K024169 · Macropore Biosurgery, Inc. · EZX · Jul 1, 2003 · General, Plastic Surgery
Device Facts
Record ID
K024169
Device Name
MACROPORE OS RECONSTRUCTION
Applicant
Macropore Biosurgery, Inc.
Product Code
EZX · General, Plastic Surgery
Decision Date
Jul 1, 2003
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 878.3300
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Therapeutic
Indications for Use
The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System is intended to maintain the relative position of weak bony tissue such as bone grafts, bone graft substitutes, or bone fragments from comminuted fractures. The flat Protective Sheets with pore sizes up to 2.5mm are also indicated for cement restriction in total joint arthroplasty procedures. Only when used in conjunction with traditional rigid fixation, the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System is intended to maintain the relative position of weak bony tissue in trauma and reconstructive orthopedic procedures involving: - Long bones - Flat bones - Short bones - Irregular bones - Appendicular skeleton - Thorax When used alone (without traditional rigid fixation), the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System is intended to maintain the relative position of bone grafts or bone graft substitutes in reconstructive orthopedic procedures involving: - Tumor resections where bone strength has not been compromised - Iliac crest harvests - Ribs (excluding multiple segmental defects such as those found in flail chest) This device is not intended for use in the spine. The device is not intended for load bearing indications unless used in conjunction with traditional rigid fixation.
Device Story
Resorbable graft containment system; composed of polylactic acid (PLA) porous/non-porous sheets, sleeves, screws, and tacks. Sheets/sleeves are malleable when heated to ~55°C, allowing 3D anatomical conformation; cut to size by surgeon. Used in orthopedic procedures to maintain position of bone grafts/fragments. Can be used alone or with traditional rigid fixation (plates/screws). Surgeon-operated in clinical/OR setting. Provides structural containment of bone graft materials; prevents dislocation of bone fragments. Benefits patient by stabilizing graft sites and facilitating bone reconstruction.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Aging studies confirmed rigidity and strength equivalent to predicate after 6 months. Mechanical testing verified tensile strength and rigidity. DSC testing confirmed amorphous, non-crystalline material state. Heating studies (60°C in saline) confirmed inherent viscosity stability over 120 minutes.
Indicated for patients requiring maintenance of relative position of weak bony tissue, bone grafts, or bone graft substitutes in orthopedic trauma and reconstructive procedures (long, flat, short, irregular bones; appendicular skeleton; thorax). Also indicated for cement restriction in total joint arthroplasty. Contraindicated for use in the spine and for load-bearing applications unless used with traditional rigid fixation.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
Surgical mesh is a metallic or polymeric screen intended to be implanted to reinforce soft tissue or bone where weakness exists. Examples of surgical mesh are metallic and polymeric mesh for hernia repair, and acetabular and cement restrictor mesh used during orthopedic surgery.
Predicate Devices
MacroPore OS Protective Sheet
Synthes Resorbable Meshes and Sheets
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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#### MacroPore OS Reconstruction System K024169 SUMMARY
# ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
MacroPore Biosurgery, Inc. Manufacturer Name: 6740 Top Gun Street San Diego, CA 92121
> Kenneth K. Kleinhenz Director of Regulatory Affairs Telephone (858) 458-0900 Fax (858) 458-0994
## DEVICE NAME
Classification Name: Trade/Proprietary Name: Plate, Fixation, Bone MacroPore OS Reconstruction System
# ESTABLISHMENT REGISTRATION NUMBER 2031733
# DEVICE CLASSIFICATION AND PRODUCT CODE
Official Contact:
As shown in 21CFR 888.3030 bone fixation appliances intended for use in orthopedic procedures are classified as Class II. They have been assigned Product Code HRS.
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#### INTENDED USE
The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System is intended to maintain the relative position of weak bony tissue such as bone grafts, bone graft substitutes, or bone fragments from comminuted fractures. The flat Protective Sheets with pore sizes up to 2.5mm are also indicated for cement restriction in total joint arthroplasty procedures.
