Reported Reactions

Devices › Automated external defibrillators (non-wearable)

Device brand name · Defibrillator

Heartstart Mrx: medical device reports filed with FDA

18,592 reports name it, 2004–2021. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Philips Medical Systems. Product code MKJ.

18,592
device reports naming the brand
0.1% of all MAUDE reports · about 839 a year
0
reports, 12 months to August 2026
0 in the 12 months before
98.5%
classified as malfunction
96.8% across the product code
0.7%
classified as death, as reported
131 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 18,592 reports that name the brand "Heartstart Mrx" (defibrillator), received between May 2004 and April 2021; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Philips Medical Systems. 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 (98.5%), death (0.7%) and injury (0.7%); 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 (18%), device displays incorrect message (13.3%) and failure to power up (6.1%). The patient problems coded most often are no patient involvement, death and injury. 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 Heartstart Mrx was received in the five years to August 2026; the latest was received in April 2021.

By year received

01,3422,6832004: 3720042005: 792006: 9020062007: 1652008: 18820082009: 4042010: 44720102011: 6082012: 68520122013: 1,5622014: 1,58620142015: 1,4472016: 1,92620162017: 2,1252018: 2,17120182019: 2,6832020: 2,06520202021: 324

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0.7%131
Injury0.7%123
Malfunction98.5%18,314
Other0.1%10
Not given0.1%14

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report99.8%18,554
Voluntary report0%7
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0.2%31

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 unexpectedly3,35218%11.8%
Device displays incorrect message2,48213.3%11.6%
Failure to power up1,1426.1%13%
Failure to charge8834.7%2.5%
Battery problema problem with the battery8564.6%2.5%
Breakthe device broke8064.3%1.4%
Failure of device to self-test6733.6%8.9%
No display/image5813.1%4.2%
Defective devicethe device was defective5593%1.2%
Device inoperablethe device could not be used5523%1.9%
Therapeutic or diagnostic output failure5092.7%0.8%
Incorrect, inadequate or imprecise result or readings4622.5%1.3%
Defective component4522.4%0.6%
Noise, audible4182.2%0.4%
Defibrillation/stimulation problem4042.2%3.2%
Loss of powerthe device lost power3832.1%1.6%
Charging problem3812%0.6%
Computer operating system problem3672%0.8%
Pacing problem2651.4%1.2%
Failure to discharge2451.3%1.6%

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 involvement9,49051%
Deaththe patient died; cause not stated by this term1420.8%
Injurya physical injury330.2%
Cardiac arrestthe heart stopped200.1%
Electric shockan electric shock110.1%
Ventricular fibrillationa chaotic rhythm from the lower heart chambers100.1%
Burn(s)a burn70%
Shockshock, a collapse of the circulation70%
Shock from patient lead(s)60%
Burn, thermal50%
Cardiopulmonary arrest50%
Atrial fibrillationan irregular heart rhythm40%
Erythemaskin redness30%
Full thickness (third degree) burn30%
Inadequate osseointegration20%

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

In context

MeasureHeartstart MrxProduct code MKJAll MAUDE reports
Reports18,592269,68626,136,888
Share of that pool—6.9%0.1%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports7179
Classified as injury0.7%0.7%36.2%
Classified as malfunction98.5%96.8%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer99.8%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 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%
Heartstart Frx5,97821.3%
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 Mrx reports

How many FDA reports name Heartstart Mrx?

18,592 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 (98.5%), death (0.7%) and injury (0.7%). "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 (18%), device displays incorrect message (13.3%), failure to power up (6.1%), failure to charge (4.7%) and battery problem (4.6%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (99.8%) and voluntary reports (0%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Heartstart Mrx 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.