K963967 · Glycar, Inc. · DXZ · Oct 31, 1997 · Cardiovascular
Device Facts
Record ID
K963967
Device Name
GLYCAR PERICARDIAL PATCH
Applicant
Glycar, Inc.
Product Code
DXZ · Cardiovascular
Decision Date
Oct 31, 1997
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 870.3470
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Therapeutic
Indications for Use
The Glycar Pericardial Patch and Glycar Vascular Patch of the Glycar Tissue Repair Patch line of products are intended for pericardial closure, peripheral vascular reconstruction and repair, and cardiac and great vessel reconstruction and repair.
Device Story
Glycar Pericardial Patch is a biological tissue patch derived from bovine pericardium. The tissue undergoes glutaraldehyde fixation, cleaning, additional tanning, and a proprietary anti-inflammation treatment (XX). The device is intended for surgical use by physicians for pericardial closure, vascular reconstruction, and cardiac/great vessel repair. It provides a strong, pliable, biocompatible material for reinforcement of soft tissue defects. The device is supplied sterile, processed in a Class 100 clean room, and stored in a 2% propylene oxide solution. It functions as a structural implant to support natural tissue healing and repair.
Clinical Evidence
No clinical data provided. Substantial equivalence is based on material composition, manufacturing process, and intended use comparisons to the predicate device. FDA noted that claims regarding anticalcification or durability require future human clinical study submission.
Technological Characteristics
Material: Glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium. Sterilization: Formaldehyde and propylene oxide (SAL 10^-6). Manufacturing: Aseptic fill in Class 100 clean room. Proprietary anti-inflammation treatment (XX) applied. Form factor: Tissue patch.
Indications for Use
Indicated for pericardial closure, peripheral vascular reconstruction and repair, and cardiac and great vessel reconstruction and repair in patients requiring soft tissue repair, reinforcement, or reconstruction. Prescription use only.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
An intracardiac patch or pledget made of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or polytetrafluoroethylene is a fabric device placed in the heart that is used to repair septal defects, for patch grafting, to repair tissue, and to buttress sutures.
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510 (K) SUMMARY - GLYCAR PERICARDIAL PATCH
K963967
Oct. 31, 1997
GLYCAR
# 510(K) SUMMARY
## 1. Official Contact Person
Dr. Dirk Frater
4537 Belclaire Ave.
Dallas, TX 75205
Phone: (214) 526-5412
## 2. Regulatory Consultant
Bertram Hudson
Shotwell & Carr Inc.
Suite 100, 3003 LBJ Freeway
Dallas, TX 75234
## 3. Device Name
a) Trade Name
Glycar Pericardial Patch
alternative trade names possible
b) Common Name
Biological Tissue Patch
## 4. F.D.A. Device Classification
Class III Device - we do not believe PMA is needed
## 5. Predicate Device
The predicate device is the Tissue Guard™ product line, including Supple Peri-Guard™ product line (K923657), and is a tissue patch made from glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium. The device is produced by Bio-Vascular Inc., 2670 Patton Rd., St. Paul, MN 55113, (800) 255-4018.
For copies of Peri-Guard™ labels, see Figures 3 - 4 in the Addenda under Predicate Device Labeling.
## 6. Product Description
### a) Candidate Device Composition
The Glycar Pericardial Patches are made of the same material as the predicate device, the Peri-Guard™ tissue patches, which are made from glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium.
See Comparison Chart, Chart 1, in Addenda under Substantial Equivalence.
Oct. 1, 1996
V
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510 (K) SUMMARY - GLYCAR PERICARDIAL PATCH
GLYCAR
## b) Material Attributes
Glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium is a strong, pliable, biocompatible material which is easy to handle surgically.
Glycar’s glutaraldehyde-treated pericardium possesses tissue strength equaling that of the predicate device. It provides for a durable repair, replacement or reinforcement of natural soft tissue.
*See in Addenda, Chart 1, Comparison Chart, under Substantial Equivalence and Breaking Strength under Supporting Data*
## c) Pyrogenicity
Glycar glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium has been found to have negative pyrogenicity.
