The Active Knee® System is indicated to be used only with bone cement in patients suffering from the following conditions: - Noninflammatory degenerative joint disease including osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis, or avascular necrosis. - Inflammatory degenerative joint disease including rheumatoid arthritis. - Correction of functional deformity such as varus, valgus, or flexion deformities. - Revision procedures where other treatments or devices have failed. - Treatment of fractures that are unmanageable using other techniques. The device is intended for single use only.
Device Story
Modular knee prosthesis system consisting of femoral component, tibial baseplate, meniscal insert (standard or ultracongruent), and patella. Designed for cemented fixation in total knee arthroplasty. Femoral component features anatomic, asymmetric design with trochlear groove for patellar articulation. Tibial baseplate includes central keel for fixation. Meniscal inserts provide semi-constrained condylar articulation. Used by orthopedic surgeons in clinical/surgical settings to replace damaged knee joints. Benefits include restoration of joint function, correction of deformities, and pain relief for patients with degenerative joint disease or fractures. Output is a physical implant system that replaces the natural knee joint surface.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Testing performed per FDA Draft Guidance for Cemented, Semi-Constrained Total Knee Prosthesis (1993/1998). Evaluated range of motion, constraint, surface roughness, contact areas, surface stress, lateral subluxation resistance, and fatigue strength.
Technological Characteristics
Materials: Cast Cobalt-Chromium-Molybdenum alloy (ASTM F75) for metal components; Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (ASTM F648) for inserts. Design: Modular, semi-constrained, cemented. Sterilization: Gamma radiation (25-42 kGy) for metal; Ethylene Oxide for polyethylene.
Indications for Use
Indicated for patients with non-inflammatory degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis, avascular necrosis), inflammatory degenerative joint disease (rheumatoid arthritis), functional deformities (varus, valgus, flexion), revision needs, or unmanageable fractures. Contraindicated for patients with acute/chronic infections, severe muscular/nervous/vascular disease, defective bone structures, or patients <60 years where osteotomy is viable.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A knee joint patellofemorotibial polymer/metal/polymer semi-constrained cemented prosthesis is a device intended to be implanted to replace a knee joint. The device limits translation and rotation in one or more planes via the geometry of its articulating surfaces. It has no linkage across-the-joint. This generic type of device includes prostheses that have a femoral component made of alloys, such as cobalt-chromium-molybdenum, and a tibial component or components and a retropatellar resurfacing component made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. This generic type of device is limited to those prostheses intended for use with bone cement (§ 888.3027).
Predicate Devices
Sulzer Orthopedics Natural-Knee II Constrained Knee System (K973412)
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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K021740
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# 510(k) Summary
| Submitted by: | dj Orthopedics, LLC<br>2985 Scott Street<br>Vista, CA 92083-8339 U.S.A.<br>Tel: (760) 734-3122<br>Fax: (760) 734-5544 |
|----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Date: | May 24, 2002 |
| Submitted by: | Nora C.R. York, Regulatory Affairs Manager |
| Trade Name: | Alaron Surgical Active Knee® System |
| Classification Name: | Prosthesis, knee joint, patellofemorotibial.<br>polymer/metal /polymer semi-constrained<br>cemented prosthesis - 888.3560 (87JWH) |
| Common/Usual Name: | Knee Prosthesis, Partially Constrained |
## Substantially Equivalence:
The Active Knee® System is substantially equivalent to the Sulzer Orthopedics Natural-Knee II Constrained Knee System, K973412.
## Product Description:
## Device System
The Active Knee System is a modular knee system consisting of a femoral component, a standard meniscal insert, an ultracongruent meniscal insert (tibial insert), a patella, and a tibial baseplate.
## Femoral Component
The femoral component is an anatomic, asymmetrically designed prosthesis manufactured from cast cobalt chromium/molybdenum (ASTM F75). The condylar prosthesis was designed for optimal weight transmission and flexion as well as giving maximum contact area to reduce material stress on the meniscal The design incorporates a trochlear groove, which conforms to the insert. geometry of the patellar prosthesis and allows for sliding articulation. From the medial/lateral view, the condylar geometry has a radial inward and upward sweep in the coronal plane, which assists in maximizing the contact area.
