Device brand name · Linear staplers
Proximate Heavy Wire Linear Stapler: medical device reports filed with FDA
154 reports name it, 1997–2001. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Ethicon Endo-Surgery - Alb. Product code GAG.
- 154
- device reports naming the brand
- 0% of all MAUDE reports · about 5 a year
- 0
- reports, 12 months to August 2026
- 0 in the 12 months before
- 87%
- classified as malfunction
- 72.9% across the product code
- 1.3%
- classified as death, as reported
- 2 reports · not verified by FDA
154 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Proximate Heavy Wire Linear Stapler" (linear staplers); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Ethicon Endo-Surgery - Alb; received from February 1997 to December 2001. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.
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 (87%), injury (11.7%) and death (1.3%); across all stapler, surgical reports (product code GAG) death is recorded in 1% and malfunction in 72.9%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.
The device problems coded most often are replace (61.7%), failure to form staple (46.8%) and component missing (10.4%). The patient problems coded most often are failure to anastomose, surgery, prolonged and surgical procedure, 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 Proximate Heavy Wire Linear Stapler was received in the five years to August 2026; the latest was received in December 2001.
By year received
Event type and report source
Event type, as classified on the report
Who filed the report
Grey bar: all 26,848 reports carrying product code GAG. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace | 95 | 61.7% | 35.2% |
| Failure to form staple | 72 | 46.8% | 27.4% |
| Component missing | 16 | 10.4% | 3% |
| Misfire | 15 | 9.7% | 8.9% |
| Failure to fire | 11 | 7.1% | 8.9% |
| Sticking | 10 | 6.5% | 10.9% |
| Other (for use when an appropriate device code cannot be identified) | 5 | 3.2% | 1.2% |
| Suture line separation | 5 | 3.2% | 0.6% |
| Failure to adhere or bond | 4 | 2.6% | 1.2% |
| Close, difficult to | 3 | 1.9% | 0.7% |
| Suture line disruption | 3 | 1.9% | 0.7% |
| Device, removal of (non-implant) | 2 | 1.3% | 0.9% |
| Difficult to removethe device was hard to remove | 2 | 1.3% | 5.7% |
| Clips, scissored | 1 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Component falling | 1 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Component(s), broken | 1 | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Crackthe device cracked | 1 | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Detachment of device component | 1 | 0.6% | 1.8% |
| Device inoperablethe device could not be used | 1 | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Device slipped | 1 | 0.6% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Failure to anastomose | 67 | 43.5% |
| Surgery, prolonged | 17 | 11% |
| Surgical procedure, additional | 12 | 7.8% |
| Bleeding | 9 | 5.8% |
| Surgical procedure, repeated | 8 | 5.2% |
| Necrosisdeath of tissue | 5 | 3.2% |
| Tissue damage | 5 | 3.2% |
| Hospitalization required | 4 | 2.6% |
| Other (for use when an appropriate patient code cannot be identified) | 4 | 2.6% |
| Deaththe patient died; cause not stated by this term | 2 | 1.3% |
| Colostomy | 1 | 0.6% |
| Foreign body, removal of | 1 | 0.6% |
| Intimal dissection | 1 | 0.6% |
| Intubation | 1 | 0.6% |
| Organ dehiscence | 1 | 0.6% |
Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.
In context
| Measure | Proximate Heavy Wire Linear Stapler | Product code GAG | All MAUDE reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reports | 154 | 26,848 | 26,136,888 |
| Share of that pool | — | 0.6% | 0% |
| Classified as death, per 1,000 reports | 13 | 10 | 9 |
| Classified as injury | 11.7% | 25.1% | 36.2% |
| Classified as malfunction | 87% | 72.9% | 62.3% |
| Filed by the manufacturer | 100% | 91.8% | 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 GAG
| Brand | Reports | Latest 12 months | Classified as death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endopath Endoscopic Multifeed Stapler | 1,706 | 0 | 0% |
| Proximate Linear Cutter | 1,776 | 1 | 1.3% |
| Eea | 4,922 | 542 | 0.8% |
| Gia | 4,899 | 404 | 0.9% |
| Proximate I L S Intraluminal Stapler | 709 | 0 | 2% |
| Proximate Reloadable Linear Stapler | 1,025 | 0 | 1.4% |
| Endo Gia Universal 12mm Single Use Inst | 1,077 | 0 | 1.8% |
| Auto Suture Roticulator 55-4 8 | 451 | 0 | 0.2% |
| Proximate Access 55 Articulating Linear Stapler | 398 | 0 | 0.5% |
| Ta | 1,541 | 142 | 1% |
| Auto Suture Premium Plus Ceea 31mm | 357 | 0 | 0.3% |
| Auto Suture Roticulator 55 Poly - 200 | 353 | 0 | 0% |
| Auto Suture Roticulator 55-3 5 | 314 | 0 | 0.6% |
| Endopath Endoscopic Linear Cutter | 322 | 0 | 0% |
| Echelon | 1,352 | 584 | 3.2% |
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 Proximate Heavy Wire Linear Stapler reports
How many FDA reports name Proximate Heavy Wire Linear Stapler?
154 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 (87%), injury (11.7%) and death (1.3%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.
What device problems are coded?
replace (61.7%), failure to form staple (46.8%), component missing (10.4%), misfire (9.7%) and failure to fire (7.1%). 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 Proximate Heavy Wire Linear Stapler 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.