MAUDE Adverse Event Report: AOMORI OLYMPUS CO., LTD. THUNDERBEAT 5 MM, 35 CM, FRONT-ACTUATED GRIP TYPE S; ULTRASONIC SURGICAL DEVICE

Model Number TB-0535FCS

Device Problem Fracture (1260)

Patient Problem No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions (4582)

Event Date 07/24/2023

Event Type  malfunction  

Event Description

A customer reported to olympus, the thunderbeat probe tip broke off two times during an unspecified procedure.The probe did not come in contact with other instruments.The procedure was completed using a replacement device.There was no report of patient harm associated with this event.Related patient identifier: (b)(6).

Manufacturer Narrative

To date, the device has not been returned to olympus for evaluation.The investigation is ongoing.A supplemental report will be submitted upon completion of the investigation or if any additional information is provided by the user facility.

Manufacturer Narrative

This report is being supplemented to provide additional information based on the legal manufacturer's final investigation.A review of the device history record found no deviations that could have caused or contributed to the reported issue.Based on the results of the investigation, the exact cause of the event couldn¿t be exclusively identified.However, based on the past investigation results, the probe broken was possibly occurred due to contact with a surgical instrument or the non-insulated area of grasping section.The detailed mechanisms are shown below.1.During output in seal & cut mode, the probe came in contact with hard tissue, metal or a surgical instrument.Consequently, a scratch was made on the probe.2.The probe received an output load in seal & cut mode or received a load when grasping tissue.As a result, the probe cracked from the scratch.3.The probe broke when added load.Or 1.The distal end of the tissue pad was worn away because ¿seal & cut¿ output was activated while grasping nothing (including the case the user kept activating after cutting tissue).2.The tissue pad was worn away, causing the non-insulated of the grasping section to touch the probe.3.¿seal & cut¿ output was activated under this situation, then the scratches indicating that the probe and grasping section were in contact with each other were made.4.The probe received an output load in seal & cut mode or received a load when grasping tissue.As a result, the probe cracked from the scratch.5.The probe broke when added load.The event can be detected/prevented by following the instructions for use which state: "do not activate output in seal & cut mode while the grasping section is closed without contacting tissue or vessel or ensuring that tissue is transected.Otherwise, a local increase of the temperature due to a friction between the probe tip and the grasping section may result in various forms of damage in the probe tip and/or the tissue pad, such as premature wear, breakage, deformation, and/or falling off inside the body cavity and/or partial separating.When cutting and vessel sealing is performed in seal & cut mode, apply light tension on the tissue so that users can confirm it is transected.Also, stop activation immediately after tissue is transected.Otherwise, the grasping section, the tissue pad, or the probe tip may break and fall off, and partial separating of the tissue pad may occur due to a local increase of temperature caused by the friction between tissue pad and the probe tip during activation.The thunderbeat instrument should be used for soft tissue.Do not activate output while grasping hard tissue such as bone or highly calcified tissue, or hard objects such as metal clips, stapler, or other instruments (e.G., uterine manipulator, forceps, and others).Otherwise, it may cause the probe tip to be scratched or come into direct contact with the metal area of the grasping section as the heat generated by the friction between the hard object and the probe tip could cause wear/deforming/splitting/protruding/partial separating of the tissue pad.In turn, the probe may break before displaying an error window or generating an alarm tone.Do not grasp or let the probe tip contact hard objects such as metal clips, stapler, or other instruments (e.G., uterine manipulator).Also, be careful to avoid contacting the probe tip with those accidentally.Particularly during activation, a scratch on the probe tip could occur due to ultrasonic vibration, which leads the probe tip to break and fall off into the body cavity.In addition, the high-frequency (rf bipolar) current flows through the metal and generates spark discharge, which may cause burns and decrease functionalities".Olympus will continue to monitor field performance for this device.

• Brand Name: THUNDERBEAT 5 MM, 35 CM, FRONT-ACTUATED GRIP TYPE S
• Type of Device: ULTRASONIC SURGICAL DEVICE
• Manufacturer (Section D): AOMORI OLYMPUS CO., LTD.; 2-248-1 okkonoki; kuroishi-shi, aomori 036-0 357; JA 036-0357
• Manufacturer (Section G): AOMORI OLYMPUS CO., LTD.; 2-248-1 okkonoki; kuroishi-shi, aomori
• Manufacturer Contact: todd brill ; 800 west park drive; westborough, MA 01581 ; 5082077661
• MDR Report Key: 17596766
• MDR Text Key: 321677749
• Report Number: 9614641-2023-01212
• Device Sequence Number: 1
• Product Code: GEI
• UDI-Device Identifier: 04953170383557
• UDI-Public: 04953170383557
• Combination Product (y/n): N
• Reporter Country Code: GM
• PMA/PMN Number: K211838
• Number of Events Reported: 1
• Summary Report (Y/N): N
• Report Source: Manufacturer
• Source Type: Other,Foreign,User Facility
• Reporter Occupation: Other
• Type of Report: Initial,Followup
• Report Date: 10/03/2023

1 Device was Involved in the Event

1 Patient was Involved in the Event

• Date FDA Received: 08/22/2023
• Is this an Adverse Event Report?: No
• Is this a Product Problem Report?: Yes
• Device Operator: Health Professional
• Device Model Number: TB-0535FCS
• Device Lot Number: KR316617
• Was Device Available for Evaluation?: No
• Is the Reporter a Health Professional?: No
• Was the Report Sent to FDA?: No
• Date Manufacturer Received: 09/29/2023
• Was Device Evaluated by Manufacturer?: Device Not Returned to Manufacturer
• Date Device Manufactured: 04/21/2023
• Is the Device Single Use?: Yes
• Is This a Reprocessed and Reused Single-Use Device?: No
• Type of Device Usage: Initial
• Patient Sequence Number: 1