FDA Adverse Event Malfunction Summary report: N

ECHELON LINEAR CUTTER

MDR report key: 3953030 · Received July 23, 2014

Report

Report Number
3005075853-2014-05174
Event Type
Malfunction
Date Received
July 23, 2014
Date of Event
July 11, 2014
Report Date
July 14, 2014
Manufacturer
ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC.
Product Code
GDW
PMA / PMN Number
K081146
Removal / Correction Number
NA
Product Problem
Yes
Report Source
Manufacturer report
Reporter Location
NL
Reporter Occupation
OTHER

Narratives

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

(B)(4). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: THE ANALYSIS FOUND THAT ONE EC60A DEVICE WAS RETURNED IN GOOD VISUAL CONDITION AND WITH ONE ECR60D CARTRIDGE RELOAD PRESENT. THE CARTRIDGE RELOAD WAS RECEIVED FULLY FIRED AND IN GOOD VISUAL CONDITION. IN ADDITION IN ORDER TO VERIFY THE INTEGRITY OF INTERNAL COMPONENTS THE RETURNED CARTRIDGE WAS DISASSEMBLED AND NO ANOMALIES WERE NOTED, NO DAMAGE ON CARTRIDGE DECK WAS FOUND. THE DEVICE WAS TESTED FOR FUNCTIONALITY IN THE ARTICULATED POSITION WITH A TEST CARTRIDGE RELOAD AND ACHIEVED ITS COMPLETE FIRING SEQUENCE WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTIES. THE STAPLE LINE AND CUT LINE WERE COMPLETE AND THE STAPLES WERE NOTED TO HAVE THE PROPER B-FORM SHAPE. HOWEVER, 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. THE EVENT COULD NOT BE CONFIRMED AS NO MALFORMED STAPLES WERE NOTED DURING FUNCTIONAL TESTING.

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

(B)(4). ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO RETRIEVE THE DEVICE. TO DATE THE DEVICE HAS NOT BEEN RETURNED. IF THE DEVICE OR FURTHER DETAILS ARE RECEIVED AT A LATER DATE A SUPPLEMENTAL MEDWATCH WILL BE SENT. AT THE TIME OF THIS SUBMISSION, THE DEVICE HAS NOT BEEN RETURNED FOR ANALYSIS.

Description of Event or Problem · 1

IT WAS REPORTED THAT DURING A BYPASS PROCEDURE, THE STAPLES WEREN'T PROPERLY FORMED. THE COLOR OF THE CARTRIDGE IS YELLOW. THE FAILURE HAPPENED AFTER THE FIRST FIRING. ANOTHER LIKE DEVICE WAS USED TO COMPLETE THE PROCEDURE. THERE WERE NO ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PATIENT REPORTED.

Devices

Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
430066 ECHELON LINEAR CUTTER STAPLE, IMPLANTABLE GDW ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC. NA UNK

Patients

Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
1 RELOAD - ECR60D