FDA Adverse Event Malfunction Summary report: N

HARMONIC ACE 36CM W ERG HANDLE

MDR report key: 1897188 · Received November 12, 2010

Report

Report Number
3005075853-2010-06458
Event Type
Malfunction
Date Received
November 12, 2010
Date of Event
November 10, 2010
Report Date
November 10, 2010
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
SC, US
Reporter Occupation
OTHER

Narratives

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

(B)(4). INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE, DEVICE NOT RETURNED FOR ANALYSIS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: OUR INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE WARN: "AUDIBLE HIGH-PITCHED TONES, RESONATING FROM THE BLADE OR HAND PIECE, ARE AN ABNORMAL CONDITION AND AN INDICATOR THAT THE BLADE OR HAND PIECE IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE TONES MAY BE AN INDICATOR THAT THE HAND PIECE IS BEYOND ITS USEFUL LIFE OR THAT THE BLADE HAS NOT BEEN ATTACHED PROPERLY, WHICH MAY RESULT IN ABNORMALLY HIGH SHAFT TEMPERATURES AND USER OR PATIENT INJURY." "BLOOD AND TISSUE BUILDUP BETWEEN THE BLADE AND SHAFT MAY RESULT IN ABNORMALLY HIGH TEMPERATURES AT THE DISTAL END OF THE SHAFT. TO PREVENT BURN INJURY, REMOVE ANY VISIBLE TISSUE BUILDUP AT THE DISTAL END OF THE SHAFT." " TO AVOID USER OR PATIENT INJURY IN THE EVENT THAT ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION OCCURS, THE INSTRUMENT BLADE, CLAMP ARM, AND DISTAL END OF THE SHAFT SHOULD NOT BE IN CONTACT WITH THE PATIENT, DRAPES, OR FLAMMABLE MATERIALS WHILE NOT IN USE." "DURING AND FOLLOWING ACTIVATION IN TISSUE, THE INSTRUMENT BLADE, CLAMP ARM, AND DISTAL 7 CM OF THE SHAFT MAY BE HOT. AVOID UNINTENDED CONTACT WITH TISSUE, DRAPES, SURGICAL GOWNS, AT ALL TIMES." "AVOID CONTACT WITH ANY AND 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." "CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO APPLY PRESSURE BETWEEN THE INSTRUMENT BLADE AND TISSUE PAD WITHOUT HAVING TISSUE BETWEEN THEM. CLAMPING THE TISSUE PAD AGAINST THE ACTIVE BLADE WITHOUT TISSUE ON THE FULL LENGTH OF THE BLADE WILL RESULT IN HIGHER BLADE, CLAMP ARM AND DISTAL SHAFT TEMPERATURES AND CAN RESULT IN POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE INSTRUMENT. IF THIS HAPPENS, THERE MAY BE A SYSTEM FAILURE SIGNALED BY A CONTINUOUS TONE OR ERROR CODE WHEN EITHER OF THE FOOT PEDALS OR HAND CONTROL BUTTON IS DEPRESSED. "KEEP THE CLAMP ARM OPEN WHEN BACKCUTTING OR WHILE THE BLADE IS ACTIVE WITHOUT TISSUE BETWEEN THE BLADE AND TISSUE PAD TO AVOID DAMAGE TO THE TISSUE PAD AND INCREASED BLADE, CLAMP ARM AND DISTAL SHAFT TEMPERATURES." "THE ENTIRE EXPOSED BLADE TIP AND ANY EXPOSED BLADE SHAFT IS ACTIVE AND WILL CUT/COAGULATE TISSUE WHEN THE INSTRUMENT BLADE IS ACTIVATED. BE CAREFUL TO AVOID INADVERTENT CONTACT BETWEEN ALL EXPOSED BLADE SURFACES AND SURROUNDING TISSUE WHEN USING THE CURVED SHEARS." "INCIDENTAL AND PROLONGED ACTIVATION AGAINST SOLID SURFACES, SUCH AS BONE, MAY RESULT IN BLADE HEATING AND SUBSEQUENT BLADE FAILURE, AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED."

Description of Event or Problem · 1

IT WAS REPORTED THAT DURING A COLON RESECTION, THE SURGEON LAID THE DEVICE ON THE DRAPE AND IT BURNT THROUGH BOTH THE BLUE TOP LAYER AND THE PLASTIC LAYER OF THE DRAPE DUE TO A HOT BLADE. "THE PATIENT NOR THE USED WAS BURNED." THE SURGEON STATED HE FELT IT WAS HOTTER THAN NORMAL TO THE TOUCH. THE DEVICE WAS DISCARDED.

Devices

Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
1 HARMONIC ACE 36CM W ERG HANDLE INSTRUMENT, ULTRASONIC SURGICAL LFL ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC. UNK UNK

Patients

Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
1 GENERATOR AND HANDPIECE