Cleared Traditional

K946173 - STAINLESS STEEL

K946173 is the FDA 510(k) clearance for STAINLESS STEEL by Ethicon, Inc.. It is a Class 2 General & Plastic Surgery device (product code GAQ) cleared through the Traditional 510(k) pathway after a 21-day FDA review.

K946173 · Ethicon, Inc. · General & Plastic Surgery device
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Jan 1995
Decision
21d
Days
Class 2
Risk

K946173 is an FDA 510(k) clearance for the STAINLESS STEEL, GUT, POLY (GLYCOLIDE/L-LACTIDE) POLYAMIDE, POLYPROPYLENE, PO.... Classified as Suture, Nonabsorbable, Steel, Monofilament And Multifilament, Sterile (product code GAQ), Class II - Special Controls.

Submitted by Ethicon, Inc. (Somerville, US). The FDA issued a Cleared decision on January 9, 1995 after a review of 21 days - a notably fast clearance cycle.

This device falls under the General & Plastic Surgery FDA review panel, regulated under 21 CFR 878.4495 - 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: Fast-track predicate clearance. Standard predicate reliance. The short review cycle indicates strong predicate alignment - the FDA found sufficient equivalence without extended technical review.

View all Ethicon, Inc. devices

Submission Details

510(k) Number K946173 FDA.gov
FDA Decision Cleared Substantially Equivalent - Traditional 510(k) (SESE)
Date Received December 19, 1994
Decision Date January 09, 1995
Days to Decision 21 days
Submission Type Traditional
Review Panel General & Plastic Surgery (SU)
Summary Summary PDF
Third-party Review No - reviewed directly by FDA
Combination Product No
PCCP Authorized No
Regulatory Context
Review time vs. panel average
94d faster than avg
Panel avg: 115d · This submission: 21d
Pathway characteristics
Predicate-based equivalence. No clinical trials required.

Device Classification

Product Code GAQ Suture, Nonabsorbable, Steel, Monofilament And Multifilament, Sterile
Device Class Class 2 - Special Controls
CFR Regulation 21 CFR 878.4495
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 - GAQ Suture, Nonabsorbable, Steel, Monofilament And Multifilament, Sterile

All 11
Devices cleared under the same product code (GAQ) and FDA review panel - the closest regulatory comparables to K946173.
SYNTHES (USA) TITANIUM WIRE
K041333 · Synthes (Usa) · Aug 2004
STEELEX STERNUM SET
K023411 · Aesculap, Inc. · Dec 2002
STAINLESS STEEL SUTURES, FLEXON STEEL SUTURES (STAINLESS)
K955723 · Davis & Geck, Inc. · Feb 1996
SURGICAL SUTURE, NONABSORABLE STAINLESS STEEL
K930740 · Deknatel, Inc. · Jul 1994
ETHI-PACK* SURGICAL STAINLESS STEEL SUTURE
K931271 · Ethicon, Inc. · Jan 1994
STAINLESS 22-13-5 SUTURE WIRE
K873645 · Zimmer, Inc. · Nov 1987