Cleared Traditional

MODIFIED USSC* POLYSORB SUTURE (K970863) - FDA 510(k) Clearance

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

K970863 · United States Surgical, A Division of Tyco Healthc · General & Plastic Surgery device
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May 1997
Decision
56d
Days
Class 2
Risk

K970863 is an FDA 510(k) clearance for the MODIFIED USSC* POLYSORB SUTURE. Classified as Suture, Absorbable, Synthetic, Polyglycolic Acid (product code GAM), Class II - Special Controls.

Submitted by United States Surgical, A Division of Tyco Healthc (Norwalk, US). The FDA issued a Cleared decision on May 5, 1997 after a review of 56 days - a notably fast clearance 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: 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 United States Surgical, A Division of Tyco Healthc devices

Submission Details

510(k) Number K970863 FDA.gov
FDA Decision Cleared Substantially Equivalent - NSE Converted (SN)
Date Received March 10, 1997
Decision Date May 05, 1997
Days to Decision 56 days
Submission Type Traditional
Review Panel General & Plastic Surgery (SU)
Summary -
Third-party Review No - reviewed directly by FDA
Combination Product No
PCCP Authorized No
Regulatory Context
Review time vs. panel average
59d faster than avg
Panel avg: 115d · This submission: 56d
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 61
Devices cleared under the same product code (GAM) and FDA review panel - the closest regulatory comparables to K970863.
SAFIL SYNTHETIC ABSORBABLE SURGICAL SUTURE
K980704 · Aesculap, Inc. · May 1998
PANACRYL
K974299 · Ethicon, Inc. · Feb 1998
MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC. ORTHOPEDIC TRAYS/KITS/PACKS
K971208 · Medline Industries, Inc. · May 1997
MODIFIED E-PACK PROCEDURE KIT
K970317 · Ethicon, Inc. · Apr 1997
ETHICON ABSORBABLE POLY (L-LACTIDE/GLYCOLIDE) SURGICAL SUTURE, UNDYED
K964345 · Ethicon, Inc. · Dec 1996
SYNTHETIC ABSORBABLE SURGICAL SUTURE
K963253 · United States Surgical, A Division of Tyco Healthc · Oct 1996