Bard TigerTail Flexible Tip Ureteral CathetersRecalls & reported problems across all models
C. R. Bard, Inc. · 4 models in the FDA device registry
Data updated Oct 18, 2026 from official FDA records · Editorial policy
- Adverse event reports
- 37
- Deaths reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 7
- Recalls
- 0
We found 4 models of Bard TigerTail Flexible Tip Ureteral Catheters by C. R. Bard, Inc. in the FDA's device registry (GUDID). Together they are named in 37 adverse event reports in the FDA's MAUDE database, received between Nov 16, 2020 and Mar 20, 2026 — classified as 7 injuries, 30 malfunctions.
The most frequently reported specific device problem is “Material Fragmentation” (10 reports).
Reports come from manufacturers, hospitals and patients and are not verified by the FDA. A report does not prove the device caused the event. Widely used products collect more reports, so totals can't be used to compare products or estimate failure rates. Only reports that name a model's exact device identifier are counted. What reports can and can't tell you · How this data works
Reports received per month, all models
Most reported Bard TigerTail Flexible Tip Ureteral Catheters problems
Device problems
- Material Fragmentation10
- Deformation Due to Compressive Stress7
- Fitting Problem5
- Material Too Rigid or Stiff5
- Nonstandard Device3
- Accessory Incompatible2
- Device Damaged Prior to Receipt by User2
- Material Twisted/Bent2
Patient problems
- No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions28
- Foreign Body In Patient8
- Appropriate Clinical Signs, Symptoms and Conditions Term/Code Not Available2
- No Code Available1
Bard TigerTail Flexible Tip Ureteral Catheters models
4 models, most reported first. Each model has its own page with its reports, recalls and device details.
- Bard® TigerTail™ Flexible Tip Ureteral Catheters 139005CATHETER, UROLOGICAL29 reports
- Bard® TigerTail™ Flexible Tip Ureteral Catheters 139006CATHETER, UROLOGICAL6 reports
- Bard® TigerTail™ Flexible Tip Ureteral Catheters 139004CATHETER, UROLOGICAL1 report
- Bard® TigerTail™ Flexible Tip Ureteral Catheters 139105CATHETER, UROLOGICAL1 report
Recent Bard TigerTail Flexible Tip Ureteral Catheters adverse event reports
The 15 most recent reports across all models, in the reporter's own words as published by the FDA.
InjuryMar 20, 2026Material Fragmentation
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE URETERAL CATHETERS SOFT TIP WAS DISLODGED IN PATIENT'S KIDNEY DURING RETROGRADE PYELOGRAM ON (B)(6) 2026. DEVICE BREAKAGE WENT UNDETECTED AT CONCLUSION OF SURGERY. FOREIGN BODY WAS IDENTIFIED ON SUBSEQUENT IMAGING FOR PATIENT. DOCTOR ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE FOREIGN BODY WHILE COMPLETING PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROLITHOTOMY AND THE FOREIGN BODY WAS PUSHED INTO BLADDER. ON (B)(6) 2026 PATIENT RETURNED TO OPERATING ROOM FOR RETRIEVAL OF FOREIGN BODY AND FULGURATION OF BLEEDING. DOCTOR RETRIEVED FOREIGN BODY AND SENT TO PATHOLOGY. VISUAL IDENTIFICATION INDICATED FOREIGN BODY WAS LIKELY SOFT TIP OF THE URETERAL CATHETER.
Patient problems: Appropriate Clinical Signs, Symptoms and Conditions Term/Code Not Available; Foreign Body In Patient
MAUDE report 24649419 ↗InjuryMar 3, 2026Material Fragmentation
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE PART OF THE BARD POLYURETHANS URETERAL CATHETER CAME OFF INSIDE THE PATIENT AS THE DEVICE FAILED (E.G. BROKE, COULDN'T GET IT TO WORK OR STOPPED WORKING). IT WAS SEEN ON X-RAY AND TAKEN OUT BY THE SURGEON.
