Reported Reactions

Devices › Staple, implantable

Device brand name · Staple implantable

Contour Curved Cutter Stapler: medical device reports filed with FDA

1,961 reports name it, 2005–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Ethicon Endo-Surgery. Product code GDW.

1,961
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 92 a year
11
reports, 12 months to August 2026
39 in the 12 months before
81.3%
classified as malfunction
80.3% across the product code
0.3%
classified as death, as reported
5 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 1,961 reports that name the brand "Contour Curved Cutter Stapler" (staple implantable), received between March 2005 and March 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Ethicon Endo-Surgery. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

11 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 72% from 39 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 (81.3%), injury (18%) and death (0.3%); 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 failure to form staple (47.7%), failure to fire (15.5%) and replace (9.4%). The patient problems coded most often are failure to anastomose, colostomy 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

0816Sep 2021: 14Oct 2021: 16Nov 2021: 11Dec 2021: 82022Jan 2022: 9Feb 2022: 6Mar 2022: 16Apr 2022: 9May 2022: 8Jun 2022: 5Jul 2022: 10Aug 2022: 5Sep 2022: 4Oct 2022: 8Nov 2022: 8Dec 2022: 52023Jan 2023: 4Feb 2023: 5Mar 2023: 5Apr 2023: 6May 2023: 6Jun 2023: 5Jul 2023: 5Aug 2023: 3Sep 2023: 4Oct 2023: 2Nov 2023: 6Dec 2023: 72024Jan 2024: 7Feb 2024: 9Mar 2024: 1Apr 2024: 2May 2024: 2Jun 2024: 4Jul 2024: 3Aug 2024: 3Sep 2024: 6Oct 2024: 6Nov 2024: 3Dec 2024: 52025Jan 2025: 3Feb 2025: 5Mar 2025: 1Apr 2025: 1May 2025: 3Jun 2025: 2Jul 2025: 1Aug 2025: 3Sep 2025: 0Oct 2025: 1Nov 2025: 2Dec 2025: 22026Jan 2026: 4Feb 2026: 1Mar 2026: 1Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 0Jul 2026: 0Aug 2026: 0

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

0841682005: 8120052006: 362007: 1202008: 8720082009: 1242010: 902011: 9120112012: 982013: 962014: 3820142015: 832016: 1152017: 12120172018: 1072019: 1682020: 14120202021: 1332022: 932023: 5820232024: 512025: 242026: 62026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0.3%5
Injury18%353
Malfunction81.3%1,595
Other0%0
Not given0.4%8

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report98.8%1,937
Voluntary report0.7%13
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0.6%11

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
Failure to form staple93547.7%20.5%
Failure to fire30315.5%30%
Replace1849.4%2.2%
Difficult to open or close1608.2%9.7%
Failure to cut1155.9%2.4%
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly874.4%2.3%
Positioning failure693.5%1.1%
Misfire663.4%9.1%
Material integrity problema problem with the device material653.3%0.7%
Breakthe device broke542.8%4.9%
Insufficient device problem information412.1%2.9%
Mechanical jam281.4%2.3%
Mechanical problema mechanical problem231.2%1.1%
Firing problem221.1%1.6%
Sticking211.1%1.2%
Leak/splashthe device leaked160.8%0.5%
Difficult to insertthe device was hard to insert140.7%0.2%
Device inoperablethe device could not be used120.6%0.5%
Difficult to removethe device was hard to remove120.6%1.7%
Activation, positioning or separation problem110.6%0.2%

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
Failure to anastomose22411.4%
Colostomy1015.2%
Surgery, prolonged723.7%
Therapy/non-surgical treatment, additional613.1%
Surgical procedure, additional452.3%
Surgical procedure301.5%
Other (for use when an appropriate patient code cannot be identified)271.4%
Hospitalization required150.8%
Appropriate clinical signs, symptoms and conditions term/code not available140.7%
Blood loss130.7%
Bleeding110.6%
Fistula110.6%
Surgical procedure, repeated110.6%
Laceration(s)80.4%
Tissue damage80.4%

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

In context

MeasureContour Curved Cutter StaplerProduct code GDWAll MAUDE reports
Reports1,961170,75226,136,888
Share of that pool—1.1%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports369
Classified as injury18%18.7%36.2%
Classified as malfunction81.3%80.3%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer98.8%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%
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%
Unknown Endo GIA Instrument1,512330.5%

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 Contour Curved Cutter Stapler reports

How many FDA reports name Contour Curved Cutter Stapler?

1,961 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 11 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (81.3%), injury (18%) and death (0.3%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

failure to form staple (47.7%), failure to fire (15.5%), replace (9.4%), difficult to open or close (8.2%) and failure to cut (5.9%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (98.8%) and voluntary reports (0.7%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Contour Curved Cutter Stapler 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.