The Recall Desk
SevereFDA (Devices)·Z-1383-2021·Announced 2021-04-21

FDA Recalls Covidien Signia Stapler Reloads Due to Safety Interlock Failure

FDA is recalling specific lots of Covidien Signia stapler reloads because a safety interlock may fail, allowing empty reloads to be fired and causing tissue injury.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall is classified as FDA Class II and involves a medical device defect that can cause significant injury, including bleeding, tissue trauma, and the need for open surgery.

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recalling specific lots of the Covidien Signia Small Diameter Curved Tip Intelligent Reload 45 mm Vascular/Thin 8 mm - Long (Item Code: SIGSDL45CTVT). The recall involves 5,928 units distributed worldwide, including nationwide distribution in the United States and in Austria, Belgium, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The recall is due to a potential failure of the device's safety interlock. This interlock is designed to prevent an empty single-use reload from being fired a second time. If the interlock fails and the empty reload is fired, the stapler may cut tissue without deploying staples. This malfunction can result in a failed anastomosis, bleeding, tissue trauma, and the potential need to convert to an open surgical procedure.

Healthcare providers and facilities should check their inventory for the specific lot numbers and UDI codes listed in the recall notice. If the affected devices are found, they should be removed from use and returned to the manufacturer or disposed of according to the instructions provided by the recalling firm.

The recalled product

Product
Covidien Signia Small Diameter Curved Tip Intelligent Reload 45 mm Vascular/Thin 8 mm - Long Item Code: SIGSDL45CTVT
Manufacturer
Covidien, LP

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Part of a larger recall action

This product is one of 3 recalled by Covidien, LP under a single FDA (Devices) recall action. The agency files each product separately, so the size of the action is not visible from this page alone.

See all 3 products in this recall →