Device brand name · Electric moist heat pack

Thermophore Arthritis Pad: medical device reports filed with FDA

272 reports name it, 2006–2012. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Battle Creek Equipment. Product code IRT.

Read first · FDA's statement on these data

Adverse event reports submitted to FDA do not undergo extensive validation or verification. Therefore, a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report. While a suspected relationship may exist, it is not medically validated and should not be the sole source of information for clinical decision making or other assumptions about the safety or efficacy of a product. Additionally, it is important to remember that adverse event reports represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product. Common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product. openFDA, FDA

FDA adds: "Although MDRs are a valuable source of information, this passive surveillance system has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data. In addition, the incidence or prevalence of an event cannot be determined from this reporting system alone due to potential under-reporting of events and lack of information about frequency of device use." And: "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."

Do not rely on openFDA to make decisions regarding medical care. While we make every effort to ensure that data is accurate, you should assume all results are unvalidated.

Not medical advice. This site counts what was reported to FDA. Questions about a medicine or device belong with a pharmacist or clinician.

272
device reports naming the brand: 0% of all MAUDE reports · about 14 a year; 0
reports, 12 months to August 2026: 0 in the 12 months before; 100%
classified as malfunction: 70.1% across the product code; 0%
classified as death, as reported: 0 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 272 reports that name the brand "Thermophore Arthritis Pad" (electric moist heat pack), received between October 2006 and April 2012; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Battle Creek Equipment. 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 (100%); across all pad, heating, powered reports (product code IRT) death is recorded in 0.2% and malfunction in 70.1%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are sparking (73.5%), thermal decomposition of device (8.5%) and device remains activated (6.3%). The patient problems coded most often are burn, thermal, no patient involvement and tissue damage. 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 Thermophore Arthritis Pad was received in the five years to August 2026; the latest was received in April 2012.

By year received

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0

Injury0%0

Malfunction100%272

Other0%0

Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%272

Voluntary report0%0

User facility report0%0

Distributor report0%0

Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 6,882 reports carrying product code IRT. 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
Sparking	200	73.5%	27.9%
Thermal decomposition of device	23	8.5%	15.6%
Device remains activated	17	6.3%	3.6%
Smoking	16	5.9%	5.1%
Melted	13	4.8%	2.2%
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly	7	2.6%	1.5%
Failure to shut off	7	2.6%	1.3%
Electrical shorting	6	2.2%	0.5%
Failure to power up	6	2.2%	0.1%
Breakthe device broke	5	1.8%	2.9%
Insufficient device problem information	5	1.8%	4.4%
Material separation	5	1.8%	0.2%
Cut in material	4	1.5%	2.1%
Electrical /electronic property probleman electrical or electronic problem	4	1.5%	0.6%
Device emits odor	3	1.1%	2.4%
Disconnection	3	1.1%	0%
Folded	3	1.1%	0.8%
Hole in material	3	1.1%	1.7%
Improper or incorrect procedure or method	3	1.1%	7.9%
Overheating of device	3	1.1%	4.2%

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
Burn, thermal	4	1.5%
No patient involvement	1	0.4%
Tissue damage	1	0.4%

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

In context

Measure	Thermophore Arthritis Pad	Product code IRT	All MAUDE reports
Reports	272	6,882	26,136,888
Share of that pool	—	4%	0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports	0	2	9
Classified as injury	0%	21%	36.2%
Classified as malfunction	100%	70.1%	62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer	100%	91.2%	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 IRT

Brand	Reports	Latest 12 months	Classified as death
Thermophore	1,970	0	0.1%
Thermophore Automatic Moist Heat Pack	1,321	0	0%
Sunbeam	1,502	29	0.4%
Thermophore Automatic Heat Pack	305	0	0%
Mighty Bliss	250	0	0%
Softheat	251	0	0.4%
Conair	312	10	0%
Conmed	900	89	0.2%

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 Thermophore Arthritis Pad reports

How many FDA reports name Thermophore Arthritis Pad?

272 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 (100%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

sparking (73.5%), thermal decomposition of device (8.5%), device remains activated (6.3%), smoking (5.9%) and melted (4.8%). 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 Thermophore Arthritis Pad 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.