DEN980001 · Cranial Technologies, Inc. · MVA · May 29, 1998 · Neurology
Device Facts
Record ID
DEN980001
Device Name
DYNAMIC ORTHOTIC CRANIOPLASTY BAND; DOC BAND
Applicant
Cranial Technologies, Inc.
Product Code
MVA · Neurology
Decision Date
May 29, 1998
Decision
DENG
Submission Type
Post-NSE
Regulation
21 CFR 882.5970
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Therapeutic, Pediatric
Indications for Use
The Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty - DOC™ Band is intended for use on infants from three to eighteen months of age with moderate to severe non-synostotic positional plagiocephaly, including infants with plagiocephalic-, brachycephalic-, and scaphocephalic-shaped heads. The device is intended to apply pressure to prominent regions of an infant's cranium in order to improve cranial symmetry and/or shape.
Device Story
Cranial orthosis; custom-fitted band applied to infant cranium. Device applies pressure to prominent regions of skull to improve symmetry/shape. Used in clinical setting; prescribed by physician. Clinician performs casting and fitting; parents manage daily care/use. Requires frequent skin monitoring (every 3-4 hours) to prevent irritation/breakdown. Potential benefits include correction of cranial deformities; risks include skin irritation, infection, head/neck trauma, restricted cranial growth, asphyxiation, and eye trauma. Device requires ongoing evaluation of head circumference and neurological status.
Clinical Evidence
No clinical data provided. Classification based on review of information submitted in petition and medical literature.
Technological Characteristics
Cranial orthosis; custom-fitted band. Materials must be assessed for biocompatibility for long-term direct skin contact. Prescription-only device.
Indications for Use
Indicated for infants 3-18 months old with moderate to severe non-synostotic positional plagiocephaly (plagiocephalic, brachycephalic, or scaphocephalic head shapes). Contraindicated for infants with synostosis or hydrocephalus.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A cranial orthosis is a device that is intended for medical purposes to apply pressure to prominent regions of an infant's cranium in order to improve cranial symmetry and/or shape in infants from 3 to 18 months of age, with moderate to severe nonsynostotic positional plagiocephaly, including infants with plagiocephalic-, brachycephalic-, and scaphocephalic-shaped heads.
Special Controls
*Classification.* Class II (special controls) (prescription use in accordance with § 801.109 of this chapter, biocompatibility testing, and labeling (contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse events, instructions for physicians and parents)).
In addition to the general controls of the act, the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty - DOC™ Band is subject to the following special controls in order to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness: (1) The sale, distribution and use of this device are restricted to prescription use in accordance with 21 CFR 801.109. (2) The labeling must include (a) contraindications for the use of the device on infants with synostosis or with hydrocephalus; (b) warnings indicating the need: (i) to evaluate head circumference measurements and neurological status at intervals appropriate to the infant’s age and rate of head growth, and to describe steps that should be taken in order to reduce the potential for restriction of cranial growth and possible impairment of brain growth and development; (ii) to evaluate the skin at frequent intervals, e.g., every three to four hours, and to describe steps that should be taken if skin irritation or breakdown occurs; (c) precautions indicating the need: (i) to additionally treat torticollis, if the positional plagiocephaly is associated with torticollis; (ii) to evaluate device fit and to describe the steps that should be taken in order to reduce the potential for restriction of cranial growth, possible impairment of brain growth and development and skin irritation and/or breakdown; (iii) to evaluate the structural integrity of the device and to describe the steps that should be taken to reduce the potential for the device to slip out of place and cause asphyxiation or trauma to the eyes or skin; (d) adverse events, i.e., skin irritation and breakdown that have occurred with the use of this device; (e) clinician’s instructions for casting the infant, for fitting the device, and for care and use of the device; and (f) parents’ instructions for care and use of the device. (3) The materials must be assessed for biocompatibility with testing appropriate for long term direct skin contact.
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration
9200 Corporate Boulevard
Rockville MD 20850
MAY 29 1998
Mr. Timothy R. Littlefield
Director, Research and Development
Cranial Technologies, Inc.
