FLEXIBLE PROBE WITH BLOCKING WASHER
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
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).
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 |