Reported Reactions

Devices › Staple, implantable

Device brand name · Staple implantable

AbsorbaTack: medical device reports filed with FDA

995 reports name it, 2008–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Covidien North Haven. Product code GDW.

995
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 55 a year
165
reports, 12 months to August 2026
135 in the 12 months before
92.8%
classified as malfunction
80.3% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

995 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "AbsorbaTack" (staple implantable); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Covidien North Haven; received from April 2008 to August 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.

165 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, up 22% from 135 in the 12 months before. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases. The event types recorded are malfunction (92.8%) and injury (7.2%); across all staple, implantable reports (product code GDW) death is recorded in 0.6% and malfunction in 80.3%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are loss of or failure to bond (29.6%), positioning failure (19.8%) and detachment of device or device component (17.9%). The patient problems coded most often are foreign body in patient, pain and hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Reports by month, five years

01121Sep 2021: 2Oct 2021: 5Nov 2021: 5Dec 2021: 52022Jan 2022: 4Feb 2022: 6Mar 2022: 5Apr 2022: 7May 2022: 16Jun 2022: 14Jul 2022: 12Aug 2022: 8Sep 2022: 6Oct 2022: 10Nov 2022: 8Dec 2022: 132023Jan 2023: 8Feb 2023: 6Mar 2023: 14Apr 2023: 6May 2023: 15Jun 2023: 9Jul 2023: 12Aug 2023: 9Sep 2023: 11Oct 2023: 15Nov 2023: 5Dec 2023: 102024Jan 2024: 12Feb 2024: 6Mar 2024: 7Apr 2024: 6May 2024: 5Jun 2024: 9Jul 2024: 7Aug 2024: 14Sep 2024: 6Oct 2024: 8Nov 2024: 9Dec 2024: 62025Jan 2025: 10Feb 2025: 16Mar 2025: 10Apr 2025: 12May 2025: 14Jun 2025: 9Jul 2025: 21Aug 2025: 14Sep 2025: 16Oct 2025: 13Nov 2025: 9Dec 2025: 122026Jan 2026: 16Feb 2026: 13Mar 2026: 14Apr 2026: 20May 2026: 12Jun 2026: 18Jul 2026: 6Aug 2026: 16

Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases.

By year received

0781562008: 320082009: 42011: 420112015: 32017: 6720172018: 932019: 10020192020: 692021: 5720212022: 1092023: 12020232024: 952025: 15620252026: 115

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury7.2%72
Malfunction92.8%923
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report97.2%967
Voluntary report0.1%1
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given2.7%27

Grey bar: all 170,752 reports carrying product code GDW. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Loss of or failure to bond29529.6%0.7%
Positioning failure19719.8%1.1%
Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off17817.9%2.4%
Breakthe device broke15615.7%4.9%
Failure to advance13613.7%0.4%
Separation problem919.1%0.2%
Material twisted/bent585.8%0.3%
Mechanics altered484.8%1.4%
Misfire454.5%9.1%
Failure to adhere or bond414.1%0.4%
Firing problem414.1%1.6%
Noise, audible333.3%2.3%
Mechanical jam313.1%2.3%
Display or visual feedback problem282.8%0.1%
Detachment of device component222.2%1.2%
Difficult to insertthe device was hard to insert161.6%0.2%
Difficult to removethe device was hard to remove151.5%1.7%
Bent141.4%0.3%
Difficult or delayed positioning131.3%0.3%
Physical resistance/sticking90.9%0.3%

FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report; one report can carry several. Generic codes such as "no apparent adverse event" are left out.

Patient problems coded

Patient problem (FDA code)ReportsShare
Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient171.7%
Painpain, site not specified151.5%
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding121.2%
Tissue breakdown121.2%
Appropriate clinical signs, symptoms and conditions term/code not available70.7%
Laceration(s)50.5%
Tissue damage50.5%
Abdominal painstomach or belly pain40.4%
Prolapse40.4%
Hernia30.3%
No patient involvement30.3%
Blood loss20.2%
Device embedded in tissue or plaque20.2%
Fatiguetiredness20.2%
Tachycardiafast heart rate20.2%

Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.

In context

MeasureAbsorbaTackProduct code GDWAll MAUDE reports
Reports995170,75226,136,888
Share of that pool—0.6%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports069
Classified as injury7.2%18.7%36.2%
Classified as malfunction92.8%80.3%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer97.2%97%94.9%

Shares are of reports, not of devices in use. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Other brands with product code GDW

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Endo GIA30,6192,0860.3%
Endo GIA Ultra17,2811,1160.1%
Signia9,4341,1300.1%
Tri-Staple 2.05,2676610.3%
Gia4,8994040.9%
Eea4,9225420.8%
Powered 60 Echelon + 340mm Shaft3,2372240.4%
Ets Flex Articng Lnr Cutr 45mm2,512790.3%
Unknown Endo GIA SULU2,4082051.9%
SureForm2,9276541.2%
Contour Curved Cutter Stapler1,961110.3%
Ils 29mm Curved1,945480.9%
Powered 60 Echelon + 440mm Shaft1,775490.4%
Echelon Flex Powered Vascular Stapler With Advanced Placement Tip1,7701801.6%
75mm Selectable New Tlc1,603571.1%

Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA also states that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product."

Questions about AbsorbaTack reports

How many FDA reports name AbsorbaTack?

995 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 165 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (92.8%) and injury (7.2%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

loss of or failure to bond (29.6%), positioning failure (19.8%), detachment of device or device component (17.9%), break (15.7%) and failure to advance (13.7%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (97.2%) and voluntary reports (0.1%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that AbsorbaTack was at fault?

No. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA adds that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report."

How do I report a problem with a medical device?

Through FDA MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 for health professionals and consumers), or to the manufacturer. See the guide on how to report.

Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Device Adverse Event (MAUDE) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 31 Aug 2026. Brand, generic and manufacturer names are as written on the reports; product code names come from FDA's device classification. A report counts here when any device it lists carries this brand name after punctuation and capitalisation are normalised. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.

Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.