Reported Reactions

Devices › Electrosurgical, cutting & coagulation & accessories

Device brand name · Thunderbeat handpiece

Thunderbeat 5mm 35cm Front-Actuated Grip: medical device reports filed with FDA

1,247 reports name it, 2013–2016. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Olympus Medical Systems. Product code GEI.

1,247
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 97 a year
0
reports, 12 months to August 2026
0 in the 12 months before
97.4%
classified as malfunction
80.1% across the product code
0.2%
classified as death, as reported
2 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 1,247 reports that name the brand "Thunderbeat 5mm 35cm Front-Actuated Grip" (thunderbeat handpiece), received between August 2013 and December 2016; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Olympus Medical Systems. 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 (97.4%), injury (1.8%) and other (0.6%); 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 break (90.8%), detachment of device component (2.2%) and device displays incorrect message (1.6%). The patient problems coded most often are blood loss, burn(s) and perforation. 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 Thunderbeat 5mm 35cm Front-Actuated Grip was received in the five years to August 2026; the latest was received in December 2016.

By year received

02965922013: 3920132014: 14520142015: 47120152016: 5922016

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0.2%2
Injury1.8%22
Malfunction97.4%1,215
Other0.6%7
Not given0.1%1

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report99.9%1,246
Voluntary report0.1%1
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
Breakthe device broke1,13290.8%14%
Detachment of device component282.2%3.5%
Device displays incorrect message201.6%2.9%
Material separation191.5%1.4%
Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off181.4%3.8%
Insufficient device problem information100.8%2.8%
Material deformation90.7%0.5%
Melted50.4%1.5%
Thermal decomposition of device50.4%1%
Naturally worn40.3%0.1%
Component falling30.2%1.3%
Peeled/delaminated30.2%3%
Crackthe device cracked20.2%0.5%
Output below specifications20.2%0.1%
Bent10.1%0.5%
Device inoperablethe device could not be used10.1%1.5%
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly10.1%3.9%
Electrical /electronic property probleman electrical or electronic problem10.1%2.7%
Failure to cut10.1%1.4%
Failure to fire10.1%0.2%

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)ReportsShare
Blood loss131%
Burn(s)a burn70.6%
Perforation30.2%
Deaththe patient died; cause not stated by this term20.2%
Bowel burn10.1%
Burn, thermal10.1%
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding10.1%
Hemostasis10.1%

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

In context

MeasureThunderbeat 5mm 35cm Front-Actuated GripProduct code GEIAll MAUDE reports
Reports1,247118,29026,136,888
Share of that pool—1.1%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports249
Classified as injury1.8%16.7%36.2%
Classified as malfunction97.4%80.1%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer99.9%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%
Valleylab Ft101,20320.3%
Vasoview Hemopro1,18700%
Ligasure Advance Pistol Grip97000%
Ligasure Atlas Handswitching 37cm92400.2%
Edge8591710.1%
Force Fx780220.4%
Conmed900890.2%

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 Thunderbeat 5mm 35cm Front-Actuated Grip reports

How many FDA reports name Thunderbeat 5mm 35cm Front-Actuated Grip?

1,247 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 (97.4%), injury (1.8%) and other (0.6%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

break (90.8%), detachment of device component (2.2%), device displays incorrect message (1.6%), material separation (1.5%) and detachment of device or device component (1.4%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (99.9%) and voluntary reports (0.1%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Thunderbeat 5mm 35cm Front-Actuated Grip 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.