510(k) Report

510(k) · Cleared

Cleared

Caiman Seal and Cut Technology

K130596510(k) SpecialCleared Mar 22, 201315-day reviewClass II21 CFR 878.4400

Data to Oct 25, 2026 (FDA decisions) Oct 12, 2026 (recalls) Sep 30, 2026 (MAUDE) refreshed weekly, last Nov 3, 2026

Aesculap, Inc. · GEI Electrosurgical, Cutting & Coagulation & Accessories

Cleared on Mar 22, 2013 as substantially equivalent to K090306 (Aragon Surgical, Inc., 2009) and 2 other predicates after a 15-day review. Its family tree reaches back 7 generations to 1994. 6 later devices descend from it.

Decided
Mar 22, 2013
Review
15 days
Class
Class II
Product code
GEI
Recalls
None
Predicates
3

Its longest line of descent runs back 7 generations to K932293 (1994). 18 ancestors in all. 6 later devices descend from it, 3 citing it directly.

  1. Root · 7 generations backK932293 Cabot Medical Bipolar Cutting ForcepsCabot Medical Corp. · 1994 · Recalled
  2. 6 generations backK981916 Ligasure Vessel Sealing SystemValleylab, Inc. · 1998
  3. 5 generations backK031011 Ligasure 5MM Laparoscopic Sealer-Divider, Model LS1500Valleylab, Inc. · 2003 · Recalled
  4. 4 generations backK041587 Ligasure Precise Model #LS1200/Ligasure 5MM Laparoscopic Sealer…Valleylab · 2004
  5. 3 generations backK081312 Aragon Oneshot SystemAragon Surgical, Inc. · 2008
  6. 2 generations backK090306 Aragon Surgical RF System L2 InstrumentAragon Surgical, Inc. · 2009
  7. 1 generation backK093075 Aragon Surgical RF System Teleo InstrumentAragon Surgical, Inc. · 2010 · Recalled
  8. This deviceK130596 Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc. · 2013
  9. Descendant · cites it directly · 2 of its ownK151696 Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc. · 2015
  10. Descendant · cites it directly · 1 of its ownK140839 Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc. · 2014
  11. Descendant · cites it directly · 0 of its ownK203461 Aesculap Caiman 12 Seal and Cut Technology SystemAesculap, Inc. · 2020
  12. Descendant · 2 generations on · 0 of its ownK202938 Aesculap Caiman 5 Seal and Cut Technology SystemAesculap, Inc. · 2020
  13. Descendant · 2 generations on · 0 of its ownK183180 Caiman 5 MarylandAesculap, Inc. · 2019 · Recalled

Showing 5 of 6 descendants. See all descendants

Descendants cleared per year

2014: 12015: 22019: 12020: 2
2014high 2 (2015) · low 0 (2016)2026

Most influential descendants

Showing 5 of 6 · See all
  • K151696Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc. · 2015 · cites it directly2descendants
  • K140839Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc. · 2014 · cites it directly1descendant
  • K203461Aesculap Caiman 12 Seal and Cut Technology SystemAesculap, Inc. · 2020 · cites it directly0descendants
  • K202938Aesculap Caiman 5 Seal and Cut Technology SystemAesculap, Inc. · 2020 · 2 generations on0descendants
  • K183180Caiman 5 MarylandAesculap, Inc. · 2019 · 2 generations on0descendants
View FIG. 1 as a table

Line of descent and top descendants

GenerationNumberDeviceApplicantDecidedRecalls
−7K932293Cabot Medical Bipolar Cutting ForcepsCabot Medical Corp.19943
−6K981916Ligasure Vessel Sealing SystemValleylab, Inc.1998—
−5K031011Ligasure 5MM Laparoscopic Sealer-Divider, Model LS1500Valleylab, Inc.20032
−4K041587Ligasure Precise Model #LS1200/Ligasure 5MM Laparoscopic Sealer Divider Model…Valleylab2004—
−3K081312Aragon Oneshot SystemAragon Surgical, Inc.2008—
−2K090306Aragon Surgical RF System L2 InstrumentAragon Surgical, Inc.2009—
−1K093075Aragon Surgical RF System Teleo InstrumentAragon Surgical, Inc.20102
0 (this device)K130596Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc.2013—
+1K151696Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc.2015—
+1K140839Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc.2014—
+1K203461Aesculap Caiman 12 Seal and Cut Technology SystemAesculap, Inc.2020—
+2K202938Aesculap Caiman 5 Seal and Cut Technology SystemAesculap, Inc.2020—
+2K183180Caiman 5 MarylandAesculap, Inc.20191

Other ancestors by year cleared

Year clearedDevicesWith a Class I recall
199540
199610
200120
200510
200710
200910
201110

Descendants by year cleared

Year clearedDevicesWith a Class I recall
201410
201520
201910
202020
FIG. 1 — Lineage of K130596, 1994–2020Source: FDA 510(k) summaries, read by 510(k) Report · How lineage is built

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Notable FDA decisions, review times and new Class I recalls. See an issue.

