MAUDE Adverse Event Report: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC. ECHELON FLEX; STAPLE, IMPLANTABLE

Catalog Number	PCEE60A
Medical Device Problem Code	Material Integrity Problem (2978)
Health Effect - Clinical Code	No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions (4582)
Date of Event	04/13/2026
Type of Reportable Event	Malfunction
Additional Manufacturer Narrative
(b)(4).Date sent: 4/27/2026.D4: batch #unknown.D4: udi: as the lot number for the device involved in the event was not provided, the full udi is currently not available.D4: udi: the expiration date is currently not available.Therefore, the full udi is currently not available.H4: the device manufacture date is currently not available.Attempts have been made to retrieve the device.To date the device has not been returned.If the device or further details are received at a later date a supplemental medwatch will be sent.No lot or batch number was provided; therefore, a device history could not be done.This report is being submitted pursuant to the provisions of 21 cfr, part 803.This report may be based on information which has not been investigated or verified prior to the required reporting date.This report does not reflect a conclusion by ethicon, or its employees that the report constitutes an admission that the product, ethicon, or its employees caused or contributed to the potential event described in this report.If information is obtained that was not available for the initial report, a follow-up report will be filed as appropriate.
Event or Problem Description
It was reported that during an unspecified surgical procedure, it was observed that the jaws were deformed after firing and could not be closed properly so they stopped using it.Another device was used to complete the case.There were no adverse consequences to the patient.No additional information provided.
Additional Manufacturer Narrative
(b)(4).Date sent: 5/11/2026.D4: batch #616c85.Updated data: d4 (lot number, expiration date), h4.Corrected data: d4 (udi).Investigation summary: the product was returned for evaluation.Visual inspection and functional testing were conducted on the returned device.Visual analysis of the returned sample determined that one pcee60a device was returned with the anvil bent upwards and with no reload present.Furthermore, the anvil knife slot was noted to be damaged.After further evaluation, the analysis showed the knife wings were broken off.Only one wing of the knife was returned for analysis.No functional test was performed due to the condition of the device.It is possible that the device was clamped over an excess of tissue causing the anvil to bend and for the firing stroke and the staple form to be incomplete.It is possible that the combination of tissue and/or buttressing material compressed between the device jaws may have been beyond indicated thickness or tissue that cannot compress to the indicated range for the selected reload.This may have caused excessive force to be applied to the underside of the solid steel anvil leading to this damage.The damage to the knife is consistent with the device being clamped over an excess of tissue.If the firing continues the knife will remain inside the guide, and as the knife is attempting to pull the anvil towards the reload to form the staples it will result in the damage observed on the knife.As part of ethicon endo surgery¿s quality process, all devices are manufactured, inspected, and released to approved specifications.A manufacturing record evaluation was performed for the finished device batch number 616c85, and no non-conformances were identified.

• Brand Name: ECHELON FLEX
• Common Device Name: STAPLE, IMPLANTABLE
• Manufacturer (Section D): ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC.; 475 calle c; guaynabo 00969
• Manufacturer (Section G): ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC.; 475 calle c; guaynabo 00969
• Manufacturer Contact: orla o'mahony ; 475 calle c; guaynabo 00969 ; 3035526892
• MDR Report Key: 25001549
• Report Number: 3005075853-2026-03145
• Device Sequence Number: 21018088
• Product Code: GDW
• UDI-Device Identifier: 10705036015017
• UDI-Public: (01)10705036015017(17)260830(10)616C85
• Combination Product (Y/N): N
• Initial Reporter Country: JA
• PMA/510(K) Number: K110385
• Number of Events Summarized: 1
• Summary Report (Y/N): N
• Serviced by Third Party (Y/N): Unknown
• Reporter Type: Manufacturer
• Report Source: Foreign,Company Representative
• Initial Reporter Occupation: Other
• Type of Report: Initial,Followup
• Report Date (Section B): 04/27/2026

1 Device was Involved in the Event

1 Patient was Involved in the Event

• Is this an Adverse Event Report?: No
• Is this a Product Problem Report?: Yes
• Operator of Device: Health Professional
• Device Expiration Date: 08/30/2026
• Device Catalogue Number: PCEE60A
• Device Lot Number: 616C85
• Was Device Available for Evaluation?: Device Returned to Manufacturer
• Is the Reporter a Health Professional?: No
• Type of Report(Section G): Thirty-Day
• Initial Date Received by Manufacturer: 04/13/2026
• Supplement Date Received by Manufacturer: 05/05/2026
• Initial Report FDA Received Date: 04/27/2026
• Supplement Report FDA Received Date: 05/11/2026
• Was Device Evaluated by Manufacturer? (Y/N): Yes
• Date Device Manufactured: 09/20/2023
• Is the Device Labeled for Single Use? (Y/N): Yes
• Is This a Single-Use Device that was Reprocessed and Reused on a Patient? (Y/N): No
• Usage of Device: Initial
• Patient Sequence Number: 1
• Patient Sex: Unknown