Reported Reactions

Devices › Electrosurgical, cutting & coagulation & accessories

Device brand name · Electrosurgical cutting & coagulation & accessories

Valleylab: medical device reports filed with FDA

2,010 reports name it, 1992–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Covidien Mfg Dc Boulder. Product code GEI.

2,010
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 59 a year
353
reports, 12 months to August 2026
366 in the 12 months before
81.8%
classified as malfunction
80.1% across the product code
0.3%
classified as death, as reported
6 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 2,010 reports that name the brand "Valleylab" (electrosurgical cutting & coagulation & accessories), received between July 1992 and August 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Covidien Mfg Dc Boulder. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

353 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the 366 of 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 (81.8%), injury (15.5%) and other (2%); 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 self-activation or keying (9.7%), connection problem (8.9%) and fire (7.6%). The patient problems coded most often are burn(s), superficial (first degree) burn and partial thickness (second 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

03059Sep 2021: 4Oct 2021: 4Nov 2021: 7Dec 2021: 122022Jan 2022: 18Feb 2022: 11Mar 2022: 19Apr 2022: 12May 2022: 5Jun 2022: 18Jul 2022: 4Aug 2022: 7Sep 2022: 10Oct 2022: 8Nov 2022: 7Dec 2022: 162023Jan 2023: 13Feb 2023: 20Mar 2023: 12Apr 2023: 9May 2023: 13Jun 2023: 5Jul 2023: 8Aug 2023: 11Sep 2023: 17Oct 2023: 6Nov 2023: 10Dec 2023: 82024Jan 2024: 21Feb 2024: 22Mar 2024: 17Apr 2024: 10May 2024: 18Jun 2024: 39Jul 2024: 31Aug 2024: 36Sep 2024: 59Oct 2024: 28Nov 2024: 26Dec 2024: 182025Jan 2025: 33Feb 2025: 20Mar 2025: 37Apr 2025: 27May 2025: 9Jun 2025: 37Jul 2025: 26Aug 2025: 46Sep 2025: 20Oct 2025: 40Nov 2025: 24Dec 2025: 412026Jan 2026: 33Feb 2026: 34Mar 2026: 30Apr 2026: 26May 2026: 29Jun 2026: 26Jul 2026: 27Aug 2026: 23

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

01803601992: 319921997: 251998: 131999: 2119992000: 252001: 172002: 1420022003: 142004: 102005: 1020052006: 82007: 52008: 620082009: 52010: 32012: 420122013: 82014: 32015: 520152016: 32017: 1622018: 11720182019: 1382020: 892021: 12220212022: 1352023: 1322024: 32520242025: 3602026: 228

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0.3%6
Injury15.5%311
Malfunction81.8%1,644
Other2%40
Not given0.4%9

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report85.8%1,724
Voluntary report4.7%94
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given9.6%192

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
Self-activation or keying1949.7%2.3%
Connection problema connection problem1798.9%0.7%
Fire1537.6%1.8%
Peeled/delaminated1286.4%3%
Arcing1125.6%0.9%
Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off1025.1%3.8%
Energy output problem894.4%3.6%
Device displays incorrect message884.4%2.9%
Device remains activated643.2%1.3%
Melted502.5%1.5%
Failure to deliver energy482.4%1.3%
Flare or flash442.2%0.2%
Electrical shorting391.9%0.5%
Patient-device incompatibilitythe device did not suit the patient341.7%0.1%
Breakthe device broke331.6%14%
Application program problem: parameter calculation error301.5%0.4%
Difficult to removethe device was hard to remove261.3%0.7%
Detachment of device component251.2%3.5%
Inappropriate/inadequate shock/stimulation251.2%0.1%
Failure to calibrate241.2%0.1%

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
Burn(s)a burn52526.1%
Superficial (first degree) burn1437.1%
Partial thickness (second degree) burn1266.3%
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding1045.2%
No patient involvement542.7%
Full thickness (third degree) burn512.5%
Burn, thermal381.9%
Electric shockan electric shock241.2%
Appropriate clinical signs, symptoms and conditions term/code not available190.9%
Skin discoloration170.8%
Erythemaskin redness160.8%
Skin tears140.7%
Peeling110.5%
Blood loss100.5%
Laceration(s)100.5%

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

In context

MeasureValleylabProduct code GEIAll MAUDE reports
Reports2,010118,29026,136,888
Share of that pool—1.7%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports349
Classified as injury15.5%16.7%36.2%
Classified as malfunction81.8%80.1%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer85.8%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%
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%
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 Valleylab reports

How many FDA reports name Valleylab?

2,010 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 353 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (81.8%), injury (15.5%) and other (2%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

self-activation or keying (9.7%), connection problem (8.9%), fire (7.6%), peeled/delaminated (6.4%) and arcing (5.6%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (85.8%) and voluntary reports (4.7%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Valleylab 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.