Manufacturer's investigation conclusion: review of the submitted image confirmed superficial damage to the pump cable; however, a specific cause for the damage could not conclusively be determined.The account submitted a photo for review showing the pump cable and in-line connector bend relief wrapped in a brown tape.The brown tape appeared to be removed or damaged in some areas where a red residue was visible.The quality of the image made it difficult to discern the exact condition of the cable; however, a tear in the outer jacket appeared to be visible, revealing the underlying armor layer.The jacket underlying the armor layer was not visible.The submitted controller event log file contained events from (b)(6) 2024.The pump appeared to operate as intended at the stored patient speed for the duration of the file.It was later reported that there was continued wear and tear to the driveline since the damage was originally reported in 2022 as reported in mfr #: 2916596-2023-00207.No damage to the underlying wires was observed.The patient remains ongoing on heartmate 3 left ventricular assist system (lvas), serial number mlp-014210, and no further related events have been reported at this time.The heartmate 3 (hm3) left ventricular assist system (lvas) instructions for use (ifu), rev.C, is currently available.Section 6 entitled ¿patient care and management¿ explains how to clean and care for the driveline.Section 6 also cautions the user to avoid pulling on or moving the driveline.This ifu further emphasizes not to twist, kink, or sharply bend the driveline, system controller power cables, or mobile power unit patient cable, which may cause damage to the wires inside, even if the external damage is not visible.Damage to the driveline or cables could cause the pump to stop.If the driveline or cables become twisted, kinked, or bent, carefully unravel and straighten.Section 6 (under "caring for the driveline") also instructs the user to check the driveline daily for signs of damage, such as cuts, holes, or tears.Section 7 of this ifu provides additional instruction regarding the driveline in a sub-section entitled "what not to do: driveline and cables." section 8 entitled ¿equipment storage and care¿ explains that as needed, the user can clean exterior surfaces of the driveline cables with a damp, lint-free cloth.If more aggressive cleaning is needed, use warm water and mild dish soap.The heartmate 3 lvas patient handbook, rev.D, is also currently available.Section 4 ¿living with the heartmate 3¿ contains information regarding how to clean and care for the driveline.Wipe off any dirt or grime and if the driveline gets dirty, use a towel with mild dish soap and warm water to gently clean it.Never submerge the driveline or other system components in water or liquid.The relevant sections of the device history records for (b)(6) were reviewed and showed no deviations from manufacturing or quality assurance specifications.No further information was provided.The manufacturer is closing the file on this event.
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