MAUDE Adverse Event Report: NATUS MEDICAL INC. OLYMPIC WARM SCALE; WARM SCALE 28

Model Number 56328

Device Problems Device Emits Odor (1425); Overheating of Device (1437); Calibration Problem (2890); Material Integrity Problem (2978)

Patient Problem No Known Impact Or Consequence To Patient (2692)

Event Type  malfunction  

Manufacturer Narrative

The customer did not have a service history for this device, and there was no record of the unit ever being returned to natus for repair or service.Very little dust was observed in the unit, and the air inlet filter was missing.When measured, the resistance of the heating coil was within the specification resistance range of 72 +/- 2 ohms for this heating coil.The warm scale cover was then removed and the internal electronics, including fuses, pcas, wiring, battery and connections were all checked for signs of obvious damage or heat stress.Other than the heating coil, no other internal damage was observed.The unit was then powered on briefly, and it was confirmed that proper voltages were being applied to the various pcas.No overheating and/or odors were detected.The damaged/stressed heater element showed both elongation and sagging of the heater coils.The heater coil elongation resulted in the failure of the unit to regulate the temperature of the newborn warming shelf to the expected temperature of approximately 93 degrees fahrenheit.Running under steady-state conditions, the plastic warming shelf reached a temperature of 129.6 degrees fahrenheit without the fan filter, as received from customer.When the filter was installed, the steady-state temperature of the shelf reached 141 degrees fahrenheit.It was observed that after reaching steady-state, the warm scale continuously supplied power to the heating coil.This can be explained by the fact that the heating coils were spaced much further apart in the region of the thermistor sensor assembly than in the regions where thermocouples were located, resulting in a sensed air temperature of approximately 79 degrees f, without air filter and 80.5 degrees f with the air filter.This temperature is not high enough regulate the new born shelf temperature to 93 degrees f as suggested in the instruction manual or to trip the over-temperature cutoff value of 103 degrees.This malfunction is the result of heating coil elongation in the area of the thermistor sensor assembly.The subject device has been scrapped and given to natus qa for analysis and root cause investigation.The customer has been provided a replacement unit.Natus is currently conducting an ongoing investigation into this malfunction and will follow up with supplemental reports as additional information is obtained.

Event Description

On (b)(6) 2017, the customer reported that a warm scale was being returned to natus for service.The unit required calibration and had a damaged power cord.Additionally, a burning smell was detected from the unit.When the unit was received at natus for the damaged power cord and calibration, no adverse events or other malfunctions were reported.An initial determination to not report this event was determined and documented, but an investigation was launched due to the report of the burning smell.The unit was visually inspected by qa and the repair depot technician prior to the start of the investigation.Before disassembly, the warm scale was powered up for several minutes, and there was no detected burning odor.The reported power cord damage was determined to be superficial with no risk, but when the warm scale was evaluated at the natus repair depot, the returned unit showed evidence of possible thermal stress / damage to the heater element.

• Brand Name: OLYMPIC WARM SCALE
• Type of Device: WARM SCALE 28
• Manufacturer (Section D): NATUS MEDICAL INC.; 5900 first avenue south; seattle WA 98108
• Manufacturer (Section G): NATUS MEDICAL INC.; 5900 first avenue south; seattle WA 98108
• Manufacturer Contact: jeffrey mantkowski ; 5900 first avenue south; seattle, WA 98108 ; 2062685143
• MDR Report Key: 6520062
• MDR Text Key: 73736979
• Report Number: 3018859-2017-00301
• Device Sequence Number: 1
• Product Code: FRW
• Combination Product (y/n): N
• Reporter Country Code: US
• PMA/PMN Number: K952649
• Number of Events Reported: 1
• Summary Report (Y/N): N
• Report Source: Manufacturer
• Source Type: user facility
• Reporter Occupation: Other
• Remedial Action: Replace
• Type of Report: Initial
• Report Date: 02/10/2017

1 Device was Involved in the Event

1 Patient was Involved in the Event

• Date FDA Received: 04/25/2017
• Is this an Adverse Event Report?: No
• Is this a Product Problem Report?: Yes
• Device Operator: Other
• Device Model Number: 56328
• Was Device Available for Evaluation?: Device Returned to Manufacturer
• Date Returned to Manufacturer: 02/17/2017
• Is the Reporter a Health Professional?: No
• Date Manufacturer Received: 02/10/2017
• Was Device Evaluated by Manufacturer?: Yes
• Date Device Manufactured: 11/29/2006
• Is the Device Single Use?: No
• Is This a Reprocessed and Reused Single-Use Device?: No
• Type of Device Usage: Reuse
• Patient Sequence Number: 1
• Patient Outcome(s): Other