BEUDAMED
    FDA Adverse Event Malfunction Summary report: N

    ECHELON*FLEX60

    MDR report key: 1983147 · Received February 10, 2011

    Report

    Report Number
    1527736-2011-00040
    Event Type
    Malfunction
    Date Received
    February 10, 2011
    Date of Event
    January 17, 2011
    Report Date
    January 18, 2011
    Manufacturer
    ETHICON ENDO SURGERY, INC (CINCINNATI)
    Product Code
    GDW
    PMA / PMN Number
    K081146
    Removal / Correction Number
    NA
    Product Problem
    Yes
    Report Source
    Manufacturer report
    Reporter Location
    CA, US
    Reporter Occupation
    OTHER

    Narratives

    Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

    (B)(4). AFTER SEVERAL REQUESTS, THE DEVICE WAS NOT RECEIVED FOR ANALYSIS.

    Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

    (B)(4). THE ANALYSIS FOUND THAT THE EC60A DEVICE WAS RECEIVED IN GOOD VISUAL CONDITION AND WITH AN ECR60G RELOAD LOADED IN THE DEVICE. THE RELOAD WAS RECEIVED PARTIALLY FIRED. A PARTIAL FIRE CAN OCCUR IF THE FIRING SEQUENCE IS INTERRUPTED. THE DEVICE WAS TESTED FOR FUNCTIONALITY IN THE ARTICULATED POSITION WITH A TEST CARTRIDGE RELOAD AND IT FIRED, CUT AND FORMED ALL THE STAPLES AS INTENDED. THE CUT WAS NOTED TO BE JAGGED DUE TO A DAMAGED KNIFE. ONE POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE TO THE KNIFE IS WHEN THE DEVICE IS FIRED OVER AN ALREADY EXISTING STAPLE LINE, HARD OBJECT OR THICKER TISSUE THAN INDICATED. REPEATEDLY FIRING ACROSS EXISTING STAPLE LINES CAN ALSO REDUCE THE ABILITY TO CUT CLEANLY. TO MITIGATE THE POTENTIAL FOR STAPLES GETTING INTO THE CARTRIDGE AND INTERFERING WITH THE KNIFE PATH DURING DEVICE FIRING, PRIOR TO RELOADING THE DEVICE, RINSE THE ANVIL AND CARTRIDGE JAW IN STERILE SOLUTION AND THEN WIPE THE ANVIL AND CARTRIDGE JAW TO CLEAN ANY FORMED BUT UNUSED STAPLES FROM THE DEVICE. ADDITIONALLY, PROPER CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN PLACING THE DEVICE ON THE TISSUE TO BE STAPLED, TO ENSURE THAT NO HARD OBSTRUCTION SUCH AS A CLIP IS INCLUDED WITH THE TISSUE INSIDE THE JAWS. AS PART OF OUR QUALITY PROCESS, EACH DEVICE IS VISUALLY INSPECTED AND FUNCTIONALLY TESTED DURING MANUFACTURING TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVICE MEETS THE REQUIRED SPECIFICATIONS PRIOR TO SHIPMENT.

    Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

    (B)(4). INFORMATION ANTICIPATED, BUT UNAVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

    Description of Event or Problem · 1

    IT WAS REPORTED THAT DURING A LAPAROSCOPIC GASTRIC BYPASS PROCEDURE, THE DEVICE WAS FIRED FOR THE FOURTH TIME AND THE STAPLE LINE HAD MALFORMED STAPLES. THEY HAD TO OVERSEW THE STAPLE LINE. ANOTHER DEVICE WAS USED TO COMPLETE THE PROCEDURE. THERE WAS NO ADVERSE CONSEQUENCE TO THE PATIENT.

    Devices

    Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
    1 ECHELON*FLEX60 STAPLE, IMPLANTABLE GDW ETHICON ENDO SURGERY, INC (CINCINNATI) UNK G4UG6P

    Patients

    Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
    1