1331 North 7th Street, Suite 170
Phoenix, Arizona 85006
Re: Evaluation of Automatic Class III Designation - Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty - DOC™ Band - K964992
Dated: Undated
Received: March 31, 1998
Dear Mr. Littlefield,
The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed its review of your petition, submitted in accordance with section 513(f)(2) of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, for classification of the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty - DOC™ Band that is intended for use on infants from three to eighteen months of age with moderate to severe non-synostotic positional plagiocephaly, including infants with plagiocephalic-, brachycephalic-, and scaphocephalic-shaped heads. The device is intended to apply pressure to prominent regions of an infant's cranium in order to improve cranial symmetry and/or shape. FDA concludes that this device, and substantially equivalent devices of this generic type, should be classified into class II. This order, therefore, classifies the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty - DOC™ Band, and substantially equivalent devices of this generic type into class II under the generic name, cranial orthosis. This order also identifies the special controls applicable to this device.
FDA identifies this generic type of device as a neurology device under 21 CFR 882.5970, as a cranial orthosis which is a device intended for medical purposes to apply pressure to prominent regions of an infant's cranium in order to improve cranial symmetry and/or shape. It is used to treat infants from three to eighteen months of age, with moderate to severe non-synostotic positional plagiocephaly, including infants with plagiocephalic-, brachycephalic-, and scaphocephalic-shaped heads.
In accordance with section 513(f)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360c(f)(1)) (the act), devices that were not in commercial distribution prior to May 28, 1976 (the date of enactment of the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 (the amendments)), generally referred to as postamendments devices, are classified automatically by statute into class III without any FDA rulemaking process. These devices remain in class III and require premarket
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approval, unless and until the device is classified or reclassified into class I or II or FDA issues an order finding the device to be substantially equivalent, in accordance with section 513(i) of the act (21 U.S.C. 360c(i)), to a predicate device that does not require premarket approval. The agency determines whether new devices are substantially equivalent to previously marketed devices by means of premarket notification procedures in section 510(k) of the act (21 U.S.C. 360(k)) and Part 807 of the FDA regulations (21 CFR 807).
Section 513(f)(2) of the act provides that any person who submits a premarket notification under section 510(k) for a device may, within 30 days after receiving an order classifying the device in class III under section 513(f)(1), request FDA to classify the device under the criteria set forth in section 513(a)(1). FDA shall, within 60 days of receiving such a request, classify the device. This classification shall be the initial classification of the device. Within 30 days after the issuance of an order classifying the device, FDA must publish a notice in the Federal Register classifying the device.
In accordance with section 513(f)(1) of the act, FDA issued an order on March 12, 1998, automatically classifying the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty - DOC™ Band in class III, because it was not within a type of device which was introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce for commercial distribution before May 28, 1976, which was subsequently reclassified into class I or class II. On March 31, 1998, FDA filed your petition requesting classification of the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty - DOC™ Band into class II. The petition was submitted under section 513(f)(2) of the act. In order to classify the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty - DOC™ Band into class I or II, it is necessary that the proposed class have sufficient regulatory controls to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device for its intended use.
After review of the information submitted in the petition and in the medical literature, FDA has determined that the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty - DOC™ Band, intended for use in infants from three to eighteen months of age with moderate to severe non-synostotic positional plagiocephaly, including infants with plagiocephalic-, brachycephalic-, and scaphocephalic-shaped heads, to apply pressure to prominent regions of an infant's cranium in order to improve cranial symmetry and/or shape, can be classified in class II with the establishment of special controls. FDA believes that class II special controls provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device.
FDA has identified the following risks to health associated with this type of device: (a) skin irritation, skin breakdown and subsequent infection due to excessive pressure on the skin; (b) head and neck trauma due to alteration of the functional center of mass of the head and the additional weight of the device especially with an infant who is still developing the ability to control his/her head and neck movements; (c) impairment of brain growth and development from mechanical restriction of cranial growth; (d) asphyxiation due to mechanical failure, poor
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fit, and/or excessive weight that alters the infant’s ability to lift the head; (e) eye trauma due to mechanical failure, poor construction and/or inappropriate fit; (f) contact dermatitis due to the materials used in the construction of the device.
