Reported Reactions

Devices › Programmer, pacemaker

Device brand name · Programmer pacemaker

CareLink Encore Programmer: medical device reports filed with FDA

1,343 reports name it, 2019–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Medtronic. Product code KRG.

1,343
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 183 a year
103
reports, 12 months to August 2026
61 in the 12 months before
99.2%
classified as malfunction
96.7% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

1,343 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "CareLink Encore Programmer" (programmer pacemaker); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Medtronic; received from March 2019 to August 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.

103 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, up 69% from 61 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 (99.2%) and injury (0.8%); across all programmer, pacemaker reports (product code KRG) death is recorded in 0.1% and malfunction in 96.7%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are no display/image (37.6%), device difficult to program or calibrate (20.8%) and computer operating system problem (16.5%). The patient problems coded most often are no patient involvement, dizziness and asystole. 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

03060Sep 2021: 16Oct 2021: 27Nov 2021: 30Dec 2021: 112022Jan 2022: 25Feb 2022: 31Mar 2022: 23Apr 2022: 31May 2022: 33Jun 2022: 24Jul 2022: 23Aug 2022: 22Sep 2022: 18Oct 2022: 14Nov 2022: 22Dec 2022: 192023Jan 2023: 26Feb 2023: 26Mar 2023: 18Apr 2023: 13May 2023: 15Jun 2023: 14Jul 2023: 12Aug 2023: 12Sep 2023: 16Oct 2023: 11Nov 2023: 10Dec 2023: 132024Jan 2024: 21Feb 2024: 19Mar 2024: 21Apr 2024: 11May 2024: 20Jun 2024: 12Jul 2024: 17Aug 2024: 23Sep 2024: 13Oct 2024: 14Nov 2024: 4Dec 2024: 52025Jan 2025: 0Feb 2025: 4Mar 2025: 2Apr 2025: 5May 2025: 7Jun 2025: 1Jul 2025: 4Aug 2025: 2Sep 2025: 3Oct 2025: 4Nov 2025: 2Dec 2025: 12026Jan 2026: 6Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 4Apr 2026: 60May 2026: 18Jun 2026: 3Jul 2026: 1Aug 2026: 1

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

01452892019: 7920192020: 19620202021: 28920212022: 28520222023: 18620232024: 18020242025: 3520252026: 932026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury0.8%11
Malfunction99.2%1,332
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%1,343
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 24,211 reports carrying product code KRG. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
No display/image50537.6%12.9%
Device difficult to program or calibrate27920.8%14%
Computer operating system problem22116.5%8.3%
Computer software problema software problem16011.9%7.2%
Output problem15111.2%6.6%
Unexpected shutdown14410.7%3.1%
Failure to calibrate1047.7%4.6%
Display or visual feedback problem977.2%6.6%
Application program freezes or fails to launch675%1.2%
Failure to power up634.7%3.6%
Power problem604.5%2.9%
Battery problema problem with the battery584.3%0.5%
Failure to interrogate403%3.1%
Operating system becomes nonfunctional322.4%1.5%
Problem with software installation312.3%2%
Data problem302.2%1.4%
Communication or transmission problemthe device could not communicate or transmit241.8%9.1%
Overheating of device241.8%2.6%
Failure to shut off181.3%0.1%
Calibration problem171.3%0.5%

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
No patient involvement1128.3%
Dizzinesslight-headedness or unsteadiness30.2%
Asystole20.1%
Electric shockan electric shock20.1%
Syncope/fainting20.1%
Arrhythmia10.1%
Cardiac arrestthe heart stopped10.1%
Dyspneashortness of breath10.1%

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

In context

MeasureCareLink Encore ProgrammerProduct code KRGAll MAUDE reports
Reports1,34324,21126,136,888
Share of that pool—5.5%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports019
Classified as injury0.8%3.2%36.2%
Classified as malfunction99.2%96.7%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%99.9%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 KRG

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Carelink15,005180%
Carelink Programmer6,2645460%
Pacing System Analyzer607920%
SmartTouch6681320%
Orchestra71300.1%
Merlin Programmer1,425260.1%
Vitality 24,77901%
Carelink Encore36800%
Medtronic Carelink Programmer With Analyzer173310%
Vitality2,09500.9%
Zoom44130%
N'vision26900.7%
Vitality Avt1,23502.3%
Carelink System34300.3%
Carelink Program W/Telemetry C1,68100%

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 CareLink Encore Programmer reports

How many FDA reports name CareLink Encore Programmer?

1,343 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 103 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (99.2%) and injury (0.8%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

no display/image (37.6%), device difficult to program or calibrate (20.8%), computer operating system problem (16.5%), computer software problem (11.9%) and output problem (11.2%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (100%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that CareLink Encore Programmer 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.