MAUDE Adverse Event Report: ATOS MEDICAL AB PROVOX BRUSH; AIRWAY DEVICE CLEANING BRUSH, INVASIVE

Catalog Number 7204

Device Problem Break (1069)

Patient Problem Foreign Body In Patient (2687)

Event Date 06/01/2021

Event Type  malfunction  

Manufacturer Narrative

Product return was not possible according to reporting, so this is a theoretical investigation based on complaint description, follow-up questions, product-ifus and internal documents as well as accumulated technical experience from previous complaint investigations.User reports that the brush head broke off right before the handle part begins, throat starting tickling and coughed out the brush head through the stoma.The brushes were used approx.4 weeks (30 days is ok according to the ifu).Discussion: the brush head of the provox brush consists of nylon filaments as bristles, twisted metal wire (diameter: 0.65mm, stainless steel) that is injection molded inside a pp plastic shaft or handle, and a pp-plastic tip on top of the brush head.A disconnect between the twisted metal and the shaft is very unlikely based on that the brush head (stainless steel wire) is injection molded into the handle, experience and historical complaints.The most likely point of breakage is the actual twisted metal brush head that has been seen to break if bent extensively back and forth.This stainless steel wire has its breaking point at 758 n/mm^2 on average, making it very resilient to mechanical forces.It takes repeated damage to the material (such as bending it back and forth repeatedly) to weaken an subsequently break the material.The maximum forces applied to the brush during a cleaning procedure are at 13.7n (source: internal documents (b)(4), max.Esophageal flange strength).The chances of dislocating the voice prosthesis while cleaning are high when applying more than 13.7n of force.Therefore, the customer would have dislocated his vp before applying enough force to damage the brush by normal usage only.Furthermore, the average force needed to pull the brush head out of the brush handle is average 193n (stdev 18) for provox brush ref (b)(4) (internal reference (b)(4)).Taking all those facts in consideration, it is highly likely that the brush was damaged prior to usage as it is highly unlikely that the medical-grade steel wire broke during a standard cleaning procedure.The applied forces are just too small to damage steel.Conclusion/action: since no product return is available, we are not able to definitely determine the cause of the failure.The most likely root cause is the brush head has been bent several times back and forth.Note: due to confidentiality reasons, the patient's name is not entered as the initial reporter.Instead, the sales representative's name is used.

Event Description

User reports that the brush head broke off right before the handle part begins, throat starting tickling and coughed out the brush head through the stoma.The brushes were used approx.4 weeks.Follow-up questions/answered by user q was it one or two brushes that broke? a two brushes broke.Q patient hurt or scared? a i was not hurt, but i felt scared and uncomfortable.Q which instruction have you followed to use the brush a i followed the instruction manual.Q was the brush the new or the old design? a it was the new design.Q was the attached manual read and understood (included the illustrations) in full by the user before use? a yes, the manual was read and understood.Q was the blue handle bended by the user? a no, i did not bend the blue handle part in any way.Q was the brush head bended by the user? a no, i did not bend the brush head part in any way.Q was the complete brush visually inspected before each use before it snapped off? a yes, it was inspected very carefully and every time before and after each use.Q can it be described in more detail where the brush head fell off? a the brush head fell off right before handle part b begins.Q can it be described in more detail what happened just before the brush head fell off? a the voice prosthesis was cleaned with the brush as always.As i wanted to take the brush out to clean it, i felt an tickling sensation in my throat.As i inspected the brush, i could see that the brush head was missing.I started to cough and the brush head came out of my stoma.Q how many times per day was the brush used? a about 1 to 2 times per day.Q how the user clean the brush? a the brush was cleaned with water, as it is recommended in the manual.Q how is the user feeling today? a i am well, but every time i have to use the brush, i'm afraid it will break again.Description of the product: provox brush is a device intended for cleaning of provox voice prostheses in-situ.Cleaning is recommended twice a day and after each meal.The voice prosthesis is seated in a puncture in the wall between esophagus and trachea.The brush is intended for single patient re-use and is intended for both home and clinical use by patient or clinician.Maximal use 30 days.

• Brand Name: PROVOX BRUSH
• Type of Device: AIRWAY DEVICE CLEANING BRUSH, INVASIVE
• Manufacturer (Section D): ATOS MEDICAL AB; kraftgatan 8; hörby, 24235 ; SW 24235
• Manufacturer (Section G): ATOS MEDICAL AB; kraftgatan 8; hörby, 24235 ; SW 24235
• Manufacturer Contact: karolina nilsson ; kraftgatan 8; hörby, 24235 ; SW 24235
• MDR Report Key: 12116307
• MDR Text Key: 261887561
• Report Number: 8032044-2021-00006
• Device Sequence Number: 1
• Product Code: LRC
• UDI-Device Identifier: 07331791000775
• UDI-Public: 7331791000775
• Combination Product (y/n): N
• Reporter Country Code: GM
• PMA/PMN Number: EXEMPT
• Number of Events Reported: 1
• Summary Report (Y/N): N
• Report Source: Manufacturer
• Source Type: company representative,consum
• Reporter Occupation: Non-Healthcare Professional
• Type of Report: Initial
• Report Date: 06/14/2021

1 Device was Involved in the Event

1 Patient was Involved in the Event

• Is this an Adverse Event Report?: No
• Is this a Product Problem Report?: Yes
• Device Operator: Lay User/Patient
• Device Catalogue Number: 7204
• Device Lot Number: 2007003
• Was Device Available for Evaluation?: No
• Initial Date Manufacturer Received: 06/14/2021
• Initial Date FDA Received: 07/05/2021
• Was Device Evaluated by Manufacturer?: Device Not Returned to Manufacturer
• Date Device Manufactured: 07/18/2020
• Is the Device Single Use?: No
• Is This a Reprocessed and Reused Single-Use Device?: No
• Type of Device Usage: Reuse
• Patient Sequence Number: 1