In addition to the general controls of the act, the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty - DOC™ Band is subject to the following special controls in order to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness: (1) The sale, distribution and use of this device are restricted to prescription use in accordance with 21 CFR 801.109. (2) The labeling must include (a) contraindications for the use of the device on infants with synostosis or with hydrocephalus; (b) warnings indicating the need: (i) to evaluate head circumference measurements and neurological status at intervals appropriate to the infant’s age and rate of head growth, and to describe steps that should be taken in order to reduce the potential for restriction of cranial growth and possible impairment of brain growth and development; (ii) to evaluate the skin at frequent intervals, e.g., every three to four hours, and to describe steps that should be taken if skin irritation or breakdown occurs; (c) precautions indicating the need: (i) to additionally treat torticollis, if the positional plagiocephaly is associated with torticollis; (ii) to evaluate device fit and to describe the steps that should be taken in order to reduce the potential for restriction of cranial growth, possible impairment of brain growth and development and skin irritation and/or breakdown; (iii) to evaluate the structural integrity of the device and to describe the steps that should be taken to reduce the potential for the device to slip out of place and cause asphyxiation or trauma to the eyes or skin; (d) adverse events, i.e., skin irritation and breakdown that have occurred with the use of this device; (e) clinician’s instructions for casting the infant, for fitting the device, and for care and use of the device; and (f) parents’ instructions for care and use of the device. (3) The materials must be assessed for biocompatibility with testing appropriate for long term direct skin contact.
Section 510(m) of the act provides that FDA may exempt a class II device from the premarket notification requirements under section 510(k) of the act, if FDA determines that premarket notification is not necessary to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device. FDA has determined premarket notification is necessary to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device and, therefore, the device is not exempt from the premarket notification requirements. Thus, persons who intend to market this device must submit to FDA a premarket notification prior to marketing the device.
A notice announcing this classification order will be published in the Federal Register. A copy of this order and supporting documentation are on file in the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., rm. 1-23, Rockville, MD 20857 and are available for inspection between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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FDA also requests that you submit final labeling to us as soon as possible and before commercial distribution of your device. If you have any questions concerning this classification order, please contact Mr. James Dillard, Deputy Director, Division of General and Restorative Devices, at (301) 594-1184.
Sincerely yours,

Susan Alpert, Ph.D., M.D.
Director
Division of General and
Restorative Devices
Office of Device Evaluation
Center for Devices and
Radiological Health
Two short videos show you everything — or skip straight to the written tutorial if you'd rather read. You can reopen this any time from the Tutorial button in the top bar.
Part 1 — Search, results, and everyday workflows 16 min
Part 2 — Embeddings: the galaxy map 3 min
1. Search: exact and fuzzy
Type a phrase like "coronary artery calcification" into the search box. You get two kinds of results. Exact results match the literal phrase — prefix searches work ("coronary artery calcificati") but suffix searches do not. Fuzzy results match on the meaning and intent of your phrase rather than the exact words, and are sorted by relevance score. Hover over the Exact or Fuzzy badge on any row to see exactly why it matched.
Use the checkboxes above the results to narrow: SaMD keeps only software-only devices, AI / ML keeps only devices with AI.
Exact vs. fuzzy search: what's the difference?
Exact matches on the literal phrase (prefix search works, suffix does not). Fuzzy matches on the meaning and intent of the phrase rather than the exact words. Hover over the badge on any row to see why it matched.
You search "coronary artery calcification" and want only software devices with AI. What two filters do you apply?
Narrow by SaMD (software-only devices), then narrow by AI/ML (devices with AI).
2. The results table
Scroll right in the results table. The intended use is extracted for you — no need to open the PDF. The device story gives a high-level snapshot of what the device does and how it's used. The AI Performance sub-table shows each output name, acceptance criteria, observed values, and development/test dataset descriptions — the same format Innolitics uses for regulatory strategy outputs, and the fastest high-level fingerprint of an AI device. It is AI-generated but has been very reliable in practice.
Where do you find a device's intended use without opening the PDF?
Scroll right in the search results table. The intended use column is extracted for you; no need to dig into the 510(k) summary PDF.
What does the AI Performance sub-table show, and why is it useful?
Output name, acceptance criteria, observed values, development dataset description, and test dataset description. It's the same format we use for regulatory strategy output and Fast 510(k) input, and the fastest high-level fingerprint of an AI device. AI-generated but reliable in practice.
3. Judging fuzzy relevance
Fuzzy results trail off in relevance as you scroll. Use three signals to decide how far down to go: the fuzzy badge explanations, the intended use column, and whether your target output (e.g., Cobb angle) still appears in the AI Performance sub-table. Once it stops appearing, you're past the relevant zone. A top hit with a low score (~0.4) and a stretched explanation is a hint the closest predicates are far away — the project may be headed for De Novo. Note the fuzzy search is a pattern match: it doesn't handle negation ("not") well, and hardware devices can appear — filter by SaMD/AI ML to cut them.
