BEUDAMED
    FDA Adverse Event Malfunction Summary report: N

    ECHELON*FLEX45 ARTICULATING

    MDR report key: 2102322 · Received May 25, 2011

    Report

    Report Number
    3005075853-2011-02103
    Event Type
    Malfunction
    Date Received
    May 25, 2011
    Date of Event
    May 2, 2011
    Report Date
    May 9, 2011
    Manufacturer
    ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC.
    Product Code
    GDW
    PMA / PMN Number
    K051002
    Removal / Correction Number
    NA
    Product Problem
    Yes
    Report Source
    Manufacturer report
    Reporter Location
    JA
    Reporter Occupation
    OTHER

    Narratives

    Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

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

    Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

    (B)(4). THE ANALYSIS FOUND THAT THE EC45A DEVICE WAS RECEIVED IN GOOD VISUAL CONDITION AND WITHOUT A RELOAD PRESENT. 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. A BATCH RECORD REVIEW WAS PERFORMED AND NO ANOMALIES WERE FOUND DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.

    Description of Event or Problem · 1

    IT WAS REPORTED THAT DURING A LAPAROSCOPIC LOBECTOMY PROCEDURE, THE DEPLOYED STAPLES WERE UNFORMED AT THE THIRD FIRING. REINFORCEMENT PRODUCT WAS NOT USED. ADDITIONAL SUTURE WAS PERFORMED. THERE WERE NO ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PATIENT. THE DOCTOR COMMENTED THAT IT HAD NO DIFFICULTY IN FIRING.

    Devices

    Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
    1 ECHELON*FLEX45 ARTICULATING STAPLE, IMPLANTABLE GDW ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC. UNK H4310P

    Patients

    Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
    1 (B)(4)