Only when used in conjunction with traditional rigid fixation, the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System is intended to maintain the relative position of weak bony tissue in trauma and reconstructive orthopedic procedures involving:
- Long bones
- Flat bones
- Short bones
- Irregular bones
- · Appendicular skeleton
- Thorax
When used alone (without traditional rigid fixation), the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System is intended to maintain the relative position of bone grafts or bone graft substitutes in reconstructive orthopedic procedures involving:
- · Tumor resections where bone strength has not been compromised
- Iliac crest harvests
- Ribs (excluding multiple segmental defects such as those found in flail chest)
This device is not intended for use in the spine. The device is not intended for load bearing indications unless used in conjunction with traditional rigid fixation.
#### Design Characteristics
MacroPore OS Reconstruction System is a resorbable graft containment system composed of various sized porous sheet and sleeves, non-porous sheets and associated fixation screws and tacks manufactured from polylactic acid (PLA). The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System is composed of MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sheets, MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sleeves, and MacroPore OS Reconstruction Screws and Tacks.
The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sheets and Protective Sleeves can be cut with scissors to the desired shape and size. The MacroPore Power Pen can also be used to cut or shape the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System to the desired shape or size. MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sheets and Protective Sleeves are fully malleable when heated to approximately 55℃ (for example, by the use of sterile hot water), and thus can be conformed three dimensionally to most any anatomical orientation.
The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sheets can be rolled into a tube or used as a flat sheet. The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sheets and Protective Sleeves can be used either alone or in conjunction with internal bone fixation devices such as plates and screws, which also can serve to fixate the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System and prevent dislocation.
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#### K024169 SUMMARY ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MacroPore OS Reconstruction System
The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Tacks range in size from 1.7mm to 2.2mm in diameter with lengths from 3.6mm to 5.6mm and the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Screws range in size from 2.0mm to 4.75mm in diameter with lengths from 3.35mm to 30mm. The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sheet is provided in sheets of 25 x 25 mm to 160 x 200 mm. The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sleeves are provided in lengths of 150mm to 5mm with inner diameters that range from 5mm up to 40mm. The MacroPore Reconstruction System Protective Sleeves are provided in circular, square, trapezoidal, and parabolic shapes. The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sleeves are provided with and without serrated edges and / or tapered end(s) for ease of surgical installation. The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sheets and Protective Sleeves are provided with and without macroporous holes. The pore size ranges from 1.7mm to 4.0mm in diameter, with pores distributed randomly or uniformly throughout the sheet/sleeve in an offset or aligned pattern. The thickness of the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sheets ranges from 0.5mm to 5.0mm according to the orthopedic region to be treated. The thickness of the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sleeves ranges from 0.8mm to 5.0mm according to the orthopedic region to be treated.
### Material Composition
The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System is fabricated from polylactic acid (PLA).
### In Vitro Testing
Because the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sheet is intended to be heated in the surgical suite to temperatures above the material's glass transition temperature to facilitate shaping to anatomic structures, testing was performed to determine the effect of prolonged heating in saline at 60℃ on inherent viscosity. The testing demonstrates that viscosity stayed within an appropriate range over 120 minutes. Therefore, the relatively brief exposure anticipated during the surgical preparation of MacroPore OS Protective Sheet is not expected to have a significant effect on its mechanical properties.
Aging studies were performed on MacroPore OS Reconstruction System components. Testing demonstrated that the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sheet is as rigid and as strong as the predicate after 6 months of exposure. Mechanical testing was performed on the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sheets and MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Screws. Testing determined the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System to be substantially equivalent to the mechanical strengths of the predicate devices under indication for use conditions.