Patient problems: Foreign Body In Patient
MAUDE report 24502116 ↗InjuryAug 25, 2025Material Fragmentation; Material Fragmentation
IT WAS REPORTED A FAILURE IN THE BARD POLYURETHANE URETERAL CATHETER REF # 139005RT FLEXIBLE TIP 5 FR X 70CM LOT # REKN1298 EXP 02/28/2029 ON 7/27/25. THIS CATHETER TIP ABOUT 2 CM LONG BROKE DURING SURGERY BUT WAS RETRIEVED DURING THE CASE WITH NO ADVERSE EFFECT.
Patient problems: Foreign Body In Patient
MAUDE report 22883284 ↗MalfunctionJun 24, 2025Deformation Due to Compressive Stress; Deformation Due to Compressive Stress
IT WAS REPORTED THAT BEFORE USE, URETERAL CATHETER WAS CRUSHED FROM THE BEGINNING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE GUIDEWIRE TO PASS THROUGH. THE GUIDEWIRE COULD NOT PASS.
Patient problems: No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions
MAUDE report 22320052 ↗MalfunctionAug 13, 2024Deformation Due to Compressive Stress; Deformation Due to Compressive Stress
IT WAS REPORTED THAT TIGERTAIL URETERAL CATHETER TAILS KINKED OUT OF THE PACKAGE.
Patient problems: No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions
MAUDE report 19972858 ↗MalfunctionJun 17, 2024Deformation Due to Compressive Stress; Deformation Due to Compressive Stress
IT WAS REPORTED THAT BEFORE USE, DOCTOR COULD NOT PASS A WIRE THROUGH THE URETERAL CATHETER DUE TO THE CATHETER KINKED OR HAS A NARROWING AT PROXIMAL END. THEY OPENED A NEW CATHETER.
Patient problems: No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions
MAUDE report 19547217 ↗MalfunctionJun 10, 2024Deformation Due to Compressive Stress; Deformation Due to Compressive Stress
IT WAS REPORTED THAT DURING USE, DOCTOR WANTED TO PASS A WIRE THROUGH THE URETERAL CATHETER BUT FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO PASS, NOTICED THERE WAS A KINK OR NARROWING AT PROXIMAL END OF CATHETER.
Patient problems: No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions
MAUDE report 19497487 ↗InjuryMay 28, 2024Material Fragmentation; Material Fragmentation
IT WAS REPORTED THAT TIGERTAIL 4FR WAS USED FOR SURGERY ON THE RENAL PELVIS OF AN INFANT (1 AND A HALF YEARS OLD). DURING THE OPERATION, THE TIP OF THE TIGER TAIL (BLACK PART) WAS REMOVED AND REMAINED INSIDE THE INFANT'S BODY. THE OPERATION WAS COMPLETED WITH THE TIP REMAINING IN THE BODY DUE TO THE SEVERELY INVASIVE NATURE OF THE PROCEDURE. IT WILL BE REMOVED AT A LATER DATE. IT WAS UNKNOWN WHAT MEDICAL INTERVENTION WAS PROVIDED. PER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED VIA EMAIL ON 18MAY2024, IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE INVASIVENESS DID NOT BECOME MORE SEVERE AFTER USING TIGER TAIL, BUT THE ORIGINAL SURGERY ITSELF WAS HIGHLY INVASIVE.
Patient problems: Foreign Body In Patient
MAUDE report 19407932 ↗MalfunctionApr 26, 2024Deformation Due to Compressive Stress; Deformation Due to Compressive Stress
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE DOCTOR NEEDED A TIGER TAIL URETERAL CATHETER TO PERFORM A RETROGRADE STUDY, NOTICED THE CATHETER HAD A KINK AND COULD NOT USE. PER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VIA EMAIL FROM IBC ON 12APR2024, AS PER CUSTOMER DEVICE WAS PLACED INTO PATIENT.
Patient problems: No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions
MAUDE report 19192659 ↗MalfunctionMar 15, 2024Material Split, Cut or Torn; Material Split, Cut or Torn
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE CUSTOMER HAD 2 BARD 5FR OPEN ENDED CATHETERS WHICH HAD RIP ACROSS THE PLASTIC THEREFORE CONTAMINATING THE SUPPLY. THE LOT NUMBER ON BOTH WAS REHV4176.
