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The device was returned to olympus for evaluation and the customer's allegation was confirmed.Evaluation found that the wire coating was torn and the broken wire was scorched and melted.A review of the device history record found no deviations that could have caused or contributed to the reported issue.There was no indication that the event was caused by a misuse or that the event was related to design of the device.Repair history was reviewed and no issues were found related to the reported event.A definitive root cause of the broken wire could not be identified; however, a likely mechanism causing the wire breakage may be the following: 1.The cutting wire where the wire coating was torn came into contact with the distal end of the endoscope when the forceps elevator was raised.2.Under circumstances described above, an electric conduction was activated.This caused the cutting wire to become hot instantly at the contact point.As a result, the cutting wire broke.A likely factor causing tears of the coated portion of the cutting wire might be the following: it is possible that the slider was slightly pushed causing the cutting wire to deflect.The coated portion of the cutting wire has possibly been rubbed due to the effect of contacting a metal area of the endoscope.The following information is stated in the ifu (instructions for use) which may help to prevent the issue: since the cutting wire is very thin, it may break off in the following cases: the distance between the papilla of vater and the cutting wire is very short, the output is too high or activated while the cutting wire touches metal parts of the endoscope, or the cutting wire is tightened too strong.When the cutting wire breaks off, its proximal end will be retracted toward the endoscope if the slider is pulled.If the slider is pushed, the cutting wire will be pushed out toward the papilla or move sideways.If the cutting wire breaks off, stop the output immediately and pull the slider completely to retract the broken cutting wire into the tube.Then withdraw the sphincterotome from the papilla.Otherwise, patient injury, such as perforations, bleeding, or lacerations within the biliary duct, and/or damage of the endoscope could result.When inserting the instrument into the endoscope, be sure that the cutting wire is parallel to the tube.Otherwise, the metal part of the forceps elevator may contact the cutting wire and peel off the coating material.Do not activate output while tissue is in contact with the torn or damaged coated portion of the distal end.If output is activated while tissue is contacting the torn or damaged coated portion due to insertion into or withdrawal from an endoscope, leakage current, decreased output, and/or thermal injury could result.If you feel the cutting is blunt, withdraw the device from the scope to examine if there is any peel off and tear at the coating portion.If additional information becomes available at a later date, this report will be supplemented.Olympus will continue to monitor the field performance of this device.
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