Reported Reactions

Devices › System, surgical, computer controlled instrument

Device brand name · Endoscopic electrosurgical instrument

Fenestrated Bipolar Forceps: medical device reports filed with FDA

305 reports name it, 2012–2025. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Intuitive Surgical. Product code NAY.

305
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 22 a year
2
reports, 12 months to August 2026
12 in the 12 months before
91.5%
classified as malfunction
90.7% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 305 reports that name the brand "Fenestrated Bipolar Forceps" (endoscopic electrosurgical instrument), received between October 2012 and September 2025; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Intuitive Surgical. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

2 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 83% from 12 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 (91.5%), injury (7.2%) and other (0.7%); across all system, surgical, computer controlled instrument reports (product code NAY) death is recorded in 0.6% and malfunction in 90.7%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are break (52.5%), device operates differently than expected (6.9%) and material frayed (5.9%). The patient problems coded most often are device embedded in tissue or plaque, foreign body in patient and no patient involvement. 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

047Sep 2021: 0Oct 2021: 0Nov 2021: 0Dec 2021: 02022Jan 2022: 0Feb 2022: 0Mar 2022: 0Apr 2022: 0May 2022: 0Jun 2022: 0Jul 2022: 0Aug 2022: 0Sep 2022: 0Oct 2022: 0Nov 2022: 0Dec 2022: 02023Jan 2023: 0Feb 2023: 0Mar 2023: 0Apr 2023: 0May 2023: 0Jun 2023: 0Jul 2023: 0Aug 2023: 0Sep 2023: 0Oct 2023: 0Nov 2023: 0Dec 2023: 02024Jan 2024: 1Feb 2024: 1Mar 2024: 0Apr 2024: 0May 2024: 0Jun 2024: 7Jul 2024: 2Aug 2024: 0Sep 2024: 5Oct 2024: 3Nov 2024: 1Dec 2024: 02025Jan 2025: 0Feb 2025: 0Mar 2025: 0Apr 2025: 0May 2025: 0Jun 2025: 2Jul 2025: 0Aug 2025: 1Sep 2025: 2Oct 2025: 0Nov 2025: 0Dec 2025: 02026Jan 2026: 0Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 0Apr 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

045892012: 5720122013: 3520132014: 3020142015: 8920152016: 3120162017: 2720172018: 820182020: 320202024: 2020242025: 52025

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury7.2%22
Malfunction91.5%279
Other0.7%2
Not given0.7%2

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report88.9%271
Voluntary report6.6%20
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given4.6%14

Grey bar: all 141,000 reports carrying product code NAY. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Breakthe device broke16052.5%10.3%
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly216.9%1.4%
Material frayed185.9%7.7%
Detachment of device component134.3%0.9%
Failure to align103.3%0.3%
Difficult to open or close62%4.5%
Loose or intermittent connection62%0.2%
Device or device fragments location unknown51.6%0.1%
Component falling41.3%0.6%
Device slipped41.3%0.2%
Material protrusion/extrusion41.3%0.4%
Bent31%0.2%
Device inoperablethe device could not be used31%0.3%
Torn material31%0.1%
Communication or transmission problemthe device could not communicate or transmit20.7%0%
Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off20.7%5%
Device displays incorrect message20.7%1%
Fracturea broken bone20.7%0.1%
Insufficient device problem information20.7%1.1%
Malposition of device20.7%0.1%

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
Device embedded in tissue or plaque93%
Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient82.6%
No patient involvement82.6%
Bowel burn20.7%
Bowel perforation20.7%
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding10.3%
Surgery, prolonged10.3%

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

In context

MeasureFenestrated Bipolar ForcepsProduct code NAYAll MAUDE reports
Reports305141,00026,136,888
Share of that pool—0.2%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports069
Classified as injury7.2%7.9%36.2%
Classified as malfunction91.5%90.7%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer88.9%97.1%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 NAY

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Endowrist86,56637,1920%
daVinci Xi15,7225,7432%
daVinci 52,3942,1220.7%
Fenestrated Bipolar Forceps Instrument1,83900%
EndoWrist;daVinci Si1,7713560.1%
Pk Dissecting Forceps Instrument1,56400%
Da Vinci Si Surgical System1,461011%
Prograsp Forceps Instrument1,39600%
EndoWrist SP1,3555970%
da Vinci1,4834041.2%
daVinci Si1,2251292.3%
daVinci X9384205.4%
Maryland Bipolar Forceps Instrument95200%
SureForm2,9276541.2%
Monopolar Curved Scissors Instrument1,05600%

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 Fenestrated Bipolar Forceps reports

How many FDA reports name Fenestrated Bipolar Forceps?

305 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 2 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (91.5%), injury (7.2%) and other (0.7%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

break (52.5%), device operates differently than expected (6.9%), material frayed (5.9%), detachment of device component (4.3%) and failure to align (3.3%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (88.9%) and voluntary reports (6.6%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Fenestrated Bipolar Forceps 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.