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021740
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sweep in the coronal plane, which assists in maximizing the contact area. Anterior and posterior cuts are not parallel. There is a two (2) degree flaring, encouraging loading distally.
The interior box of the cemented femur is designed with a recess into the distal end of the prosthesis to enhance polvmethylmethacrvlate (PMMA) fixation.
The femoral components are available in seven (7) sizes: small medium. regular-narrow, regular, large-narrow and extra large in both a right and left implant.
#### Tibial Baseplates
The tibial baseplates are symmetrical . The baseplates are manufactured from grit-blasted cobalt chromium/molybdenum (ASTM F75). The baseplates are available in ten (10) sizes, small, medium, regular, large and extra-large, in both a narrow and a wide version.
The inferior surface of the tibial baseplate is grit blasted to further enhance cement fixation. A central keel on the inferior surface allows for insertion onto the tibia.
#### Standard Meniscal Insert (Tibial Insert)
The standard meniscal insert is symmetrical and available in seven (7) sizes, small, medium, regular narrow, large, large, large narrow, extra-large, of five (5) different thickness of each (6mm, 7.5mm, 11.5mm, 13.5mm). The minimum polyethylene thickness is 6mm. The meniscal insert is designed with a clip-on mechanism on the underside to secure a firm seat in the capture feature of the tibial tray.
The standard meniscal insert is a semi-constrained condylar design and is manufactured from Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPe, ASTM F-468). Additional posterior stability can be provided utilizing the ultracongruent meniscal insert, which is designed with an anterior lip.
#### Patella
The patella has a dome shape with the reverse curvature of the femoral condyles. The patello-femoral geometry consists of a deep trochlear groove for complete articular conformity. The patella is designed with three (3) small stems for fixation with PMMA cement. The patella is available in five sizes, small, medium, reqular, large, and extra-large.
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## Intended Use/Indications for Use:
Q21740
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The Active Knee® System is indicated to be used only with bone cement in patients suffering from the following conditions:
- Noninflammatory degenerative joint disease including osteoarthritis, . traumatic arthritis, or avascular necrosis.
- Inflammatory degenerative joint disease including rheumatoid arthritis. ●
- Correction of functional deformity such as varus, valgus, or flexion . deformities.
- Revision procedures where other treatments or devices have failed. .
- . Treatment of fractures that are unmanageable using other techniques.
The device is intended for single use only.
The Active Knee® System is contraindicated for the following conditions:
- Acute or chronic infections, either local or systemic: .
- Severe muscular, nervous or vascular disease endangering the leg; .
- Defective bone structures, which could impede adequate anchoring of the ● implant:
- Patients who are younger than 60 years whose joint disease is such that . good results may be achieved by using other reconstructive procedures such as osteotomy and;
- . All associated diseases which could endanger the function and success of the implant.
## Performance Testing:
Performance testing was conducted for the Active Knee System as recommended by the FDA Draft Guidance for the Preparation of Premarket Notifications 510(k)s for Cemented, Semi-Constrained Total Knee Prosthesis dated April 1993 and updated on December 8, 1998. The testing was conducted for the femoral, tibial baseplate, standard meniscal insert, ultracongruent meniscal insert (posterior stabilizer) and the patella prostheses. Testing consisted of range of motion and constraint (stability characteristics), surface roughness characteristics, contact areas and surface stress, resistance to lateral subluxation and fatigue strength.
When compared to other contemporary knee designs, the Active Knee System demonstrated similar performance characteristics.
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#### Bio-compatibility:
K 021740
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The Active Knee® System is made of materials for surgical implant applications. The materials used for the implants are ASTM F75 Specifications for Cast Cobalt-Chromium-Molybdenum Alloy for Surgical Implant Applications and ASTM F648 Specifications for Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Powder and Fabricated Form for Surgical Implants.
## Sterilization:
- Metal implants are sterilized with 25 to 42 kGy (2.5 to 4.2 Mrad) gamma . radiation per ISO 11137.
