Reported Reactions

Devices › Automated external defibrillators (non-wearable)

Device brand name · Aed

Heartstart Frx: medical device reports filed with FDA

5,978 reports name it, 2011–2025. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Philips Medical Systems. Product code MKJ.

5,978
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 388 a year
2
reports, 12 months to August 2026
16 in the 12 months before
98.4%
classified as malfunction
96.8% across the product code
1.3%
classified as death, as reported
80 reports · not verified by FDA

5,978 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Heartstart Frx" (aed); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Philips Medical Systems; received from February 2011 to November 2025. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.

2 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 87% from 16 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 (98.4%), death (1.3%) and injury (0.2%); across all automated external defibrillators (non-wearable) reports (product code MKJ) death is recorded in 1.7% and malfunction in 96.8%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are device operates differently than expected (52.9%), failure of device to self-test (29.3%) and incorrect, inadequate or imprecise result or readings (6.5%). The patient problems coded most often are no patient involvement, death and cardiac arrest. 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

036Sep 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: 3Jul 2023: 1Aug 2023: 2Sep 2023: 0Oct 2023: 0Nov 2023: 0Dec 2023: 12024Jan 2024: 1Feb 2024: 0Mar 2024: 0Apr 2024: 0May 2024: 2Jun 2024: 0Jul 2024: 6Aug 2024: 0Sep 2024: 1Oct 2024: 4Nov 2024: 1Dec 2024: 02025Jan 2025: 1Feb 2025: 3Mar 2025: 1Apr 2025: 0May 2025: 0Jun 2025: 1Jul 2025: 3Aug 2025: 1Sep 2025: 0Oct 2025: 0Nov 2025: 2Dec 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

04288552011: 1620112012: 3802013: 62320132014: 8022015: 85520152016: 8282017: 62820172018: 6752019: 60220192020: 4582021: 7720212023: 72024: 1520242025: 12

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death1.3%80
Injury0.2%9
Malfunction98.4%5,882
Other0.1%4
Not given0.1%3

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%5,978
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 269,686 reports carrying product code MKJ. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly3,16252.9%11.8%
Failure of device to self-test1,75429.3%8.9%
Incorrect, inadequate or imprecise result or readings3876.5%1.3%
Device displays incorrect message1071.8%11.6%
Defective devicethe device was defective921.5%1.2%
Failure to power up791.3%13%
Nonstandard device751.3%0.2%
Therapeutic or diagnostic output failure611%0.8%
Insufficient device problem information450.8%0.5%
Protective measures problem340.6%0.2%
Battery problema problem with the battery220.4%2.5%
Computer operating system problem140.2%0.8%
Data problem140.2%0%
Defibrillation/stimulation problem130.2%3.2%
Device inoperablethe device could not be used120.2%1.9%
Noise, audible120.2%0.4%
Premature discharge of battery90.2%1%
Failure to deliver shock/stimulation80.1%1.8%
Breakthe device broke70.1%1.4%
Defective component50.1%0.6%

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)ReportsShare
No patient involvement981.6%
Deaththe patient died; cause not stated by this term761.3%
Cardiac arrestthe heart stopped70.1%
Cardiopulmonary arrest10%

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

In context

MeasureHeartstart FrxProduct code MKJAll MAUDE reports
Reports5,978269,68626,136,888
Share of that pool—2.2%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports13179
Classified as injury0.2%0.7%36.2%
Classified as malfunction98.4%96.8%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%99.3%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 MKJ

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
M Series27,11242.3%
Heartstart Mrx18,59200.7%
HeartStart MRx -EMS Defibrillator16,166330.8%
Heart Start XL15,944950.9%
R Series Defibrillator15,39300.9%
X Series13,9831,6922.7%
HeartStart XL+ Defibrillator/Monitor13,1882100.4%
Heartstart Onsite10,96400.8%
Aed Plus9,2254232.2%
Heartsine Samaritan 300p And Pad Pak8,19700.3%
E Series Defibrillator8,05201.5%
Lifepak R 15 Monitor/Defibrillator6,1174631.4%
Efficia Dfm1005,07600.6%
LIFEPAK 15 defibrillator/monitor4,7163691%
Lifeline4,8772,1170.4%

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 Heartstart Frx reports

How many FDA reports name Heartstart Frx?

5,978 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 (98.4%), death (1.3%) and injury (0.2%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

device operates differently than expected (52.9%), failure of device to self-test (29.3%), incorrect, inadequate or imprecise result or readings (6.5%), device displays incorrect message (1.8%) and defective device (1.5%). 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 Heartstart Frx 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.