How do you judge how far down fuzzy search results to go?
Use the relevancy signals: the fuzzy badge explanations, the intended use column, and whether the target output (e.g., Cobb angle) still appears in the AI Performance sub-table. Once it stops appearing, results are trailing off in relevancy.
4. Device detail page: chat and citations
Click a device name to open its detail page: device facts on the left, a chat window on the right. Ask something like "Describe the training data". The answer carries little citation bubbles — click one to jump to the highlighted passage in the source PDF, so you can verify every AI answer against the document. There's also a Download PDF button for sharing.
How do you verify an AI chat answer on the device detail page?
Click the citation bubbles to jump to the relevant highlight in the source document.
Reading rule for every project: how many summaries do you read in full?
At least the three most relevant 510(k) or De Novo summaries, in full. After that, use targeted chat questions to confirm your memory quickly. The tool supports this professional habit — it doesn't replace it.
5. Side-by-side comparison
Select multiple rows in the results table (aim for under ~10), then open the PDF Viewer tab. Ask one question — it goes to all selected devices in parallel, each with citations. This is the fastest way to compare and contrast devices: training data, PCCP scope, how they handled adding new scanners, and so on.
What does the side-by-side PDF viewer mode do?
Select multiple devices, open the PDF viewer tab, and ask one question (e.g., "Describe the training data"). It queries all selected devices simultaneously with citations, so you can compare and contrast quickly.
6. Collections
With rows selected, go to the Collections tab and create a labeled collection (e.g., "Cobb Angle Project"). Reload that selection any time — before a client call, pull up the collection and ask questions across all of its devices at once.
How do you save a set of selected devices for later use?
Select the rows, go to the Collections tab, and create a labeled collection (e.g., "Cobb Angle Project"). You can reload the selection anytime and carry it into the PDF viewer and other tabs that support selections.
7. Product codes and the regulations tree
Click a product code in the results to jump to it in the regulations tree — identification text, sibling product codes, and devices you can open in a PDF viewer on the right. Click a regulation number to see its identification, special controls, and related product codes. You can also search by product code or regulation number at the top of the tree. Always read the special controls if any exist for your device — it broadens your search and sharpens pre-kickoff research.
What can you do from the regulations tree view?
Browse product codes and regulation numbers, read the identification text and special controls, browse sibling product codes, open device PDFs on the right, and search by product code or regulation number at the top of the tree.
8. Chart view
Click Show Chart and segment by regulation number (or product code) to see which regulations dominate your result set. Clicking a regulation takes you into the regulations tree. Great for spotting that most matches are, say, hardware laparoscopic devices — a cue to go back and filter.
How do you see which regulations dominate a search result set?
Click "Show Chart" and segment by Regulation Number. Clicking a regulation takes you to the regulations tree.
9. The predicate graph
Open the Predicates tab for a family-tree view of predicate relationships. Click a node to trace its parents and children; selections from search carry over pre-selected. Commonly predicated devices are worth reading — a lot of people predicated them for a reason. The visual lineage is also handy on client calls, e.g. to show how a predicate family evolved and justify why your predicate still holds.
In the predicate graph, why are commonly predicated devices worth reading?
A lot of people predicated them for a reason. Clicking a node traces parents and children, and selections from search carry over pre-selected.
10. Embeddings: the galaxy map
The Embeddings tab plots every matching document in a 2-D "galaxy map" where semantically similar devices cluster together. Hover or click clusters to explore, and let AI label the clusters for you. Embeddings beat product codes for grouping: two devices can carry different product codes (LLZ vs. QIH) yet do the same thing — the embedding captures the meaning of the intended use and device story. This is also exactly how retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) works under the hood, and it makes a great visual on client calls.
Try it yourself
Head to the search page and work through a few of these AI/ML fuzzy searches to build intuition: perivascular fat on CT · aortic valve calcification opportunistic screening on noncontrast CT · breast cancer prediction on digital pathology slides · autism detection · gestational age prediction · a hearing aid that can also detect a pulse · foundation model based analysis of ECG · large language models · penetration test. Watch how the relevance scores, intended use, and AI Performance tables tell you when results stop being meaningful.