The returned catheter was patent and was 4.75 inches in length.The catheter did not meet the requirements for leak testing due to a tear that spanned the length of the catheter form the distal to the proximal end.It is unknown how or when this damage occurred.The instructions for use cautions, ¿improper use of instruments in the handling or implantation of shunt products may result in the cutting, slitting or crushing of components.Such damage may lead to loss of shunt integrity¿low tear strength is a characteristic of most unreinforced silicone elastomer materials.Care must be taken with the handling and placement of the silicone elastomer catheter tubing to avoid cuts, nicks or tears.¿ due to the tear, the catheter could not be tested for tensile testing.All catheters are 100% inspected at the time of manufacture.Medtronic is submitting this report to comply with fda reporting regulations under 21 cfr parts 4 and 803.This report is based upon information obtained by medtronic, which the company may not have been able to fully investigate or verify prior to the date the report was required by the fda.Medtronic has made reasonable efforts to obtain more complete information and has provided as much relevant information as is available to the company as of the submission date of this report.This report does not constitute an admission or a conclusion by fda, medtronic, or its employees that the device, medtronic, or its employee caused or contributed to the event described in the report.In particular, this report does not constitute an admission by anyone that the product described in this report has any ¿defects¿ or has ¿malfunctioned¿.These words are included in the fda 3500a form and are fixed items for selection created by the fda to categorize the type of event solely for the purpose of regulatory reporting.Medtronic objects to the use of these words and others like them because of the lack of definition and the connotations implied by these terms.This statement should be included with any information or report disclosed to the public under the freedom of information act.Any required fields that are unpopulated are blank because the information is currently unknown or unavailable.A good faith effort will be made to obtain the applicable information relevant to the report.If information is provided in the future, a supplemental report will be issued.
|