Reported Reactions

Devices › Electrosurgical, cutting & coagulation & accessories

Device brand name · Electrosurgical cutting and coagulation device and accessories

Push-Button Smoke Evac Pencil Coated: medical device reports filed with FDA

154 reports name it, 2017–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Stryker Instruments-Kalamazoo. Product code GEI.

154
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 17 a year
12
reports, 12 months to August 2026
19 in the 12 months before
92.2%
classified as malfunction
80.1% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 154 reports that name the brand "Push-Button Smoke Evac Pencil Coated" (electrosurgical cutting and coagulation device and accessories), received between March 2017 and July 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Stryker Instruments-Kalamazoo. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

12 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 37% from 19 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 (92.2%) and injury (7.8%); across all electrosurgical, cutting & coagulation & accessories reports (product code GEI) death is recorded in 0.4% and malfunction in 80.1%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are delivered as unsterile product (18.8%), unintended power up (16.2%) and energy output problem (7.1%). The patient problems coded most often are no patient involvement, burn(s) and superficial (first degree) burn. 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

036Sep 2021: 1Oct 2021: 0Nov 2021: 1Dec 2021: 02022Jan 2022: 0Feb 2022: 0Mar 2022: 0Apr 2022: 1May 2022: 2Jun 2022: 1Jul 2022: 0Aug 2022: 0Sep 2022: 1Oct 2022: 1Nov 2022: 0Dec 2022: 22023Jan 2023: 1Feb 2023: 4Mar 2023: 3Apr 2023: 1May 2023: 2Jun 2023: 0Jul 2023: 2Aug 2023: 1Sep 2023: 1Oct 2023: 1Nov 2023: 2Dec 2023: 22024Jan 2024: 1Feb 2024: 5Mar 2024: 5Apr 2024: 4May 2024: 4Jun 2024: 1Jul 2024: 3Aug 2024: 1Sep 2024: 1Oct 2024: 3Nov 2024: 2Dec 2024: 02025Jan 2025: 2Feb 2025: 1Mar 2025: 2Apr 2025: 2May 2025: 0Jun 2025: 6Jul 2025: 0Aug 2025: 0Sep 2025: 3Oct 2025: 1Nov 2025: 2Dec 2025: 22026Jan 2026: 2Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 1Jun 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

016322017: 620172018: 920182019: 3220192020: 1820202021: 620212022: 820222023: 2020232024: 3020242025: 2120252026: 42026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury7.8%12
Malfunction92.2%142
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%154
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 118,290 reports carrying product code GEI. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Delivered as unsterile product2918.8%0.8%
Unintended power up2516.2%0.3%
Energy output problem117.1%3.6%
Device remains activated106.5%1.3%
Fracturea broken bone95.8%0.7%
Output below specifications85.2%0.1%
Packaging problem85.2%0.1%
Excessive heating53.2%0.2%
Failure to deliver energy53.2%1.3%
Sparking53.2%1.7%
Fire42.6%1.8%
Crackthe device cracked21.3%0.5%
Particulates21.3%0%
Tear, rip or hole in device packaging21.3%0.1%
Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off10.6%3.8%
Device contaminated during manufacture or shipping10.6%0.1%
Expiration date error10.6%0%
Melted10.6%1.5%
Overheating of device10.6%1.3%
Temperature problem10.6%0.5%

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
No patient involvement3724%
Burn(s)a burn106.5%
Superficial (first degree) burn63.9%
Hematomaa collection of blood under the skin or in tissue31.9%
Full thickness (third degree) burn21.3%
Laceration(s)21.3%
Partial thickness (second degree) burn21.3%
Device embedded in tissue or plaque10.6%
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding10.6%

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

In context

MeasurePush-Button Smoke Evac Pencil CoatedProduct code GEIAll MAUDE reports
Reports154118,29026,136,888
Share of that pool—0.1%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports049
Classified as injury7.8%16.7%36.2%
Classified as malfunction92.2%80.1%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%92.4%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 GEI

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
LigaSure8,2648790.2%
VasoView Hemopro 26,6336860%
THUNDERBEAT 5 mm, 35 cm, Front-actuated Grip Type S4,5904030%
HF unit "ESG-400"2,6986640.1%
Valleylab2,0103530.3%
Vaso View Hemopro1,83800.1%
LigaSure Impact1,831720.3%
THUNDERBEAT 5 mm, 35 cm, Front-actuated Grip1,505380.3%
Thunderbeat 5mm 35cm Front-Actuated Grip1,24700.2%
Valleylab Ft101,20320.3%
Vasoview Hemopro1,18700%
Ligasure Advance Pistol Grip97000%
Ligasure Atlas Handswitching 37cm92400.2%
Edge8591710.1%
Force Fx780220.4%

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 Push-Button Smoke Evac Pencil Coated reports

How many FDA reports name Push-Button Smoke Evac Pencil Coated?

154 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 (92.2%) and injury (7.8%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

delivered as unsterile product (18.8%), unintended power up (16.2%), energy output problem (7.1%), device remains activated (6.5%) and fracture (5.8%). 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 Push-Button Smoke Evac Pencil Coated 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.