Devices › Programmer, pacemaker
Device brand name · Programmer pacemaker
Carelink: medical device reports filed with FDA
15,005 reports name it, 2009–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Medtronic. Product code KRG.
- 15,005
- device reports naming the brand
- 0.1% of all MAUDE reports · about 866 a year
- 18
- reports, 12 months to August 2026
- 0 in the 12 months before
- 97.9%
- classified as malfunction
- 96.7% across the product code
- 0%
- classified as death, as reported
- 6 reports · not verified by FDA
15,005 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Carelink" (programmer pacemaker); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Medtronic; received from March 2009 to April 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.
18 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, with none 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 (97.9%) and injury (2%); 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 communication or transmission problem (14.7%), electrical /electronic property problem (12%) and device difficult to program or calibrate (9.4%). The patient problems coded most often are no patient involvement, cardiac arrest and electric shock. 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
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
Event type and report source
Event type, as classified on the report
Who filed the report
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) | Reports | Share | Share across product code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication or transmission problemthe device could not communicate or transmit | 2,209 | 14.7% | 9.1% |
| Electrical /electronic property probleman electrical or electronic problem | 1,797 | 12% | 8.4% |
| Device difficult to program or calibrate | 1,407 | 9.4% | 14% |
| Failure to power up | 1,382 | 9.2% | 3.6% |
| No display/image | 1,198 | 8% | 12.9% |
| Computer operating system problem | 1,059 | 7.1% | 8.3% |
| Computer software problema software problem | 1,045 | 7% | 7.2% |
| Mechanical problema mechanical problem | 711 | 4.7% | 4% |
| Device displays incorrect message | 616 | 4.1% | 2.3% |
| Failure to interrogate | 566 | 3.8% | 3.1% |
| Failure to calibrate | 519 | 3.5% | 4.6% |
| Inadequate user interface | 514 | 3.4% | 2.5% |
| Connection problema connection problem | 497 | 3.3% | 2.9% |
| Power problem | 485 | 3.2% | 2.9% |
| Output problem | 425 | 2.8% | 6.6% |
| Loose or intermittent connection | 383 | 2.6% | 1.7% |
| Breakthe device broke | 344 | 2.3% | 1.9% |
| Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly | 314 | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| Signal artifact/noise | 307 | 2% | 1.2% |
| Overheating of device | 302 | 2% | 2.6% |
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) | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| No patient involvement | 6,294 | 41.9% |
| Cardiac arrestthe heart stopped | 16 | 0.1% |
| Electric shockan electric shock | 16 | 0.1% |
| Dizzinesslight-headedness or unsteadiness | 8 | 0.1% |
| Deaththe patient died; cause not stated by this term | 7 | 0% |
| Failure of implant | 6 | 0% |
| Shockshock, a collapse of the circulation | 6 | 0% |
| Ventricular tachycardiaa fast rhythm from the lower heart chambers | 5 | 0% |
| Painpain, site not specified | 4 | 0% |
| Syncopefainting | 4 | 0% |
| Arrhythmia | 3 | 0% |
| Complaint, ill-defined | 3 | 0% |
| Numbnessnumbness | 3 | 0% |
| Ventricular fibrillationa chaotic rhythm from the lower heart chambers | 3 | 0% |
| Anxietyanxiety | 2 | 0% |
Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.
In context
| Measure | Carelink | Product code KRG | All MAUDE reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reports | 15,005 | 24,211 | 26,136,888 |
| Share of that pool | — | 62% | 0.1% |
| Classified as death, per 1,000 reports | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Classified as injury | 2% | 3.2% | 36.2% |
| Classified as malfunction | 97.9% | 96.7% | 62.3% |
| Filed by the manufacturer | 99.9% | 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
| Brand | Reports | Latest 12 months | Classified as death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carelink Programmer | 6,264 | 546 | 0% |
| CareLink Encore Programmer | 1,343 | 103 | 0% |
| Pacing System Analyzer | 607 | 92 | 0% |
| SmartTouch | 668 | 132 | 0% |
| Orchestra | 713 | 0 | 0.1% |
| Merlin Programmer | 1,425 | 26 | 0.1% |
| Vitality 2 | 4,779 | 0 | 1% |
| Carelink Encore | 368 | 0 | 0% |
| Medtronic Carelink Programmer With Analyzer | 173 | 31 | 0% |
| Vitality | 2,095 | 0 | 0.9% |
| Zoom | 441 | 3 | 0% |
| N'vision | 269 | 0 | 0.7% |
| Vitality Avt | 1,235 | 0 | 2.3% |
| Carelink System | 343 | 0 | 0.3% |
| Carelink Program W/Telemetry C | 1,681 | 0 | 0% |
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 reports
How many FDA reports name Carelink?
15,005 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 18 in the latest 12 months.
What kinds of events are reported?
malfunction (97.9%) and injury (2%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.
What device problems are coded?
communication or transmission problem (14.7%), electrical /electronic property problem (12%), device difficult to program or calibrate (9.4%), failure to power up (9.2%) and no display/image (8%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.
Who files these reports?
manufacturer reports (99.9%) and voluntary reports (0%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.
Do these reports show that Carelink 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.