Reported Reactions

Devices › Instrument, ultrasonic surgical

Device brand name · Instrument ultrasonic surgical

Harmonic Lap 5mm Shear 36cm: medical device reports filed with FDA

2,720 reports name it, 2017–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Ethicon Endo-Surgery. Product code LFL.

2,720
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 300 a year
88
reports, 12 months to August 2026
268 in the 12 months before
98.5%
classified as malfunction
94.9% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

2,720 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Harmonic Lap 5mm Shear 36cm" (instrument ultrasonic surgical); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Ethicon Endo-Surgery; received from June 2017 to March 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.

88 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 67% from 268 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 (98.5%) and injury (1.5%); across all instrument, ultrasonic surgical reports (product code LFL) death is recorded in 0.1% and malfunction in 94.9%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are material separation (23.5%), failure to read input signal (17.3%) and detachment of device or device component (12.2%). The patient problems coded most often are hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding, blood loss and abdominal pain. 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

02957Sep 2021: 28Oct 2021: 30Nov 2021: 28Dec 2021: 302022Jan 2022: 33Feb 2022: 14Mar 2022: 54Apr 2022: 43May 2022: 30Jun 2022: 20Jul 2022: 35Aug 2022: 27Sep 2022: 42Oct 2022: 40Nov 2022: 37Dec 2022: 332023Jan 2023: 31Feb 2023: 26Mar 2023: 30Apr 2023: 29May 2023: 28Jun 2023: 26Jul 2023: 25Aug 2023: 57Sep 2023: 37Oct 2023: 47Nov 2023: 21Dec 2023: 342024Jan 2024: 56Feb 2024: 19Mar 2024: 21Apr 2024: 23May 2024: 26Jun 2024: 42Jul 2024: 28Aug 2024: 37Sep 2024: 22Oct 2024: 25Nov 2024: 13Dec 2024: 232025Jan 2025: 38Feb 2025: 47Mar 2025: 15Apr 2025: 17May 2025: 18Jun 2025: 9Jul 2025: 27Aug 2025: 14Sep 2025: 8Oct 2025: 7Nov 2025: 16Dec 2025: 142026Jan 2026: 15Feb 2026: 24Mar 2026: 4Apr 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

02044082017: 3020172018: 32620182019: 30420192020: 34820202021: 30520212022: 40820222023: 39120232024: 33520242025: 23020252026: 432026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury1.5%41
Malfunction98.5%2,679
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report99.9%2,717
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0.1%3

Grey bar: all 68,457 reports carrying product code LFL. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Material separation64023.5%11%
Failure to read input signal47017.3%8.2%
Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off33212.2%6.8%
Breakthe device broke28010.3%20.5%
Activation problem1244.6%0.5%
Inappropriate or unexpected reset1214.4%0.7%
Device displays incorrect message1134.2%10.7%
Material integrity problema problem with the device material953.5%1.6%
Difficult or delayed activation943.5%2.5%
Activation, positioning or separation problem662.4%1%
Device fell592.2%0.4%
Device alarm system582.1%0.6%
Protective measures problem371.4%0.3%
Detachment of device component321.2%6.9%
Insufficient device problem information311.1%1.2%
Difficult to open or close281%0.5%
Component falling230.8%3.9%
Noise, audible210.8%1%
Self-activation or keying190.7%0.4%
Melted180.7%1.4%

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
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding130.5%
Blood loss100.4%
Abdominal painstomach or belly pain20.1%
Anemialow red blood cells10%
Burn(s)a burn10%
Distress10%
Failure to anastomose10%
Fatiguetiredness10%
Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient10%
Injurya physical injury10%
Ischemia10%
Low blood pressure/ hypotension10%
Necrosisdeath of tissue10%
Nerve damage10%
No patient involvement10%

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

In context

MeasureHarmonic Lap 5mm Shear 36cmProduct code LFLAll MAUDE reports
Reports2,72068,45726,136,888
Share of that pool—4%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports019
Classified as injury1.5%4.5%36.2%
Classified as malfunction98.5%94.9%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer99.9%96.8%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 LFL

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Ultracision Harmonic Ace9,35800%
Harmonic Ace Plus 7 Adv Hemostasis 366,8315370%
Harmonic Hd 1000i Shears 36cm Shaft5,0331960%
Harmonic Ace 36 Cm2,59800.1%
Harmonic Ace 36cm W Erg Handle2,34100%
Sonicision1,8091390.2%
Harmonic Scalpel Ultracision Hand Piece1,67700.1%
SONICBEAT 5 mm, 35 cm, Front-actuated Grip1,6403730%
Harmonic ACE1,6366800.1%
Harmonic 1100 Shears 36cm1,4342030.1%
Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel Hand Piece1,43000%
Harmonic Scalpel Hand Piece1,365230%
Ultracision Surg Dev Curved Shears Endo1,58600%
Harmonic Scalpel Ultracision Laparosonic Coagulating She1,06700.1%
Harmonic Ace + 795700.2%

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 Harmonic Lap 5mm Shear 36cm reports

How many FDA reports name Harmonic Lap 5mm Shear 36cm?

2,720 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 88 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (98.5%) and injury (1.5%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

material separation (23.5%), failure to read input signal (17.3%), detachment of device or device component (12.2%), break (10.3%) and activation problem (4.6%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (99.9%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Harmonic Lap 5mm Shear 36cm 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.