K972783 · Bionx Implants, Inc. · MAI · Apr 14, 1998 · Orthopedic
Device Facts
Record ID
K972783
Device Name
BIOFIX BIODEGRADABLE THREADED SUTURE ANCHOR
Applicant
Bionx Implants, Inc.
Product Code
MAI · Orthopedic
Decision Date
Apr 14, 1998
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 888.3030
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Therapeutic
Indications for Use
The Bionx Suture Anchor is indicated for use in arthroscopic or open surgical procedures to reattach ligaments to the shoulder bone, i.e., for rotator cuff or Bankart lesion repair. The device may be attached to either the articular facet surface or to a metaphyseal region of the bone, provided that the thickness of the cortex is less than 1.5 mm.
Device Story
Biodegradable threaded suture anchor; 15 mm length, 3.8 mm diameter; square head design with transverse channels for suture retention. Used in arthroscopic or open shoulder surgery by orthopedic surgeons. Surgeon drills 3.5 mm hole; inserts anchor using specialized tool; secures ruptured ligament to bone via suture. Device remains in situ during healing; gradually degrades and is absorbed by body; eliminates need for surgical removal. Provides mechanical fixation of soft tissue to bone.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Performance data confirms adequate pullout and torsional strength for intended use.
Technological Characteristics
Threaded screw anchor; 15 mm length, 3.8 mm diameter; material: biodegradable polylactide polymers; mechanical fixation via interference fit; manual insertion tool.
Indications for Use
Indicated for patients undergoing arthroscopic or open surgical procedures for reattachment of ligaments to shoulder bone, specifically for repair of Bankart lesions or rotator cuff tears. Applicable to sites with cortical bone thickness less than 1.5 mm.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
Single/multiple component metallic bone fixation appliances and accessories are devices intended to be implanted consisting of one or more metallic components and their metallic fasteners. The devices contain a plate, a nail/plate combination, or a blade/plate combination that are made of alloys, such as cobalt-chromium-molybdenum, stainless steel, and titanium, that are intended to be held in position with fasteners, such as screws and nails, or bolts, nuts, and washers. These devices are used for fixation of fractures of the proximal or distal end of long bones, such as intracapsular, intertrochanteric, intercervical, supracondylar, or condylar fractures of the femur; for fusion of a joint; or for surgical procedures that involve cutting a bone. The devices may be implanted or attached through the skin so that a pulling force (traction) may be applied to the skeletal system.
Predicate Devices
American Medical Electronics, Inc. Ogden Anchor (K950875)
Zimmer, Inc. Statak® Soft Tissue Attachment Device (K962397)
Mitek Surgical Products, Inc. GII Anchor (K953877)
Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, Inc. Acufex® TAG Suture Anchor (K961555)
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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# +2785
#### 510(K) SUMMARY FOR THE BIONX IMPLANTS, INC. BIODEGRADABLE THREADED SUTURE ANCHOR APR 1 4 1998
# Submitter's Name, Address, Telephone Number, And Contact Person
Bionx Implants, Inc. 1777 Sentry Parkway West Gwynedd Hall Suite 400 Bluebell, PA 19422
David W. Anderson. Contact: President and CEO (215) 643-5000 Phone: Facsimile: (215) 653-0984
#### Date Prepared
February 27, 1998
#### Name of the Device
Bionx Biodegradable Threaded Suture Anchor
#### Common or Usual Name
Bionx Suture Anchor
#### Classification Name
Biodegradable Soft Tissue Fixation Fastener
#### Predicate Devices
- American Medical Electronics, Inc. Ogden Anchor (K950875) (1)
- Zimmer, Inc. Statak® Soft Tissue Attachment Device (K962397) (2)
- Arthrex, Inc. FASTak™ Suture Anchor (K960516) (3)
- Mitek Surgical Products, Inc. GII Anchor (K953877) (4)
- Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, Inc. Acufex® TAG Suture Anchor (5) (K961555)
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#### Indications for Use
The Bionx Suture Anchor is indicated for use in arthroscopic or open surgical procedures to reattach ligaments to the shoulder bone, i.e., for repair of Bankart lesions or rotator cuff tears. The device may be attached to either the articular facet surface or to metaphyseal region of the bone, provided that the thickness of the cortex is less than 1.5 mm.
