Devices › Stimulator, electrical, implantable, for incontinence
Device brand name · Stimulator electrical implantable for incontinence
Interstim: medical device reports filed with FDA
11,298 reports name it, 2001–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Medtronic Puerto Rico Operations. Product code EZW.
- 11,298
- device reports naming the brand
- 0% of all MAUDE reports · about 445 a year
- 1,522
- reports, 12 months to August 2026
- 977 in the 12 months before
- 50.2%
- classified as malfunction
- 50.7% across the product code
- 0.2%
- classified as death, as reported
- 17 reports · not verified by FDA
11,298 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Interstim" (stimulator electrical implantable for incontinence); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Medtronic Puerto Rico Operations; received from February 2001 to August 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.
1,522 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, up 56% from 977 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 (50.2%), injury (47.9%) and other (1.7%); across all stimulator, electrical, implantable, for incontinence reports (product code EZW) death is recorded in 0.1% and malfunction in 50.7%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.
The device problems coded most often are insufficient device problem information (21%), device operates differently than expected (10.9%) and migration or expulsion of device (9.8%). The patient problems coded most often are pain, electric shock and therapeutic response, decreased. 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
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
Event type and report source
Event type, as classified on the report
Who filed the report
Grey bar: all 83,156 reports carrying product code EZW. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.
Device problems coded
| Device problem (FDA code) | Reports | Share | Share across product code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insufficient device problem information | 2,373 | 21% | 13.9% |
| Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly | 1,237 | 10.9% | 17.9% |
| Migration or expulsion of device | 1,104 | 9.8% | 11.5% |
| Breakthe device broke | 1,066 | 9.4% | 5.7% |
| Inappropriate/inadequate shock/stimulation | 1,044 | 9.2% | 9.3% |
| Battery problema problem with the battery | 1,003 | 8.9% | 4.8% |
| Failure to deliver energy | 938 | 8.3% | 13% |
| Communication or transmission problemthe device could not communicate or transmit | 902 | 8% | 5.8% |
| Charging problem | 898 | 7.9% | 1.2% |
| High impedance | 507 | 4.5% | 5.1% |
| Failure to interrogate | 487 | 4.3% | 3.8% |
| Unintended collision | 433 | 3.8% | 6.3% |
| Energy output problem | 398 | 3.5% | 5.1% |
| Malposition of device | 394 | 3.5% | 2.7% |
| Electromagnetic compatibility problem | 385 | 3.4% | 4.8% |
| Electromagnetic interference | 376 | 3.3% | 4% |
| Explanted | 313 | 2.8% | 0.6% |
| Therapy delivered to incorrect body area | 293 | 2.6% | 4.5% |
| Intermittent continuity | 216 | 1.9% | 2.5% |
| Delayed charge time | 203 | 1.8% | 0.3% |
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) | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Painpain, site not specified | 1,655 | 14.6% |
| Electric shockan electric shock | 1,085 | 9.6% |
| Therapeutic response, decreased | 1,054 | 9.3% |
| Therapeutic effects, unexpected | 755 | 6.7% |
| Incontinence | 604 | 5.3% |
| Discomfortdiscomfort | 549 | 4.9% |
| Surgical procedure | 404 | 3.6% |
| Undesired nerve stimulation | 383 | 3.4% |
| Urinary retentionbeing unable to empty the bladder | 368 | 3.3% |
| Device embedded in tissue or plaque | 356 | 3.2% |
| Complaint, ill-defined | 300 | 2.7% |
| Urinary frequency / polyuria | 291 | 2.6% |
| Burning sensationa burning feeling | 263 | 2.3% |
| Device overstimulation of tissue | 209 | 1.8% |
| Urinary tract infectionbladder or urinary infection | 206 | 1.8% |
Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.
In context
| Measure | Interstim | Product code EZW | All MAUDE reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reports | 11,298 | 83,156 | 26,136,888 |
| Share of that pool | — | 13.6% | 0% |
| Classified as death, per 1,000 reports | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| Classified as injury | 47.9% | 48.9% | 36.2% |
| Classified as malfunction | 50.2% | 50.7% | 62.3% |
| Filed by the manufacturer | 99.5% | 99.6% | 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 EZW
| Brand | Reports | Latest 12 months | Classified as death |
|---|---|---|---|
| InterStim X | 9,333 | 3,163 | 0% |
| Verify Enhanced | 3,829 | 295 | 0% |
| Verify | 2,413 | 8 | 0% |
| Axonics | 2,360 | 1,069 | 0.1% |
| Implantable Neurostimulator | 6,395 | 692 | 0.3% |
| Unknown Implantable Neurostimulator | 3,843 | 0 | 2.2% |
| Unknown External Neurostimulator | 724 | 0 | 1.1% |
| External Neurostimulator | 1,227 | 102 | 0.4% |
| SureScan | 33,123 | 490 | 0% |
| Unknown Neurostimulator | 474 | 0 | 1.7% |
| Lead | 1,234 | 118 | 0.5% |
| Synergy | 14,271 | 84 | 3.5% |
| Neu Ins Stimulator | 335 | 0 | 2.1% |
| Unknown Lead | 160 | 0 | 2.5% |
| Itrel | 264 | 0 | 3.4% |
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 Interstim reports
How many FDA reports name Interstim?
11,298 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 1,522 in the latest 12 months.
What kinds of events are reported?
malfunction (50.2%), injury (47.9%) and other (1.7%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.
What device problems are coded?
insufficient device problem information (21%), device operates differently than expected (10.9%), migration or expulsion of device (9.8%), break (9.4%) and inappropriate/inadequate shock/stimulation (9.2%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.
Who files these reports?
manufacturer reports (99.5%) and voluntary reports (0.2%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.
Do these reports show that Interstim 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.