Reported Reactions

Devices › Catheter, steerable

Device brand name · Catheter electrode recording or probe electrode recording

Polarsheath: medical device reports filed with FDA

418 reports name it, 2020–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Boston Scientific De Costa Rica. Product code DRA.

418
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 70 a year
12
reports, 12 months to August 2026
47 in the 12 months before
68.9%
classified as malfunction
61.9% across the product code
1.2%
classified as death, as reported
5 reports · not verified by FDA

418 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Polarsheath" (catheter electrode recording or probe electrode recording); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Boston Scientific De Costa Rica; received from July 2020 to August 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.

12 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 74% from 47 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 (68.9%), injury (29.9%) and death (1.2%); across all catheter, steerable reports (product code DRA) death is recorded in 1.8% and malfunction in 61.9%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are leak/splash (41.9%), air/gas in device (17.9%) and material integrity problem (7.7%). The patient problems coded most often are non specific ekg/ECG changes, air embolism and pericardial effusion. 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

0612Sep 2021: 5Oct 2021: 2Nov 2021: 7Dec 2021: 82022Jan 2022: 6Feb 2022: 5Mar 2022: 6Apr 2022: 5May 2022: 6Jun 2022: 10Jul 2022: 9Aug 2022: 12Sep 2022: 4Oct 2022: 10Nov 2022: 7Dec 2022: 82023Jan 2023: 1Feb 2023: 5Mar 2023: 11Apr 2023: 7May 2023: 4Jun 2023: 10Jul 2023: 5Aug 2023: 9Sep 2023: 4Oct 2023: 10Nov 2023: 6Dec 2023: 32024Jan 2024: 4Feb 2024: 2Mar 2024: 11Apr 2024: 9May 2024: 8Jun 2024: 7Jul 2024: 6Aug 2024: 3Sep 2024: 4Oct 2024: 7Nov 2024: 2Dec 2024: 52025Jan 2025: 7Feb 2025: 2Mar 2025: 1Apr 2025: 4May 2025: 4Jun 2025: 2Jul 2025: 3Aug 2025: 6Sep 2025: 3Oct 2025: 3Nov 2025: 1Dec 2025: 22026Jan 2026: 0Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 2Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 0Jul 2026: 0Aug 2026: 1

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

048962020: 5020202021: 9620212022: 8820222023: 7520232024: 6820242025: 3820252026: 32026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death1.2%5
Injury29.9%125
Malfunction68.9%288
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%418
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 13,946 reports carrying product code DRA. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Leak/splashthe device leaked17541.9%16.7%
Air/gas in device7517.9%23.7%
Material integrity problema problem with the device material327.7%3.7%
Device contamination with body fluid296.9%3%
Difficult to flush153.6%0.5%
Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off92.2%0.3%
Mechanics altered51.2%0.1%
Packaging problem51.2%0.1%
Device-device incompatibility41%0.6%
Difficult to removethe device was hard to remove41%1.1%
Device contamination with chemical or other material30.7%0.6%
Material deformation30.7%0.7%
Human-device interface problem20.5%0.1%
Positioning problem20.5%0.3%
Unsealed device packaging20.5%0.1%
Connection problema connection problem10.2%0%
Defective devicethe device was defective10.2%0%
Device contaminated during manufacture or shipping10.2%0.1%
Difficult to advance10.2%1.8%
Improper flow or infusion10.2%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
Non specific ekg/ECG changes4611%
Air embolism256%
Pericardial effusionfluid around the heart184.3%
Cardiac tamponade143.3%
Hematomaa collection of blood under the skin or in tissue143.3%
Low blood pressure/ hypotension102.4%
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding71.7%
Chest painchest pain61.4%
Dyspneashortness of breath51.2%
St segment elevation51.2%
Cardiac perforation41%
Heart block41%
Palpitationsawareness of the heartbeat41%
Perforation of vessels41%
Atrial flutter30.7%

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

In context

MeasurePolarsheathProduct code DRAAll MAUDE reports
Reports41813,94626,136,888
Share of that pool—3%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports12189
Classified as injury29.9%36.2%36.2%
Classified as malfunction68.9%61.9%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 DRA

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
FARADRIVE Steerable Sheath Clear4,1541,5590.5%
FlexCath Advance Steerable Sheath2,941583.5%
Mitraclip System Steerable Guide Catheter1,528163%
G4 Steerable Guiding Catheter89601.6%
FlexCath Contour Steerable Sheath8713991.5%
Faradrive7921920.9%
Mitraclip3,3571,1612%
Flexcath Steerable Sheath36500.3%
Steerable Guide Catheter336331.2%
G4 Steerable Guiding Catheter Ce26221.1%
FARADRIVE Steerable Sheath1921024.2%
Mitraclip G4 Steerable Guide Catheter Mdr19101.6%
Heartlight20601%
Artisan?9341270.6%
Arctic Front Advance Cardiac Cryoablation Catheter2,364462.6%

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 Polarsheath reports

How many FDA reports name Polarsheath?

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

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (68.9%), injury (29.9%) and death (1.2%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

leak/splash (41.9%), air/gas in device (17.9%), material integrity problem (7.7%), device contamination with body fluid (6.9%) and difficult to flush (3.6%). 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 Polarsheath 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.