SINGLE USE 3-LUMEN SPHINCTEROTOME

Description of Event or Problem

OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP (OMSC) WAS INFORMED THAT DURING ENDOSCOPIC SPHINCTEROTOMY (EST) THE CUTTING KNIFE BROKE. THE DOCTOR COMPLETED THE PROCEDURE BY USING ANOTHER DEVICE. THE PT WAS IN A HOSPITAL AS SCHEDULED BEFORE PROCEDURE. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, OMSC FOUND THE PLASTIC COATING ON THE CUTTING WIRE WAS PARTIALLY MISSING. THERE WAS NO INJURY REGARDING THIS EVENT.

Additional Manufacturer Narrative

THE INVESTIGATION CONFIRMED THAT THE CUTTING WIRE WAS BROKEN AT THE COATED PORTION AND THE BROKEN SECTION WAS MELTED AND BURNED. APPROXIMATELY COATING WAS MISSING FOR 6MM FROM THE BROKEN POINT. THERE WERE NO OTHER ABNORMALITIES RELATED TO THE BREAKAGE IN THE SUBJECT DEVICE. ALSO AS THE CHECKING OF THE MFG RECORD OF THE SAME LOT, NOTHING ABNORMAL WAS DETECTED. AS THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION, OMSC ASSUMES THAT THE DAMAGE OF THE COATING OCCURRED DUE TO CONTACTING WITH THE METAL PART OF THE FORCEPS ELEVATOR OF THE ENDOSCOPE. THE EXPOSED CUTTING WIRE FROM THE DAMAGED COATING CONTACTED OR CAME CLOSE TO THE METAL PART OF THE FORCEPS ELEVATOR WHILE ACTIVATING THE OUTPUT, WHICH CAUSED SPARK AND A PART OF THE CUTTING WIRE BECAME EXTREMELY HOT, RESULTING IN BREAKAGE. THE COATING BROKE OFF AND CAME OFF FROM THE CUTTING WIRE BECAUSE OF THE USER HANDLING AFTER THE CUTTING WIRE WAS BROKEN. THE DEVICE INSTRUCTION MANUAL HAS WARNED USERS THAT "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". THIS REPORT IS BEING SUBMITTED AS A MEDICAL DEVICE REPORT IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION.