PlainRecalls

da Vinci S/Si EndoWrist 8mm Monopolar Curved Scissors Model No. 420179-16 Product Usage: EndoWrist Instruments, including scissors, scalpels, forceps, needle drivers and electrocautery are intended for endoscopic manipulation of tissue, including: grasping, cutting, blunt and sharp dissection, approximation, ligation, electrocautery and suturing. The Intuitive Surgical Endoscopic Instrument Control System is intended to assist in the accurate control of Intuitive Surgical Endoscopic Instrume

Reported: September 19, 2018 Initiated: August 15, 2018 #Z-3024-2018 23,064 (S/Si) units

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. issued this FDA Devices recall on September 19, 2018. Classified as Moderate severity (Class II). Approximately 23,064 (S/Si) units are affected. The recall was issued because: Monopolar Curved Scissor (MCS) instruments may be susceptible to developing cracks near the proximal edge of the extens…. This recall notice is sourced from official FDA Devices enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This FDA Devices action (record #Z-3024-2018) was formally reported on September 19, 2018, with the manufacturer initiating the action on August 15, 2018. It is classified under Moderate severity (Class II), with a current status of Ongoing. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. is listed as the recalling firm, operating out of Sunnyvale, CA. Federal records indicate 23,064 (S/Si) units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: Monopolar Curved Scissor (MCS) instruments may be susceptible to developing cracks near the proximal edge of the extension tube. These cracks may fracture the plastic surrounding the instrument shaft, and may cause frag… Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: Worldwide Distribution - US Nationwide in the states of : AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NB, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, …. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by FDA Devices. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 8 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Moderate

Units Affected

23,064 (S/Si)

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product Description

da Vinci S/Si EndoWrist 8mm Monopolar Curved Scissors Model No. 420179-16 Product Usage: EndoWrist Instruments, including scissors, scalpels, forceps, needle drivers and electrocautery are intended for endoscopic manipulation of tissue, including: grasping, cutting, blunt and sharp dissection, approximation, ligation, electrocautery and suturing. The Intuitive Surgical Endoscopic Instrument Control System is intended to assist in the accurate control of Intuitive Surgical Endoscopic Instruments including rigid endoscopes, blunt and sharp endoscopic dissectors, scissors, scalpels, ultrasonic shears, forceps/pick-ups, needle holders, endoscopic retractors, stabilizers, electrocautery and accessories for endoscopic manipulation of tissue, including grasping, cutting, blunt and sharp dissection, approximation, ligation, electrocautery, suturing, and delivery and placement of microwave and cryogenic ablation probes and accessories, during urologic surgical procedures, general laparoscopic surgical procedures, gynecologic laparoscopic surgical procedures, transoral otolaryngology surgical procedures restricted to benign and malignant tumors classified as TI and T2, and for benign base of tongue resection procedures, general thoracoscopic surgical procedures, and thoracoscopically assisted cardiotomy procedures. The system can also be employed with adjunctive mediastinotomy to perform coronary anastomosis during cardiac revascularization. The system is indicated for adult and pediatric use (except for transoral otolaryngology surgical procedures). It is intended to be used by trained physicians in an operating room environment in accordance with the representative, specific procedures set forth in the Professional Instructions for Use.

Reason for Recall

Monopolar Curved Scissor (MCS) instruments may be susceptible to developing cracks near the proximal edge of the extension tube. These cracks may fracture the plastic surrounding the instrument shaft, and may cause fragments of the extension tube to fall, including potentially into the patient.

Details

Recalling Firm
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
Units Affected
23,064 (S/Si)
Distribution
Worldwide Distribution - US Nationwide in the states of : AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NB, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, and WY and the countries of : Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Guadeloupe, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Venezuela
Location
Sunnyvale, CA

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the FDA Devices recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Severity class Moderate (Class II)
Status Ongoing
Recall number Z-3024-2018
Date reported September 19, 2018
Date initiated August 15, 2018
Recalling firm Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
Units affected 23,064 (S/Si)
Distribution Worldwide Distribution - US Nationwide in the states of : AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NB, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, …

Profile values are sourced directly from the official FDA Devices enforcement record. Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Scale of Impact

23,064 (S/Si) units affected — limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units)
Multi-state (10K – 100K units) ✓ This recall
Large-scale (100K – 1M units)
Massive (≥1M units)

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
da Vinci S/Si EndoWrist 8mm Monopolar Curved Scissors Model No. 420179-16 Product Usage: EndoWrist Instruments, including scissors, scalpels, forceps, needle drivers and electrocautery are intended for endoscopic manipulation of tissue, including: grasping, cutting, blunt and sharp dissection, approximation, ligation, electrocautery and suturing. The Intuitive Surgical Endoscopic Instrument Control System is intended to assist in the accurate control of Intuitive Surgical Endoscopic Instruments including rigid endoscopes, blunt and sharp endoscopic dissectors, scissors, scalpels, ultrasonic shears, forceps/pick-ups, needle holders, endoscopic retractors, stabilizers, electrocautery and accessories for endoscopic manipulation of tissue, including grasping, cutting, blunt and sharp dissection, approximation, ligation, electrocautery, suturing, and delivery and placement of microwave and cryogenic ablation probes and accessories, during urologic surgical procedures, general laparoscopic surgical procedures, gynecologic laparoscopic surgical procedures, transoral otolaryngology surgical procedures restricted to benign and malignant tumors classified as TI and T2, and for benign base of tongue resection procedures, general thoracoscopic surgical procedures, and thoracoscopically assisted cardiotomy procedures. The system can also be employed with adjunctive mediastinotomy to perform coronary anastomosis during cardiac revascularization. The system is indicated for adult and pediatric use (except for transoral otolaryngology surgical procedures). It is intended to be used by trained physicians in an operating room environment in accordance with the representative, specific procedures set forth in the Professional Instructions for Use.. Recalled by Intuitive Surgical, Inc.. Units affected: 23,064 (S/Si).
Why was this product recalled?
Monopolar Curved Scissor (MCS) instruments may be susceptible to developing cracks near the proximal edge of the extension tube. These cracks may fracture the plastic surrounding the instrument shaft, and may cause fragments of the extension tube to fall, including potentially into the patient.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the FDA Devices on September 19, 2018. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: Z-3024-2018.
Where was the recalled product distributed?
Distribution: Worldwide Distribution - US Nationwide in the states of : AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NB, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, and WY and the countries of : Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Guadeloupe, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Venezuela.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (Z-3024-2018) against your product. Visit the official FDA Devices website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
Should I stop using a recalled medication or medical device?
Do not stop using a recalled medication or device without consulting your healthcare provider first, as abruptly discontinuing treatment could pose its own health risks. Your doctor can advise on alternatives or whether the recall applies to your specific product lot. Check the recall number and lot information against your product packaging.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

Compare this recall with Endo-Model Replacement Plateau; Item Number: 15-0027/11; →

Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).