*See in Addenda, Chart 1, Comparison Chart, under Substantial Equivalence and Pyrogenicity under Supporting Data.*
## d) Manufacturing Process
The manufacturing process for the *Glycar Pericardial Patches* involves the harvesting of bovine pericardium, fixation of the pericardium in glutaraldehyde, inspection and cleaning of the pericardium, selection of the pericardium for use in strip production, additional tanning of the bovine pericardium, and then cutting of the glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium for the designated strip size, followed by sterilization in formaldehyde, followed then by treatment with Glycar’s proprietary anti-inflammation treatment, XX. *See in Proprietary Manufacturing Material in Addenda under Confidential Information.*
Sterility is maintained by using aseptic fill under Clean Room 100 conditions, during transfer to anti-inflammation treatment and to the final storage medium, 2% propylene oxide in water.
*See Outline of Manufacturing Process in Addenda under Manufacturing Information and Sterilization Information.*
## e) Product Sizes
Sizes and shape has not been determined at this time.
Oct. 1, 1996
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510 (K) SUMMARY - GLYCAR PERICARDIAL PATCH
GLYCAR
## 7. Intended Use of Product
### a) Candidate Device Intended Use
The Glycar Inc., *Pericardial Patch* has the same intended use, pericardial closure, as the predicate device, the Bio-Vascular Inc., Peri-Guard™ patch, which is a tissue patch made from the same glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium.
Already approved intended uses for the Glycar Tissue Repair Patch family of glutaraldehyde-tanned bovine pericardial tissue patches are:
The *Glycar Tissue Repair Patch* (K942911) was deemed substantially equivalent to the Peri-Guard™ bovine pericardial tissue patch and received approval for U.S. marketing for the intended use of hernia and other intra-abdominal soft tissue defect or deficiency repair in December, 1994.
An additional member of the *Glycar Tissue Repair Patch* family of products, the Glycar Staple Strip (K954665) was deemed substantially equivalent to the Peri-Strips™ bovine pericardial surgical staple bolsters and received approval for U.S. marketing for the intended uses of surgical stapling of lung tissue, gastric staplings, rectal and vaginal prolapse, urethral sling, reconstruction of the pelvic floor, and hernias or defects of the diaphragm, thoracic and abdominal wall in October, 1995.
The Glycar Staple Strip uses the identical material as the Glycar Tissue Repair Patch (with the addition of a synthetic suture material to assist placement of the device on the surgical stapling arm).
*See in Addenda, Chart 1, Comparison Chart, under Substantial Equivalence.*
### b) Predicate Device Intended Use
The predicate device, the Peri-Guard™ family of glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium tissue patch has been used for pericardial closures for over ten years without reported material failure; this same material has in addition been used to repair abdominal and thoracic wall defects, inguinal, paracolostomy, ventral, paraumbilical, scrotal, femoral and other hernias, urethral slings, reconstruction of pelvic floor, repair of rectal and vaginal prolapse, suture and staple bolsters, pledgets and
Oct. 1, 1996
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510 (K) SUMMARY - GLYCAR PERICARDIAL PATCH
GLYCAR
slings, and other soft tissue repair, reinforcement, and reconstruction without any reported patient morbidity or mortality attributed to material failures.
## 8. Sterilization
a) Method
The device is sterilized using exposure to formaldehyde and propylene oxide under environmental control in a class 100 Clean Room environment. See Outline of Sterilization Method in Addenda under Sterilization Information.
b) Sterility Assurance Level
The *Glycar Pericardial Patches* are labeled as sterile. They are sterilized to an SAL of $10^{-6}$ organisms. See in Addenda, Chart 1, Comparison Chart, under Substantial Equivalence and see Validation of Sterilization Processes under Sterilization Information.
c) Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Pericardium used for the raw material for these devices is obtained from cattle from government approved abbatoirs in Transvaal, S. Africa.
