Reported Reactions

Devices › Electrosurgical, cutting & coagulation & accessories

Device brand name · Electrosurgical pencil

Conmed Electrosurgical Active Instrument: medical device reports filed with FDA

173 reports name it, 1996–1998. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Conmed. Product code GEI.

173
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 6 a year
0
reports, 12 months to August 2026
0 in the 12 months before
80.9%
classified as malfunction
80.1% across the product code
1.2%
classified as death, as reported
2 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 173 reports that name the brand "Conmed Electrosurgical Active Instrument" (electrosurgical pencil), received between September 1996 and December 1998; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Conmed. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

0 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, and 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 (80.9%), injury (17.9%) and death (1.2%); across all electrosurgical, cutting & coagulation & accessories reports (product code GEI) death is recorded in 0.4% and malfunction in 80.1%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are detachment of device component (7.5%), device remains activated (6.4%) and material separation (2.9%). The patient problems coded most often are burn(s), burn, thermal and surgery, prolonged. 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

No report naming Conmed Electrosurgical Active Instrument was received in the five years to August 2026; the latest was received in December 1998.

By year received

039771996: 5519961997: 7719971998: 411998

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death1.2%2
Injury17.9%31
Malfunction80.9%140
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%173
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 118,290 reports carrying product code GEI. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Detachment of device component137.5%3.5%
Device remains activated116.4%1.3%
Material separation52.9%1.4%
Fire31.7%1.8%
Dislodged21.2%0%
Other (for use when an appropriate device code cannot be identified)21.2%0.7%
Sticking21.2%1.5%
Arcing of electrodes10.6%0.3%
Burn hole(s)10.6%0%
Cautery10.6%0.1%
Charred10.6%0.1%
Coagulation in device or device ingredient10.6%0%
Component falling10.6%1.3%
Component(s), broken10.6%0.5%
Continuous firing10.6%0.2%
Self-activation or keying10.6%2.3%
Thermal decomposition of device10.6%1%

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
Burn(s)a burn74%
Burn, thermal21.2%
Surgery, prolonged21.2%
Bleeding10.6%
Other (for use when an appropriate patient code cannot be identified)10.6%
Surgical procedure10.6%

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

In context

MeasureConmed Electrosurgical Active InstrumentProduct code GEIAll MAUDE reports
Reports173118,29026,136,888
Share of that pool—0.1%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports1249
Classified as injury17.9%16.7%36.2%
Classified as malfunction80.9%80.1%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%92.4%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 GEI

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
LigaSure8,2648790.2%
VasoView Hemopro 26,6336860%
THUNDERBEAT 5 mm, 35 cm, Front-actuated Grip Type S4,5904030%
HF unit "ESG-400"2,6986640.1%
Valleylab2,0103530.3%
Vaso View Hemopro1,83800.1%
LigaSure Impact1,831720.3%
THUNDERBEAT 5 mm, 35 cm, Front-actuated Grip1,505380.3%
Thunderbeat 5mm 35cm Front-Actuated Grip1,24700.2%
Valleylab Ft101,20320.3%
Vasoview Hemopro1,18700%
Ligasure Advance Pistol Grip97000%
Ligasure Atlas Handswitching 37cm92400.2%
Edge8591710.1%
Force Fx780220.4%

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 Conmed Electrosurgical Active Instrument reports

How many FDA reports name Conmed Electrosurgical Active Instrument?

173 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 0 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (80.9%), injury (17.9%) and death (1.2%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

detachment of device component (7.5%), device remains activated (6.4%), material separation (2.9%), fire (1.7%) and dislodged (1.2%). 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 Conmed Electrosurgical Active Instrument 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.