Use caution Medical device recall · FDA · Published March 24, 2023

Richard Wolf FLEX Biopsy Forceps May Not Open When Endoscope Bent

Richard Wolf recalls FLEX Biopsy Forceps 5FR WL 550MM with potential inability to open jaws when endoscope shaft bends 90 degrees. Affected units have specific lot numbers.

Plain-English summary generated from official FDA data by GovInfoNow · Published by Carlos Caban · How we make summaries

🇺🇸 FDA recall #Z-1423-2023Medical device Richard Wolf ›

Use caution until it’s fixed

Potentially unable to open forceps jaws when the endoscope shaft is bent by about 90 degrees. If, in addition, the proximal forceps shaft is bent, the forceps can no longer be opened or restrictions begin even with a slight bending of the endoscope.

Take action

Contact the company

Recalling firmRichard Wolf GmbHPforzheimer Str. 32 · Knittlingen, Germany

✎ GovInfoNow plain-language explainer

Richard Wolf is recalling FLEX Biopsy Forceps 5FR WL 550MM because they might not open properly if the endoscope shaft bends. This could cause problems during medical procedures if the forceps can't be opened. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/58653-richard-wolf-flex-biopsy-forceps-may-not-open-when-endoscope.

Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/58653-richard-wolf-flex-biopsy-forceps-may-not-open-when-endoscope · Updated August 19, 2026 · FDA enforcement record: FDA #Z-1423-2023

Cite this page

“Richard Wolf FLEX Biopsy Forceps May Not Open When Endoscope Bent.” GovInfoNow, updated August 19, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/58653-richard-wolf-flex-biopsy-forceps-may-not-open-when-endoscope. Based on FDA recall #Z-1423-2023 (https://api.fda.gov/device/enforcement.json?search=recall_number:%22Z-1423-2023%22&limit=1).

The FDA announced on March 24, 2023, that Richard Wolf GmbH is recalling FLEX. BIOPSY FORCEPS 5FR WL 550MM because the device may fail to open when the endoscope shaft is bent. The recall involves 342 units distributed worldwide.

How to tell if you have it

Brand: Richard Wolf
Product: FLEX. BIOPSY FORCEPS 5FR WL 550MM
Product Number: 829.051
UDI/DI: 04055207009635
Lot Numbers: 4500377840, 4500377840, 4500377840, 4500376297, 4500371970, 4500363663, 4500363098, 4500361404, 4500353562, 4500349168, 4500347747, 4500338560, 4500333999
Distribution: Worldwide

The hazard

According to the FDA, the forceps may be unable to open when the endoscope shaft is bent by about 90 degrees. If the proximal forceps shaft is also bent, the forceps can no longer be opened or restrictions begin with slight bending.

Context

GovInfoNow's records show Richard Wolf GmbH has had six other recalls on record since July 24, 2017. Other recent recalls of similar products include Boston Scientific Radial Jaw 4 Biopsy Forceps (June 30, 2026), Medline Forceps (Nov. 13, 2025), and Boston Scientific Radial Jaw 4 Jumbo Biopsy Forceps (June 30, 2026).

How to tell if you have this one

Check for the product number 829.051 and lot numbers listed: 4500377840, 4500377840, 4500377840, 4500376297, 4500371970, 4500363663, 4500363098, 4500361404, 4500353562, 4500349168, 4500347747, 4500338560, 4500333999.

Brand
Richard Wolf
Category
Medical device

FDA recall event · 4 products

All 4 products in this recall

FDA lists each product line separately under one recall event. Check your product description, lot or code numbers against each row. Every row shares the hazard and remedy on this page.

