(b)(4), the reported complaint that "blood appeared in the balloon helium tube, and the center lumen of the intra-aortic balloon counter pulsation catheter was found to be broken" was confirmed upon the investigation of the returned sample.The customer returned a 40cc 7.5fr ultraflex intra-aortic balloon catheter (iabc) without the original packaging for investigation.The sample was returned in a cardboard box and was in a yellow bio-hazard bag (inp-1, inp-2).Upon return, the iabc central lumen within the flex-tip assembly area was immediately noted damaged; the wire round/polyimide (part of the flex tip assembly) was noted broken at approximately 5.8cm from the iabc distal tip (inp-7).The distal end of the teflon sheath was noted at approximately 28.7cm from the iabc distal tip (inp-4).The one-way valve was connected and tethered to the short driveline tubing (inp-5).The bladder was fully unwrapped (inp-6).A bend to the iabc central/outer lumen was noted at approximately 48.2cm from the iabc distal tip (inp-8).Dried blood was noted on the exterior surfaces of the returned sample.Spots of dried blood were also noted within the iabc helium pathway.No other visual damage or abnormalities were noted to the returned sample.The one-way valve was tested and passed.A vacuum was pulled on the one-way valve, and it held for at least 1 minute and then 30 seconds five separate times in accordance with quality system document.An attempt to aspirate and flush the iabc central lumen using a 60cc lab-inventory syringe was unable to be successfully completed.Upon aspiration, water was unable to be consistently pulled into the syringe.The attempt to flush resulted in bladder inflation.The results are consistent with the previously noted damaged central lumen (inp-7).The iabc was leak tested in accordance with testing methods from manufacturing procedure.A leak was immediately detected from the iabc distal tip and iabc luer end (anp-1, anp-2).The leak from the iabc distal tip and iabc luer end are consistent with the previously confirmed damaged central lumen (inp-7).The iabc was leak tested again with the iabc distal tip and iabc luer end blocked off; no other leaks were detected.A lab inventory 0.025in guidewire was back loaded through the iabc distal tip.The guidewire exited the central lumen and entered the bladder at the location of the damaged central lumen.No blood or debris was noted.The guidewire was front loaded through the iabc luer.Resistance was noted at approximately 33.2cm from the iabc luer, which is the location of the previously noted bend.Then the guidewire then exited the central lumen and entered the bladder at the location of the damaged central lumen.No blood or debris was noted.Based on a review of the device history record (dhr), the product met specification upon release; however, the specifications were not met during the complaint investigation due to the damaged central lumen.The root cause of the complaint was undetermined.Further investigation has been initiated under teleflex's quality system by the manufacturing site to further investigate this issue.Teleflex will continue to monitor and trend on reports of this nature.
|