Patient problems: No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions
MAUDE report 18912955 ↗MalfunctionJan 2, 2024Accessory Incompatible; Difficult to Advance; Accessory Incompatible; Difficult to Advance
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE CUSTOMER PLACED GUIDEWIRE AND WAS NOT GOING THROUGH ON TWO. PER FOLLOW UP ON 06FEB2024, IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE PATIENT WAS NOT HURT OR INJURED. THE PHYSICAL PRODUCT WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SAMPLE RETURN. IT WAS DISCARDED AFTER USE.
Patient problems: No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions
MAUDE report 18426248 ↗MalfunctionNov 21, 2023Accessory Incompatible; Deformation Due to Compressive Stress; Accessory Incompatible; Deformation Due to Compressive Stress
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE PROXIMAL PORTION OF URETERAL CATHETER WAS KINKED DUE TO HUB BEING TOO TIGHT AND SUBSEQUENTLY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PASS A GUIDEWIRE.
Patient problems: No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions
MAUDE report 18183267 ↗MalfunctionNov 21, 2023Component Misassembled; Component Misassembled
IT WAS REPORTED THAT DOCTOR HAD ISSUES SINCE THEY SWITCHED IT OVER FROM COOK TO BARD. THE TOP OF TIGERTAIL WAS PUT ON ENTIRELY TOO TIGHT, CAUSED IT TO KINK, THE DOCTOR CANNOT PUT A WIRE OR LASER FIBER THROUGH WITHOUT CUTTING TIGERTAIL AND USING IT LIKE THAT. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW WITH EVERY TIGERTAIL THEY PULLED 4 TO 5 TIMES. NEEDED TO CUT TIGERTAIL IN ORDER TO USE THE PRODUCT.
Patient problems: No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions
MAUDE report 18181169 ↗MalfunctionNov 6, 2023Material Too Rigid or Stiff; Separation Failure; Material Too Rigid or Stiff; Separation Failure
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE EVEN AFTER LOOSENING THE CATHETER CONNECTOR, URETERAL CATHETER DID NOT SLIDE OR WAS STUCK. THERE WAS SOMETHING MOVING, BUT THE CATHETER WAS STRETCHED TOO MUCH. IT WAS STATED THAT THE CONNECTOR OF THE URETERAL CATHETER WAS HARD TO OPERATE (LOT#MYHN3050), (LOT#MYHP1895), (LOT#MYHT337).
Patient problems: No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions
MAUDE report 18074230 ↗MalfunctionNov 3, 2023Material Too Rigid or Stiff; Separation Failure; Material Too Rigid or Stiff; Separation Failure
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE EVEN AFTER LOOSENING THE CATHETER CONNECTOR, URETERAL CATHETER DID NOT SLIDE OR WAS STUCK. THERE WAS SOMETHING MOVING, BUT THE CATHETER WAS STRETCHED TOO MUCH. IT WAS STATED THAT THE CONNECTOR OF THE URETERAL CATHETER WAS HARD TO OPERATE (LOT#MYHN3050, LOT#MYHP1895, LOT#MYHT337).
Patient problems: No Clinical Signs, Symptoms or Conditions
MAUDE report 18066502 ↗
Other C. R. Bard, Inc. products
- Bardex I.C. Foley Catheter26 models · 3,607 reports
- Bardex Lubricath Foley Catheter38 models · 1,670 reports · 1 recall
- Bardex Lubri-Sil I.C. All-Silicone Foley Catheter26 models · 1,518 reports
- Magic3 Coude Intermittent Catheter with Sure-Grip Sleeve5 models · 1,466 reports
- Magic3 Intermittent Catheter with Sure-Grip Sleeve14 models · 1,310 reports
- Bardia Foley Catheter Silicone Coated19 models · 1,283 reports
- PureWick Female External Catheter5 models · 1,184 reports
- Bardex All-Silicone Foley Catheter12 models · 1,170 reports
Sources and updates
- Models: FDA GUDID, file dated Oct 13, 2026. Models are grouped by the brand name the manufacturer registered.
- Adverse event reports: FDA MAUDE, file dated Oct 14, 2026
- Recalls: FDA Medical Device Recalls, file dated Oct 16, 2026
- Page last rebuilt: Oct 18, 2026. Data downloaded through openFDA, which notes it is not validated for clinical or regulatory use.
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