Cleared Traditional

SYNTHETIC ABSORBABLE SUTURE (K944937) - FDA 510(k) Clearance

Class II General & Plastic Surgery device cleared through predicate-based substantial equivalence - typically does not require clinical trials.

K944937 · Johnson & Johnson International · General & Plastic Surgery device
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May 1995
Decision
225d
Days
Class 2
Risk

K944937 is an FDA 510(k) clearance for the SYNTHETIC ABSORBABLE SUTURE. Classified as Suture, Absorbable, Synthetic, Polyglycolic Acid (product code GAM), Class II - Special Controls.

Submitted by Johnson & Johnson International (Raynham, US). The FDA issued a Cleared decision on May 19, 1995 after a review of 225 days - an extended review cycle.

This device falls under the General & Plastic Surgery FDA review panel, regulated under 21 CFR 878.4493 - the FDA general and plastic surgery device framework. The Traditional 510(k) pathway establishes clearance through substantial equivalence to a legally marketed predicate device, without requiring clinical trial data.

Device pattern: Standard predicate-based submission. Standard predicate reliance. This clearance follows a standard predicate-based equivalence path within the General & Plastic Surgery review framework, consistent with the majority of Class II 510(k) submissions.

View all Johnson & Johnson International devices

Submission Details

510(k) Number K944937 FDA.gov
FDA Decision Cleared Substantially Equivalent - Traditional 510(k) (SESE)
Date Received October 06, 1994
Decision Date May 19, 1995
Days to Decision 225 days
Submission Type Traditional
Review Panel General & Plastic Surgery (SU)
Summary Statement
Third-party Review No - reviewed directly by FDA
Regulatory Context
Review time vs. panel average
110d slower than avg
Panel avg: 115d · This submission: 225d
Pathway characteristics
Predicate-based equivalence. No clinical trials required.

Device Classification

Product Code GAM Suture, Absorbable, Synthetic, Polyglycolic Acid
Device Class Class 2 - Special Controls
CFR Regulation 21 CFR 878.4493
What this classification means

Class II devices require demonstration of substantial equivalence to a legally marketed predicate device. This pathway does not require clinical trials - it relies on engineering equivalence and performance data. Most General & Plastic Surgery devices follow this clearance model.

Regulatory Peers - GAM Suture, Absorbable, Synthetic, Polyglycolic Acid

All 62
Devices cleared under the same product code (GAM) and FDA review panel - the closest regulatory comparables to K944937.
USSC MONOFILAMENT POLYSORB SUTURE
K945285 · United States Surgical, A Division of Tyco Healthc · Aug 1995
USSC POLYSORB SUTURE
K951520 · United States Surgical, A Division of Tyco Healthc · Aug 1995
VICRYO* (POLYGLACTIN 910) BRAIDED COATED AND UNCOATED SYNTHETIC ABSORBABLE SUTURE, DYED & UNDYED, BRAIDED AND MONOFILAMT
K946271 · Ethicon, Inc. · Jun 1995
VICRYL RAPIDE SUTURE
K944110 · Ethicon, Inc. · Jan 1995
ETHICON* MONOCRYL (POLIGLECAPRONE 25) SUTURE
K930772 · Ethicon, Inc. · Jan 1994
SUTURES
K930360 · Ethicon, Inc. · Dec 1993