SMITH & NEPHEW BONE PLATE SYSTEM (BONE PLATES, BONE SCREWS AND ACCESSORIES)
K993106 · Smith & Nephew, Inc. · HRS · Dec 9, 1999 · Orthopedic
Device Facts
Record ID
K993106
Device Name
SMITH & NEPHEW BONE PLATE SYSTEM (BONE PLATES, BONE SCREWS AND ACCESSORIES)
Applicant
Smith & Nephew, Inc.
Product Code
HRS · Orthopedic
Decision Date
Dec 9, 1999
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Abbreviated
Regulation
21 CFR 888.3030
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Therapeutic, Pediatric
Indications for Use
The Smith & Nephew Bone Plate System is used for adult or pediatric patients as indicated for pelvic, small, and long bone fracture fixations for use include fractures of the tibia, fibula, femoral condyle, pelvis, acetabulum, metacarpals, metatarsals, humerus, ulna, middle hand and middle foot bones; treatment of the calcaneal; hip arthrodesis, and provisional hole fixation.
Device Story
System consists of metallic bone plates, screws, and accessories for orthopedic fracture fixation. Implants available in various sizes to accommodate patient anatomy. Used by surgeons in clinical/OR settings for stabilization of pelvic, small, and long bone fractures. Devices are single-use. Surgeon selects appropriate implant size based on fracture site and patient anatomy; implants are surgically implanted to provide mechanical stability during bone healing. Benefits include restoration of skeletal alignment and support for fracture union.
Clinical Evidence
No clinical data provided; substantial equivalence is based on technological characteristics and intended use compared to legally marketed predicate devices.
Technological Characteristics
Metallic bone fixation system comprising plates, screws, and accessories. Materials are consistent with legally marketed orthopedic fixation devices. Designed for single-use. Mechanical fixation principle.
Indications for Use
Indicated for adult and pediatric patients requiring fixation of pelvic, small, and long bone fractures, including tibia, fibula, femoral condyle, pelvis, acetabulum, metacarpals, metatarsals, humerus, ulna, middle hand/foot bones, calcaneal treatment, hip arthrodesis, and provisional hole fixation.
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
Richards Bone Plates and Bone Screws (Smith & Nephew)
Osteo Bone Plates and Bone Screws (Smith & Nephew)
Titanium Plates (Synthes)
Basic Screw Set (Synthes)
ECT Plates and Screws (Zimmer)
TiMAX Large Fragment System (DePuy)
TiMAX Bone Screws (DePuy)
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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K993106
# 510(k) Summary Smith & Nephew Bone Plate System
| Submitter's name: | Smith & Nephew, Inc., Orthopaedic Division |
|------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Submitter's address: | 1450 Brooks Road, Memphis, TN 38116 |
| Submitter's telephone number: | 901/399-5153 |
| Contact person: | Janet Johnson Green |
| Date summary prepared: | |
| Trade or proprietary device name: | Smith & Nephew Bone Plate System (bone<br>plates, bone screws and accessories) |
| Common or usual name: | Bone Plates, Bone Screws, and Accessories |
| Classification name: | Title 21 CFR 888.3030 (Plates and Accessories)<br>Single/multiple component metallic bone fixation<br>appliances and accessories<br>Title 21 CFR 888.3040 (Screws)<br>Smooth or threaded metallic bone fixation<br>fastener |
| Device Class:<br>Device Product Code and Panel Code: | Class II<br>87HRS - Plate<br>87HWC - Screw<br>Panel: Orthopaedics/87 |
# Substantially Equivalent, Legally Marketed Predicate Devices:
Richards Bone Plates and Bone Screws (Smith & Nephew [i%/a Richards Medical Company]) Osteo* Bone Plates and Bone Screws (Smith & Nephew) Titanium Plates (Synthes) Basic Screw Set (Synthes) ECT Plates and Screws(Zimmer) TiMAX™ Large Fragment System (DePuy) TiMAX™ Bone Screws (DePuy)
### Subject device description:
Smith & Nephew Bone Plates, Bone Screws, and Accessories like the predicate devices, include various sizes of implants to accommodate the individual requirements of patient anatomy.
### Subiect device intended use:
Smith & Nephew Bone Plates, Bone Screws, and Accessories are indicated for pelvic, small and long bone fracture fixation.
Smith & Nephew Bone Screws are indicated for long bone fracture fixation.
Smith & Nephew Bone Plates, Bone Screws, and Accessories are for single use only.
### Technolocgical Characteristics:
Smith & Nephew Bone Plates, Bone Screws, and Accessories are similar to legally marketed devices listed above in that all of these devices are indicated for pelvic, long, and small bone fracture fixation, are manufactured from similar or like materials, and are similar in technological characteristics.
*Osteo was formerly owned by Smith & Nephew (formerly Richards Medical Company). Smith & Nephew currently distributes devices manufactured by Osteo.
CONFIDENTIAL
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Image /page/1/Picture/1 description: The image shows the logo for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The logo consists of a circular seal with the text "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES - USA" arranged around the perimeter. Inside the circle is a stylized image of an eagle with three lines representing its wings and wavy lines representing its body.
Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
DEC - 9 1999
Ms. Janet Johnson Green, Manager Clinical and Regulatory Affairs Smith & Nephew, Inc. 1450 Brooks Road Memphis, Tennessee 38116
Re: K993106 Trade Name: Smith & Nephew Bone Plate System Regulatory Class: II Product Codes: HRS and HWC Dated: September 16, 1999 Received: September 17, 1999
Dear Ms. Johnson Green:
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.
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 requirement, as set forth in the Quality System Regulation (QS) for Medical Devices: 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.
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## Page 2 - Ms. Johnson Green
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 vour 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,
Xumell J. Izen
Ay James E. Dillard III Acting 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): K993106 Device Name: Smith & Nephew Bone Plate System
Indications for Use:
The Smith & Nephew Bone Plate System is used for adult or pediatric patients as indicated for pelvic, small, and long bone fracture fixations for use include fractures of the tibia, fibula, femoral condyle, pelvis, acetabulum, metacarpals, metatarsals, humerus, ulna, middle hand and middle foot bones; treatment of the calcaneal; hip arthrodesis, and provisional hole fixation.
# (PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE-CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE AS NEEDED)
Concurrent of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
Ahmed I. Ayar Sordo
(Division Sign-Off) Division of General Restorative Devices 510(k) Number .
Prescription Use X (Per 21 CFR 601.109) OR
Over-The-Counter Use__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.