#### Principles of Operation
The Bionx Suture Anchor is a threaded screw with a square head which is 15 mm in length and 3.8 mm in diameter. The design of the screw incorporates two channels which are cut transversely through the threads on opposite sides of the device to create a groove to hold the suture. To use the suture anchor, the surgeon first prepares the implantation site by drilling a 3.5 mm hole through the cortical bone into the cancellous bone. The surgeon then inserts the square head of the anchor into the square recess on the end of the insertion tool; an interference fit securely holds the anchor in place. A suture is then placed into the channels on either side of the anchor, threaded through a groove in the insertion tool's shaft, and held in place in a slot on the insertion tool's handle. The surgeon rotates the driver to screw the anchor into the hole and uses the suture to secure the ruptured ligament to the bone at the site of the anchor insertion. The ligament remains secured to the bone throughout the healing period. after which the anchor
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gradually degrades and is completely absorbed by the body. Thus, there is no need to surgically remove the anchor.
### Technical Characteristics
The Bionx Suture Anchor, the American Medical Electronics, Inc. Ogden Anchor ("Ogden"), the Zimmer, Inc. Statak® Soft Tissue Attachment Device ("Statak®"), the Arthrex, Inc. FASTak™ Suture Anchor ("FASTak™"), the Mitek Surgical Products, Inc. GII Anchor ("Mitek GII"), and the Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, Inc. Acufex® TAG Suture Anchor ("Acufex® TAG") possess similar technical characteristics. All of these devices are intended for use to anchor sutures to the bone in orthopedic surgical procedures to reattach soft tissue to bone. The Bionx Suture Anchor, the Ogden, the Statak®, and the FASTak™ are all screw anchors, while the Mitek GII is a "barbed" anchor, and the Acufex® TAG is a wedge shaped anchor. However, this difference in configuration does not raise any new questions of safety or effectiveness because the devices incorporate similar features to ensure that they remain fixed in the bone. In addition, although the Bionx Suture Anchor is made of biodegradable polymers, while the Ogden, the Statak®, the Mitek GII, and the FASTak™ are composed of titanium, and the Acufex® TAG is composed of biodegradable polyglyconate, this difference in materials does not raise any new questions of safety or effectiveness. The polylactide materials used in the Bionx Suture Anchor are substantially the same as the materials that have been used in other previously cleared implantable devices. Moreover, the biocompatibility of these materials has been established in the medical literature, and all of the materials possess sufficient strength for soft
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tissue repair. Performance data confirms that the Bionx Suture Anchor possesses adequate pullout strength and torsional strength for its intended use.
## Summary Basis for the Finding of Substantial Equivalence
Like the previously cleared Ogden, the Statak®, the FASTakTM, the Mitek GII, and the Acufex® TAG, the Bionx Suture Anchor is intended for use to anchor the suture to the bone in orthopedic procedures to reattach soft tissue to bone in the shoulder. Furthermore, all of the suture anchors possess similar principles of operation and technical characteristics. The minor differences in the technical characteristics of the two devices, such as differences in the configuration, do not raise new questions of safety or effectiveness, as confirmed by performance testing. Thus, the devices are substantially equivalent.
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Image /page/4/Picture/2 description: The image shows the address for the Food and Drug Administration. The address is listed as 9200 Corporate Boulevard in Rockville MD 20850. The text is black and the background is white. The text is left-aligned.
APR 1 4 1998
Mr. Jonathan S. Kahan ·Partner Hogan & Hartson, L.L.P. Representing Bionx Implants, Inc. Columbia Square 555 Thirteenth Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20004-1109
K972783 Re: Bionx Biodegradable, Threaded Suture Anchor Requlatory Class: II Product Code: MAI and HWC Dated: January 30, 1998 Received: January 30, 1998
Dear Mr. Kahan:
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 The general controls provisions of the Act 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 (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. ਸਿ substantially equivalent determination assumes compliance with the current Good Manufacturing Practice requirement, as set forth in the Quality System Regulation (QS) for Medical General regulation (21 CFR Part 820) and that, Devices: 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.
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#### Paqe 2 - Mr. Jonathan S. Kahan
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) 594-4659. 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" (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,
Steptron Plveles
M. Witten, Ph.D., M.D. Director Division of General and Restorative Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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510(k) Number (if known):_
Device Name: Bionx Biodegradable Threaded Suture Anchor Indications For Use:
The Bionx Suture Anchor is indicated for use in arthroscopic or open surgical procedures to reattach ligaments to the shoulder bone, i.e., for rotator cuff or Bankart lesion repair. The device may be attached to either the articular facet surface or to a metaphyseal region of the bone, provided that the thickness of the cortex is less than 1.5 mm.
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE - CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED)
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
Stephen Olvels
(Division Sign-Off) (Division of General Restorative Devices 510(k) Number -
Prescription Use
(Per 21 CFR 801.109) X
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
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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.
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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.