The cattle of the Republic of South Africa are certified free from B.S.E. (bovine spongiform encephalopathy)
See Figure 5 in Addenda, Certificate of B.S.E.-free Status
## 9. Substantial Equivalence
a) Comparison with Predicate Device
The *Glycar Pericardial Patches* are substantially equivalent to the Peri-Guard™ family of glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium in that they are:
i) manufactured from the same material, glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium,
ii) have the same intended use,
iii) are sterilized to a minimum assurance against contamination of $10^{-6}$ organisms (Sterility Assurance Level, SAL = $10^{-6}$), and
iv) have other performance features equal to or better than those of the predicate device.
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510 (K) SUMMARY - GLYCAR PERICARDIAL PATCH
GLYCAR
See Comparison Chart, Chart 1, in Addenda under Substantial Equivalence and see Supporting Data
## b) Technological Differences
### i) Implanted Material- Bovine Pericardium
There is no difference in the implanted material used for the *Glycar Pericardial Patches* and the predicate device, Bio-Vascular Peri-Guard™. Both devices are manufactured from glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium. See Comparison Chart, Chart 1, in Addenda under Substantial Equivalence.
### ii) Sterilization Method
There is no difference in the chemical sterilization method used for Glycar Pericardial Patches versus that of the predicate device.
*See Supporting Data in Addenda Under Sleeve Configuration*
### iii) Manufacturing Material
One difference in the manufacturing process which Glycar Inc. considers proprietary is the use of the manufacturing material, XX.
Glycar Inc. has demonstrated no adverse effects on safety or efficacy of the use of this manufacturing material, and we feel it improves safety by virtue of the properties that it confers to the material. See Proprietary Manufacturing Material in Addenda under Confidential Information.
Oct. 1, 1996
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration
9200 Corporate Boulevard
Rockville MD 20850
OCT 31 1997
Dirk Frater, M.D.
Official Contact
Glycar Inc.
4504 Beverly Drive
Dallas, Texas 75205
Re: K963368 and K963967
Glycar Pericardial Patch and Glycar Vascular Patch
Regulatory Class: II
Product Code: DXZ
Dated: July 30, 1997
Received: August 4, 1997
Dear Dr. Frater:
We have reviewed your Section 510(k) notification of intent to market the device referenced above and we have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to 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). 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. Please be advised that you may not make any claims about the effectiveness of the anticalcification treatment or durability of the device in any labeling or advertisements for this device until results of human clinical studies are submitted and found to substantiate such claims. You may, however, summarize results of animal studies performed, which should include the number and type of animal(s), location and duration of the implant, controls used, endpoints and results.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (Premarket Approval), 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 895. A substantially equivalent determination assumes compliance with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, as set forth in the Quality System Regulation (QS) for Medical Devices:
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Page 2 - Dirk Frater, M.D.
General regulation (21 CFR Part 820) and that, through periodic QS inspections, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will verify such assumptions. Failure to comply with the GMP regulation may result in regulatory action. In addition, FDA may publish further announcements concerning your device in the *Federal Register*. Please note: this response to your premarket notification submission does not affect any obligation you might have under sections 531 through 542 of the Act for devices under the Electronic Product Radiation Control provisions, or other Federal laws or regulations.
This letter will allow you to begin marketing your device as described in your 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 809.10 for *in vitro* diagnostic devices), please contact the Office of Compliance at (301) 594-4648. 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" (21 CFR 807.97). Other general information on your responsibilities under the Act may be obtained from the Division of Small Manufacturers Assistance at its toll-free number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 443-6597 or at its internet address "http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/dsmamain.html."
Sincerely yours,
Thomas J. Callahan, Ph.D.
Director,
Division of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, and Neurological Devices
Office of Device Evaluation
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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Page 1 of 1
510(k) Number (if known): K963967 and K963368
Device Name: **Glycar Pericardial Patch and Glycar Vascular Patch**
Indications For Use: The Glycar Pericardial Patch and Glycar Vascular Patch of the Glycar Tissue Repair Patch line of products are intended for pericardial closure, peripheral vascular reconstruction and repair, and cardiac and great vessel reconstruction and repair.
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE-CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED)
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
(Division Sign-Off)
Division of Cardiovascular Respiratory,
and Neurological Devices
510(k) Number K963967/K963368
Prescription Use ☑
(Per 21 CFR 801.109)
OR
Over-The-Counter Use ☐
(Optional Format 1-2-96)
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.