FDA Adverse Event Malfunction Summary report: N

FLEXIBLE PROBE WITH BLOCKING WASHER

MDR report key: 2475674 · Received January 31, 2012

Report

Report Number
1124791-2009-00002
Event Type
Malfunction
Date Received
January 31, 2012
Date of Event
March 2, 2009
Report Date
March 2, 2009
Manufacturer
VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS
Product Code
JAQ
PMA / PMN Number
033371
Product Problem
Yes
Report Source
Manufacturer report
Reporter Location
FL, US
Reporter Occupation
UNKNOWN

Narratives

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE OLD DESIGN BLOCKING WASHER TO SHIFT TO A DIFFERENT POSITION ON THE FLEXIBLE PROBE, OR DESTABILIZE IT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT DOES NOT SECURE THE PROBE TO THE SOURCE GUIDING TUBE WHEN THE LOCKING NUT IS TIGHTENED. THE SHIFTS REPORTED FOR THE OLD DESIGN HAVE BEEN IN THE DISTAL DIRECTION ALONG THE PROBE CAUSING THE TIP OF THE PROBE TO FALL SHORT OF THE TIP OF THE CYLINDER SEGMENT LUMEN. IF THE SHIFT IS SUFFICIENT TO DISPLACE THE PROBE BELOW THE GRIPPING JAW (APPROXIMATELY 5 MM), THE LOCKING MECHANISM WILL NOT WORK, AND THE FLEXIBLE PROBE TIP WILL BE LOCATED PROXIMAL TO THE INTENDED POSITION BY THE DISTANCE OF THE SHIFTED BLOCKING WASHER. VARIAN DEVELOPED A NEW DESIGN FLEXIBLE PROBE AND SOURCE GUIDING TUBE THAT DO NOT CONTAIN A BLOCKING WASHER. THE PARTS FOR THE NEW DESIGN ARE IDENTIFIED AS FOLLOWS, AND HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN ALL DEFAULT APPLICATOR SETS BEGINNING IN (B)(4) 2010: (B)(4), FLEXIBLE PROBE, 2.8 MM X 320 MM AND (B)(4) GUIDING TUBE FOR SEGMENTED CYLINDERS. AN URGENT MEDICAL DEVICE CORRECTION NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT ON 2011-07-13. NO ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP TO THIS MDR IS EXPECTED. (B)(4).

Description of Event or Problem · 1

CUSTOMER REPORTS THAT BETWEEN TWO APPLICATORS, FLEXIBLE PROBE WITH BLOCKING WASHER, (B)(4), THERE IS A 5 MM DIFFERENCE IN HOW FAR THE DUMMY MARKER GOES INTO THE APPLICATOR. THE CUSTOMER REPORTED THAT THE BLOCKING WASHER SLIPPED DOWN THE SHAFT ON THE FLEXIBLE PROBE, (B)(4). VARIAN HAS SINCE DETERMINED IN 2011, THERE WAS A PRODUCT PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE FLEXIBLE PROBES WITH BLOCKING WASHER, PART NUMBER (B)(4), AND HAS RECALLED THE PRODUCT. ALL PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS OF A MOVED BLOCKING WASHER ARE BEING REPORTED AS MDRS AT THIS TIME.

Devices

Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
1 FLEXIBLE PROBE WITH BLOCKING WASHER BRACHYTHERAPY APPLICATOR JAQ VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS GM1102420 F32

Patients

Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
1