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Devices › Instrument, ultrasonic surgical

Device brand name · Instrument ultrasonic surgical

Ultracision Harmonic Ace: medical device reports filed with FDA

9,358 reports name it, 2005–2017. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Ethicon Endo-Surgery. Product code LFL.

9,358
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 440 a year
0
reports, 12 months to August 2026
0 in the 12 months before
98.5%
classified as malfunction
94.9% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
4 reports · not verified by FDA

9,358 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Ultracision Harmonic Ace" (instrument ultrasonic surgical); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Ethicon Endo-Surgery; received from April 2005 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 (98.5%) and injury (1%); across all instrument, ultrasonic surgical reports (product code LFL) death is recorded in 0.1% and malfunction in 94.9%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are break (60%), device displays incorrect message (22.2%) and detachment of device component (15.8%). The patient problems coded most often are foreign body, removal of, bleeding and other (for use when an appropriate patient code cannot be identified). 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 Ultracision Harmonic Ace was received in the five years to August 2026; the latest was received in October 2017.

By year received

01,0152,0292005: 11820052006: 7132007: 11520072009: 32011: 57820112012: 9242013: 1,57320132014: 2,0292015: 1,38020152016: 1,1532017: 7722017

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%4
Injury1%95
Malfunction98.5%9,221
Other0%0
Not given0.4%38

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%9,355
Voluntary report0%2
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%1

Grey bar: all 68,457 reports carrying product code LFL. 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 broke5,61960%20.5%
Device displays incorrect message2,07622.2%10.7%
Detachment of device component1,47515.8%6.9%
Component falling1,03011%3.9%
Replace6607.1%13.3%
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly4304.6%2.7%
Device inoperablethe device could not be used3253.5%3.1%
Device issuea problem with the device2542.7%3.9%
Noise, audible2392.6%1%
Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off1601.7%6.8%
Tip breakage1001.1%1.2%
Melted891%1.4%
Failure to cut680.7%1.1%
Difficult or delayed activation650.7%2.5%
Mechanical problema mechanical problem590.6%1%
Failure of device to self-test550.6%0.2%
Noise550.6%2%
Component missing490.5%0.5%
System fails to activate460.5%0.7%
Device stops intermittentlythe device stopped now and then430.5%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
Foreign body, removal of1,12312%
Bleeding320.3%
Other (for use when an appropriate patient code cannot be identified)250.3%
Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient240.3%
No patient involvement210.2%
Surgical procedure, additional190.2%
Surgical procedure160.2%
Laparotomy150.2%
Nonresorbable materials, unretrieved in body140.1%
Burn(s)a burn130.1%
Device embedded in tissue or plaque130.1%
Hepatitis90.1%
Therapy/non-surgical treatment, additional90.1%
Blood loss80.1%
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding80.1%

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

In context

MeasureUltracision Harmonic AceProduct code LFLAll MAUDE reports
Reports9,35868,45726,136,888
Share of that pool—13.7%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports019
Classified as injury1%4.5%36.2%
Classified as malfunction98.5%94.9%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%96.8%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 LFL

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Harmonic Ace Plus 7 Adv Hemostasis 366,8315370%
Harmonic Hd 1000i Shears 36cm Shaft5,0331960%
Harmonic Lap 5mm Shear 36cm2,720880%
Harmonic Ace 36 Cm2,59800.1%
Harmonic Ace 36cm W Erg Handle2,34100%
Sonicision1,8091390.2%
Harmonic Scalpel Ultracision Hand Piece1,67700.1%
SONICBEAT 5 mm, 35 cm, Front-actuated Grip1,6403730%
Harmonic ACE1,6366800.1%
Harmonic 1100 Shears 36cm1,4342030.1%
Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel Hand Piece1,43000%
Harmonic Scalpel Hand Piece1,365230%
Ultracision Surg Dev Curved Shears Endo1,58600%
Harmonic Scalpel Ultracision Laparosonic Coagulating She1,06700.1%
Harmonic Ace + 795700.2%

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 Ultracision Harmonic Ace reports

How many FDA reports name Ultracision Harmonic Ace?

9,358 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 (98.5%) and injury (1%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

break (60%), device displays incorrect message (22.2%), detachment of device component (15.8%), component falling (11%) and replace (7.1%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (100%) and voluntary reports (0%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Ultracision Harmonic Ace 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.