Classification
Class II
Status
Ongoing
Distribution
Worldwide distribution - US Nationwide and the countries of United Arab Emirates (AE), Argentina (AR), Austria (AT), Belgium (BE), BO, Brazil (BR), Canada (CA), Chile (CL), Czech Republic (CZ), Germany (DE), Denmark (DK), Ecuador (EC), Spain (ES), Finland (FI), France (FR), Greece (GR), Hong Kong (HK), Croatia (HR), Ireland (IE), India (IN), Italy (IT), Jordan (JO), Japan (JP), South Korea (KR), Kuwait (KW), Kazakhstan (KZ), LB, Lithuania (LT), Marzocco (MA), Mexico (MX), Netherlands (NL), Norway (NO), New Zealand (NZ), Oman (OM), Pakistan (PK), Poland (PL), Palestine (PS), Portugal (PT), Qatar (QA), Romania (RO), Serbia (RS), Russian Federation (RU), Saudi Arabia (SA), Slovenia (SI), Slovakia (SK), Thailand (TH), Turkey (TR).

Recall number	Product, codes & lots	Quantity
Z-1422-2023	FLEX. GRASP. FORCEPS 5FR WL 550MM, Product Number 828.051; UDI/DI: 04055207009574; Lot Numbers: 4500377299, 4500377299, 4500371834, 4500374645, 4500369724, 4500367397, 4500363662, 4500363096, 4500359201, 4500356582, 4500353558, 4500350415, 4500347760, 4500345769, 4500341314, 4500341314, 4500338447, 4500336245, 4500334737, 4500334002	838 units
Z-1423-2023	FLEX. BIOPSY FORCEPS 5FR WL 550MM, Product Number 829.051; UDI/DI: 04055207009635; Lot Numbers: 4500377840, 4500377840, 4500377840, 4500376297, 4500371970, 4500363663, 4500363098, 4500361404, 4500353562, 4500349168, 4500347747, 4500338560, 4500333999	342 units
Z-1424-2023	FLEX. GRASP. FORCEPS 5FR WL 550MM, Product Number 8735.685; UDI/DI: 04055207020265; Lot Numbers: 4500377618, 4500377296, 4500374239, 4500371819, 4500367415, 4500363102, 4500367414, 4500363666, 4500363102, 4500359744, 4500357831, 4500354319, 4500352415, 4500349678, 4500344619, 4500347121, 4500349678, 4500348605, 4500344619, 4500347121, 4500344619, 4500341300, 4500338554, 4500337773, 4500335110	319 units
Z-1425-2023	FLEX. GRASP. FORCEPS 6.6FR WL 550MM, Product Number 8736.685; UDI/DI: 04055207020289; Lot Numbers: 4500377853, 4500371811, 4500377297, 4500371813, 4500367418, 4500367417, 4500363668, 4500363104, 4500359203, 4500356576, 4500353566, 4500352416, 4500350353, 4500347761, 4500347761, 4500346491, 4500344550, 4500341309, 4500338558, 4500334010	280 units

Based on the official FDA remedy

What to do — step by step

Check Product Details
Verify the product number 829.051 and lot numbers listed in the recall notice.

Where it went and when

Where it was distributed

Distributed nationwide, and outside the U.S.

FDA distribution: “Worldwide distribution - US Nationwide and the countries of United Arab Emirates (AE), Argentina (AR), Austria (AT), Belgium (BE), BO, Brazil (BR), Canada (CA), Chile (CL), Czech Republic (CZ), Germany (DE), Denmark (DK), Ecuador (EC),…” States read from FDA’s own wording; “not listed” means the notice does not name it.

Distributed nationwide, and outside the U.S.

Recall timeline

FDA published this recall 40 days after the firm started it.

Mar 24, 2023Firm started the recall
Apr 24, 2023FDA classified it Class II
May 3, 2023Published in FDA’s Enforcement Report

Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.

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Link to this recall

<a href="https://govinfonow.com/recall/58653-richard-wolf-flex-biopsy-forceps-may-not-open-when-endoscope">Richard Wolf FLEX Biopsy Forceps May Not Open When Endoscope Bent (GovInfoNow)</a>

Where this comes from

The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official FDA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.

Official source: FDA Recall #Z-1423-2023 (March 24, 2023) — FDA publishes no per-recall page; this is the official machine-readable enforcement record. Search FDA recalls for Z-1423-2023 to see it in context.
Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on August 19, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the FDA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official FDA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.