Reported Reactions

Devices › Stapler, surgical

Device brand name · Staple implantable

Proximate Linear Stapler: medical device reports filed with FDA

579 reports name it, 1996–2017. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Ethicon Endo-Surgery. Product code GAG.

579
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 19 a year
0
reports, 12 months to August 2026
0 in the 12 months before
85.3%
classified as malfunction
72.9% across the product code
1.2%
classified as death, as reported
7 reports · not verified by FDA

579 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Proximate Linear Stapler" (staple implantable); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Ethicon Endo-Surgery; received from January 1996 to October 2017. 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 (85.3%), injury (12.8%) and death (1.2%); 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 failure to form staple (38.3%), replace (22.8%) and failure to fire (10.9%). The patient problems coded most often are failure to anastomose, surgical procedure, additional and surgery, prolonged. 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 Linear Stapler was received in the five years to August 2026; the latest was received in October 2017.

By year received

048961996: 2519961997: 541998: 4619981999: 412000: 6620002001: 402003: 2320032004: 32005: 320052012: 52014: 7220142015: 552016: 9620162017: 50

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death1.2%7
Injury12.8%74
Malfunction85.3%494
Other0%0
Not given0.7%4

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report99%573
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given1%6

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)ReportsShareShare across product code
Failure to form staple22238.3%27.4%
Replace13222.8%35.2%
Failure to fire6310.9%8.9%
Component missing386.6%3%
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly386.6%0.3%
Misfire295%8.9%
Positioning failure213.6%0.6%
Sticking162.8%10.9%
Mechanical problema mechanical problem132.2%1.3%
Device inoperablethe device could not be used101.7%0.1%
Difficult to open or close101.7%0.8%
Breakthe device broke81.4%1.9%
Failure to adhere or bond71.2%1.2%
Failure to deliverthe device did not deliver the dose or item61%0.8%
Leak/splashthe device leaked50.9%1.5%
Material separation50.9%0.5%
Other (for use when an appropriate device code cannot be identified)50.9%1.2%
Suture line disruption50.9%0.7%
Close, difficult to40.7%0.7%
Component falling40.7%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)ReportsShare
Failure to anastomose13423.1%
Surgical procedure, additional345.9%
Surgery, prolonged203.5%
Bleeding162.8%
Blood loss111.9%
Deaththe patient died; cause not stated by this term71.2%
Other (for use when an appropriate patient code cannot be identified)71.2%
Fistula50.9%
Surgical procedure aborted/stopped50.9%
Colostomy40.7%
Hospitalization required40.7%
Therapy/non-surgical treatment, additional40.7%
Tissue damage40.7%
Dural tear30.5%
Drainage20.3%

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

In context

MeasureProximate Linear StaplerProduct code GAGAll MAUDE reports
Reports57926,84826,136,888
Share of that pool—2.2%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports12109
Classified as injury12.8%25.1%36.2%
Classified as malfunction85.3%72.9%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer99%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

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Endopath Endoscopic Multifeed Stapler1,70600%
Proximate Linear Cutter1,77611.3%
Eea4,9225420.8%
Gia4,8994040.9%
Proximate I L S Intraluminal Stapler70902%
Proximate Reloadable Linear Stapler1,02501.4%
Endo Gia Universal 12mm Single Use Inst1,07701.8%
Auto Suture Roticulator 55-4 845100.2%
Proximate Access 55 Articulating Linear Stapler39800.5%
Ta1,5411421%
Auto Suture Premium Plus Ceea 31mm35700.3%
Auto Suture Roticulator 55 Poly - 20035300%
Auto Suture Roticulator 55-3 531400.6%
Endopath Endoscopic Linear Cutter32200%
Echelon1,3525843.2%

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 Linear Stapler reports

How many FDA reports name Proximate Linear Stapler?

579 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 (85.3%), injury (12.8%) and death (1.2%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

failure to form staple (38.3%), replace (22.8%), failure to fire (10.9%), component missing (6.6%) and device operates differently than expected (6.6%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (99%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Proximate 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.