GEI ETHICON ENDO SURGERY, INC (CINCINNATI) NA D4HD1T

    Patients

    Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
    1 HANDPIECE| GENERATOR