Devices › Stimulator, autonomic nerve, implanted for epilepsy
Device brand name · Programming wand
Programming Wand: medical device reports filed with FDA
738 reports name it, 2007–2016. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Cyberonics. Product code LYJ.
- 738
- device reports naming the brand
- 0% of all MAUDE reports · about 38 a year
- 0
- reports, 12 months to August 2026
- 0 in the 12 months before
- 99.7%
- classified as malfunction
- 58.7% across the product code
- 0%
- classified as death, as reported
- 0 reports · not verified by FDA
FDA's MAUDE database holds 738 reports that name the brand "Programming Wand" (programming wand), received between April 2007 and December 2016; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Cyberonics. 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 (99.7%) and injury (0.3%); across all stimulator, autonomic nerve, implanted for epilepsy reports (product code LYJ) death is recorded in 5.6% and malfunction in 58.7%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.
The device problems coded most often are failure to interrogate (30.6%), communication or transmission problem (21.5%) and device displays incorrect message (18.2%). The patient problems coded most often are no patient involvement, surgical procedure, repeated and therapy/non-surgical treatment, additional. 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 Programming Wand was received in the five years to August 2026; the latest was received in December 2016.
By year received
Event type and report source
Event type, as classified on the report
Who filed the report
Grey bar: all 52,004 reports carrying product code LYJ. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to interrogate | 226 | 30.6% | 2.5% |
| Communication or transmission problemthe device could not communicate or transmit | 159 | 21.5% | 1.6% |
| Device displays incorrect message | 134 | 18.2% | 2.1% |
| Failure to read input signal | 100 | 13.6% | 0.3% |
| Replace | 79 | 10.7% | 2.6% |
| Repair | 69 | 9.3% | 0.7% |
| Program, failure to | 59 | 8% | 0.2% |
| Device inoperablethe device could not be used | 40 | 5.4% | 1.5% |
| Electrical /electronic property probleman electrical or electronic problem | 40 | 5.4% | 0.4% |
| Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly | 33 | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| Programming issue | 33 | 4.5% | 1.3% |
| Device issuea problem with the device | 32 | 4.3% | 0.6% |
| Failure, intermittent | 27 | 3.7% | 0.1% |
| Failure to conduct | 23 | 3.1% | 0% |
| Difficult to interrogate | 21 | 2.8% | 0.3% |
| Cable, defective | 20 | 2.7% | 0.1% |
| Defective component | 18 | 2.4% | 0.3% |
| Loose or intermittent connection | 15 | 2% | 0.6% |
| No display/image | 12 | 1.6% | 1.5% |
| Battery problema problem with the battery | 10 | 1.4% | 3.4% |
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) | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| No patient involvement | 33 | 4.5% |
| Surgical procedure, repeated | 3 | 0.4% |
| Therapy/non-surgical treatment, additional | 2 | 0.3% |
| Bruise/contusion | 1 | 0.1% |
| Burning sensationa burning feeling | 1 | 0.1% |
| Falla fall | 1 | 0.1% |
| Hearing impairment | 1 | 0.1% |
| Other (for use when an appropriate patient code cannot be identified) | 1 | 0.1% |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 1 | 0.1% |
| Seizures | 1 | 0.1% |
| Therapeutic response, decreased | 1 | 0.1% |
Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.
In context
| Measure | Programming Wand | Product code LYJ | All MAUDE reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reports | 738 | 52,004 | 26,136,888 |
| Share of that pool | — | 1.4% | 0% |
| Classified as death, per 1,000 reports | 0 | 56 | 9 |
| Classified as injury | 0.3% | 35.5% | 36.2% |
| Classified as malfunction | 99.7% | 58.7% | 62.3% |
| Filed by the manufacturer | 100% | 99.5% | 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 LYJ
| Brand | Reports | Latest 12 months | Classified as death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Programming Software | 7,453 | 1 | 0% |
| Lead Model 302 | 7,259 | 136 | 0% |
| Pulse Gen Model 102 | 5,903 | 14 | 12.2% |
| Pulse Gen Model 103 | 4,518 | 34 | 8.5% |
| Pulse Gen Model 106 | 4,023 | 144 | 5.1% |
| Pulse Gen Model 1000 | 3,601 | 549 | 5.7% |
| Lead Model 304 | 3,329 | 272 | 0.1% |
| Bipol Lead Model 300 | 1,955 | 12 | 0.1% |
| Pulse Gen Model Unk | 1,914 | 7 | 13.6% |
| Ncp Pulse Generator | 1,272 | 0 | 30% |
| Lead Model Unknown | 1,253 | 46 | 1.6% |
| Pulse Gen Model 101 | 1,210 | 0 | 12.6% |
| Pulse Gen Model 105 | 1,191 | 7 | 6.7% |
| Vns Therapy Pulse | 1,064 | 0 | 10.7% |
| Pulse Gen Model 102r | 985 | 0 | 10.9% |
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 Programming Wand reports
How many FDA reports name Programming Wand?
738 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 (99.7%) and injury (0.3%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.
What device problems are coded?
failure to interrogate (30.6%), communication or transmission problem (21.5%), device displays incorrect message (18.2%), failure to read input signal (13.6%) and replace (10.7%). 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 Programming Wand 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.