Reported Reactions

Devices › Stimulator, autonomic nerve, implanted for epilepsy

Device brand name · Generator

Pulse Gen Model Unk: medical device reports filed with FDA

1,914 reports name it, 2007–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Cyberonics. Product code LYJ.

1,914
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 99 a year
7
reports, 12 months to August 2026
11 in the 12 months before
25.8%
classified as malfunction
58.7% across the product code
13.6%
classified as death, as reported
260 reports · not verified by FDA

1,914 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Pulse Gen Model Unk" (generator); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Cyberonics; received from April 2007 to July 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.

7 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 36% from 11 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 injury (60.6%), malfunction (25.8%) and death (13.6%); 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 insufficient device problem information (38%), device operates differently than expected (6.8%) and explanted (3.3%). The patient problems coded most often are seizures, therapeutic response, decreased and death. 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

059Sep 2021: 0Oct 2021: 1Nov 2021: 0Dec 2021: 12022Jan 2022: 1Feb 2022: 0Mar 2022: 4Apr 2022: 8May 2022: 2Jun 2022: 1Jul 2022: 2Aug 2022: 2Sep 2022: 2Oct 2022: 6Nov 2022: 1Dec 2022: 02023Jan 2023: 2Feb 2023: 1Mar 2023: 2Apr 2023: 1May 2023: 3Jun 2023: 3Jul 2023: 6Aug 2023: 4Sep 2023: 5Oct 2023: 2Nov 2023: 4Dec 2023: 92024Jan 2024: 4Feb 2024: 3Mar 2024: 3Apr 2024: 3May 2024: 2Jun 2024: 4Jul 2024: 7Aug 2024: 5Sep 2024: 2Oct 2024: 3Nov 2024: 3Dec 2024: 22025Jan 2025: 0Feb 2025: 1Mar 2025: 0Apr 2025: 0May 2025: 0Jun 2025: 0Jul 2025: 0Aug 2025: 0Sep 2025: 0Oct 2025: 1Nov 2025: 0Dec 2025: 12026Jan 2026: 3Feb 2026: 1Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 0Jul 2026: 1Aug 2026: 0

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

01222432007: 2620072008: 1882009: 24320092010: 1312011: 17420112012: 1922013: 19520132014: 1342015: 12720152016: 942017: 3720172018: 942019: 8920192020: 392021: 3120212022: 292023: 4220232024: 412025: 320252026: 5

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death13.6%260
Injury60.6%1,159
Malfunction25.8%494
Other0.1%1
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%1,914
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

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)ReportsShareShare across product code
Insufficient device problem information72838%9%
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly1306.8%4.5%
Explanted633.3%4.6%
Battery problema problem with the battery562.9%3.4%
Device remains implanted291.5%4.9%
Migration or expulsion of device281.5%1.1%
Breakthe device broke251.3%1.9%
Fracturea broken bone251.3%8.4%
Failure to interrogate231.2%2.5%
Device issuea problem with the device140.7%0.6%
High impedance140.7%18.1%
Premature discharge of battery140.7%1.3%
Communication or transmission problemthe device could not communicate or transmit120.6%1.6%
Device inoperablethe device could not be used120.6%1.5%
Replace100.5%2.6%
Material protrusion/extrusion70.4%0.2%
Device dislodged or dislocated60.3%0.2%
Energy output problem60.3%0.4%
Premature end-of-life indicator60.3%1.3%
Therapeutic or diagnostic output failure60.3%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
Seizures52327.3%
Therapeutic response, decreased32817.1%
Deaththe patient died; cause not stated by this term28314.8%
Apnea743.9%
Surgical procedure573%
Painpain, site not specified562.9%
Paralysis542.8%
Arrhythmia402.1%
Bradycardiaslow heart rate371.9%
Convulsion, clonic341.8%
Discomfortdiscomfort341.8%
Treatment with medication(s)331.7%
Post operative wound infection301.6%
Dysphagia/ odynophagia291.5%
Sleep dysfunction291.5%

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

In context

MeasurePulse Gen Model UnkProduct code LYJAll MAUDE reports
Reports1,91452,00426,136,888
Share of that pool—3.7%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports136569
Classified as injury60.6%35.5%36.2%
Classified as malfunction25.8%58.7%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%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

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Programming Software7,45310%
Lead Model 3027,2591360%
Pulse Gen Model 1025,9031412.2%
Pulse Gen Model 1034,518348.5%
Pulse Gen Model 1064,0231445.1%
Pulse Gen Model 10003,6015495.7%
Lead Model 3043,3292720.1%
Bipol Lead Model 3001,955120.1%
Ncp Pulse Generator1,272030%
Lead Model Unknown1,253461.6%
Pulse Gen Model 1011,210012.6%
Pulse Gen Model 1051,19176.7%
Vns Therapy Pulse1,064010.7%
Pulse Gen Model 102r985010.9%
Pulse Gen Model 10486449%

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 Pulse Gen Model Unk reports

How many FDA reports name Pulse Gen Model Unk?

1,914 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 7 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

injury (60.6%), malfunction (25.8%) and death (13.6%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

insufficient device problem information (38%), device operates differently than expected (6.8%), explanted (3.3%), battery problem (2.9%) and device remains implanted (1.5%). 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 Pulse Gen Model Unk 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.