- Polyethylene implants are sterilized with Ethylene Oxide per EN 550. .
#### Conclusion:
The performance testing demonstrated that the Active Knee® System is substantially equivalent to the Sulzer Orthopedics Natural-Knee II Constrained Knee System, K973412 and other similar marketed devices.
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Image /page/4/Picture/1 description: The image shows the logo for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The logo consists of a stylized eagle with its wings spread, and the words "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES (USA)" are arranged in a circle around the eagle. The eagle is black, and the text is also black. The logo is simple and recognizable.
Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
# SEP 23 2002
Ms. Nora C. R. York Regulatory Affairs Manager dj Orthopedics, LLC 2985 Scott Street Vista, California 92083-8339
Re: K021740
Trade/Device Name: Alaron Surgical Active Knee System Regulation Number: 21 CFR 888.3560 Regulation Name: Knee joint patellofemorotibial polymer semi-constrained cemented prosthesis Regulatory Class: II Product Code: JWH Dated: August 30, 2002
Received: September 3, 2002
Dear Ms. York:
We have reviewed your Section 510(k) premarket notification of intent to market the device referenced above and have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to legally marketed predicate devices marketed in interstate commerce prior to May 28, 1976, the enactment date of the Medical Device Amendments, or to devices that have been reclassified in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act) that do not require approval of a premarket approval application (PMA). You may, therefore, market the device, subject to the general controls provisions of the Act. The general controls provisions of the Act include requirements for annual registration, listing of devices, good manufacturing practice, labeling, and prohibitions against misbranding and adulteration.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (PMA), it may be subject to such additional controls. Existing major regulations affecting your device can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Parts 800 to 898. In addition, FDA may publish further announcements concerning your device in the Federal Register.
Please be advised that FDA's issuance of a substantial equivalence determination does not mean that FDA has made a determination that your device complies with other requirements of the Act or any Federal statutes and regulations administered by other Federal agencies. You must comply with all the Act's requirements, including, but not limited to: registration and listing (21 CFR Part 807); labeling (21 CFR Part 801); good manufacturing practice requirements as set forth in the quality systems (QS) regulation (21 CFR Part 820); and if applicable, the electronic product radiation control provisions (Sections 531-542 of the Act); 21 CFR 1000-1050.
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Page 2 - Ms. Nora C. R. York
This letter will allow you to begin marketing your device as described in your Section 510(k) premarket notification. The FDA finding of substantial equivalence of your device to a legally marketed predicate device results in a classification for your device and thus, permits your device to proceed to the market.
If you desire specific advice for your device on our labeling regulation (21 CFR Part 801 and additionally 21 CFR Part 809.10 for in vitro diagnostic devices), please contact the Office of Compliance at (301) 594-4659. Additionally, for questions on the promotion and advertising of your device, please contact the Office of Compliance at (301) 594-4639. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21CFR Part 807.97). Other general information on your responsibilities under the Act may be obtained from the Division of Small Manufacturers, International and Consumer Assistance at its toll-free number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 443-6597 or at its Internet address http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/dsma/dsmamain.html
Sincerely vours.
Celia M. Witten, Ph.D., M.D. Director Division of General, Restorative and Neurological Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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## INDICATIONS FOR USE
221740
510(k) Number (if known):
Device Name: Alaron Surgical Active Knee® System
## Indications For Use:
The Alaron Surgical Active Knee® System is semi-constrained and is intended to be used only with bone cement in patients suffering from the following conditions:
- Non-inflammatory degenerative joint disease including osteoarthritis, traumatic . arthritis, or avascular necrosis.
- Inflammatory degenerative joint disease including rheumatoid arthritis. .
- Correction of functional deformity such as varus, valgus, or flexion deformities. .
- Revision procedures where other treatments or devices have failed. .
- Treatment of fractures that are unmanageable using other techniques. .
#### (PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE-CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED)
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device
ice of Device Evaluation (ODE)
Mark N Milburn
Division Sign-Off
Division of General, Restorative
and Neurological Devices
j(k) Number
(Optional Format (3-10-98)
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.