Devices/Recall·FDA MedWatch Safety Alerts

Sizing Catheter Recall: Cook Medical Removes Various Centimeter Sizing Catheters

HighPublished May 5, 2026· AI-analyzed May 10, 2026View original FDA source
AI-generated regulatory interpretation. The four sections below are an analyst-style summary produced by an AI model from the original FDA source. Always verify against the source before any regulatory, clinical, or commercial decision.
What happened

Cook Medical has initiated a recall for various Centimeter Sizing Catheters due to an increased risk of marker bands cracking or breaking during angiographic procedures.

Who it affects

Cook Medical and healthcare facilities/clinicians utilizing these specific sizing catheters during angiography. Internal quality and regulatory departments at medical device firms manufacturing similar catheter components are also affected by the safety signal.

Why it matters

The mechanical failure of marker bands during a procedure poses significant patient safety risks, potentially leading to embolization or the need for additional surgical intervention. From a regulatory perspective, this suggests a potential material or manufacturing defect that may require a reassessment of component durability and performance standards for sizing markers.

Practical takeaway

Identify and quarantine affected inventory immediately. Regulatory teams should update risk management files to reflect higher probabilities of marker band failure, while QA should initiate a thorough CAPA to investigate the root cause of the material cracking/breakage.

FDA source material

When the sizing catheters are used during angiographic procedures the marker bands may be at an increased risk of cracking/breakage.

Open in openFDA / FDA.gov
AI-generated interpretation. Always verify critical decisions against the original FDA source. Generated with google/gemini-3-flash-preview.