Crystallinity was tested for by DSC (differential scanning calorimetery). This test measures the amount of heat energy that is absorbed by a material. A crystalline material will require more energy once it reaches it's melting point. This release of heat energy can be seen on a graph as a sharp spike and is referred to as a "melting endotherm". The tests ran on the sterile and nonsterile samples revealed no endothermic spikes, indicating that the implants are amorphous and non-crystalline.
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## EQUIVALENCE TO MARKETED PRODUCT
The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System shares materials, indications, and design principles with the following predicate devices which have been determined by FDA to be substantially equivalent to pre-amendment devices: MacroPore OS Protective Sheet and Synthes Resorbable Meshes and Sheets.
#### Indications For Use
The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System shares substantially equivalent indications for use with the predicate devices.
#### Design and Materials
The design and materials of MacroPore OS Reconstruction System and the predicate devices (MacroPore OS and Synthes Resorbable Sheet) are nearly identical as they all are made from resorbable polylactide (PLA) material and are provided in sheets and have fixation screws and tacks of similar shapes and sizes. Both the predicate device and the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Sheet have a semi-rigid construction with pores of similar diameter and The pore size and spacing of the predicate device is within the pore size and spacing spacing. specifications of the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Protective Sheets. The dimensions of the predicate device are also comparable to the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System sheet as both devices are provided in rectangular sheets that are several centimeters in size. The mechanical characteristics of the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System are substantially equivalent to the predicate device with respect to tensile strength, and rigidity as measured by the materials spring constant. In addition to physical characteristics, both the predicate device and the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Sheets can be shaped with warm water and cut to specific shapes and sizes by the end user.
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Image /page/4/Picture/1 description: The image shows the logo for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The logo is circular and contains the words "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES • USA" around the perimeter. Inside the circle is a stylized symbol consisting of three curved lines that resemble a human figure.
Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
2003 JUL 1
Mr. Kenneth K. Kleinhenz Director of Regulatory Affairs MacroPore Biosurgery, Inc. 6740 Top Gun Street San Diego, California 92121
Re: K024169
Trade/Device Name: MacroPore OS Reconstruction System Regulation Number: 21 CFR 878.3300, 888.3030, 888.3040 Regulation Name: Surgical mesh, Single/multiple component metallic bone fixation appliances and accessories, Smooth or threaded metallic bone fixation fastener Regulatory Class: II
Product Code: EZX, HRS, HWC, and MAI Dated: April 4, 2003 Received: April 7, 2003
Dear Mr. Kleinhenz:
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
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Page 2 - Mr. Kenneth K. Kleinhenz
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. 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), please contact the Office of Compliance at (301) 594-4659. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21CFR Part 807.97). You may obtain other general information on your responsibilities under the Act 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 yours,
Sincerely yours,
Mark N. Wilkerson
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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# Device Name: MacroPore OS Reconstruction System
# Indications for Use:
The MacroPore OS Reconstruction System is intended to maintain the relative position of weak bony tissue such as bone graft substitutes, or bone fragments from comminuted fractures. The flat Protective Sheets with pore sizes up to 2.5mm are also indicated for cement restriction in total joint arthroplasty procedures.
Only when used in conjunction with traditional rigid fixation, the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System is intended to maintain the relative position of weak bony tissue in trauma and reconstructive orthopedic procedures involving:
- · Long bones
- Flat bones
- Short bones
- · Irregular bones
- · Appendicular skeleton
- Thorax
When used alone (without traditional rigid fixation), the MacroPore OS Reconstruction System is intended to maintain the relative position of bone graft substitutes in reconstructive orthopedic procedures involving:
- · Tumor resections where bone strength has not been compromised
- · Iliac crest harvests
- · Ribs (excluding multiple segmental defects such as those found in flail chest)
This device is not intended for use in the spine. The device is not intended for load bearing indications unless used in conjunction with traditional rigid fixation.
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE - CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NECESSARY)
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Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
Prescription Use***_***_
Over-The-Counter Use - - -
510(k) Number
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.