Sources: FDA 510(k) database (decision fields), the FDA summary (predicates and indications), FDA recall and enforcement reports, and MAUDE; processed by 510(k) Report. Verify on FDA.gov · Methodology and accuracy.

Planning a device in GEI? A 510(k) Report weighs predicate choices, recall history and review times for a new device like this one.

Top candidate predicates for a new GEI device

  1. #1 K231790 The InMode System with the Morpheus8 Applicatorsscore 32.7 · 21 generations · no Class I recall
  2. #2 Held for the reportin the report
  3. #3 Held for the reportin the report
Get a 510(k) Report

What was it cleared against? (3)

Devices the submitter claimed this one is substantially equivalent to (*), and reference devices cited for a specific test or feature (†), as written in the FDA summary.

TypeNumberDeviceApplicantDecidedRecalls
*K090306Aragon Surgical RF System L2 Instrument
Summary page 1
…GEL SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCE Caima n Seal and Cut Technology is substantially equivalent to the Aragon Surgical RF System Laparoscopic (L2) Instrument cleared via K090306, the Aragon Surgical REF System Teleo Instrument cleared via K093075 and the Aragon Surgical RE System- 5mm Laparoscopic Instrume…
Aragon Surgical, Inc.2009—
*K093075Aragon Surgical RF System Teleo Instrument
Summary page 1
…s substantially equivalent to the Aragon Surgical RF System Laparoscopic (L2) Instrument cleared via K090306, the Aragon Surgical REF System Teleo Instrument cleared via K093075 and the Aragon Surgical RE System- 5mm Laparoscopic Instrument cleared via KI 10824. DEVICE DESCRIPTION Caiman Seal and Cut Tech…
Aragon Surgical, Inc.20102
*K110824Aragon Surgical RF System - 5MM Laparoscopic InstrumentAragon Surgical, Inc.2011—

Also cleared against K090306: 2 other devices →

What descends from it? (6)

3 later devices cite it directly; ranked here by how many devices descend from each in turn.

NumberDeviceApplicantDecidedDescendants
K151696Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc.20152
K140839Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc.20141
K203461Aesculap Caiman 12 Seal and Cut Technology SystemAesculap, Inc.20200

Has anything in its family been recalled? (0 Class I)

No FDA recall names this device.

No ancestor or descendant has a Class I recall.

What does this lineage say?

  • The line of descent spans 19 years and passes through 5 companies; a new generation was cleared every 3.2 years on median.
  • 5 of the 18 ancestors have a recall of any class.
  • Of its descendants, K151696 (Aesculap, Inc., 2015) has gone furthest, with 2 descendants of its own.
  • 2 other devices also cite its predicate K090306.

How does its category compare?

All GEI devices

GEI Electrosurgical, Cutting & Coagulation & Accessories: FDA decisions, review times, recalls and adverse event reports over 20 years. 2013, this device’s year, is highlighted.

FDA decisions per year · GEI

52in 2025

2007: 502008: 612009: 422010: 462011: 352012: 392013: 482014: 492015: 472016: 642017: 522018: 472019: 482020: 592021: 462022: 552023: 652024: 592025: 522026 (partial year): 43
2007high 65 (2023) · low 35 (2011)2026

2026 to Oct 25, outlined.

Median 510(k) review, days · GEI

113in 2025

2007: 51 days median2008: 71 days median2009: 130 days median2010: 109 days median2011: 135 days median2012: 133 days median2013: 136 days median2014: 103 days median2015: 123 days median2016: 108 days median2017: 72 days median2018: 93 days median2019: 93 days median2020: 105 days median2021: 146 days median2022: 150 days median2023: 104 days median2024: 125 days median2025: 113 days median2026 (partial year): 183 days median
2007high 183 (2026) · low 51 (2007)2026

Receipt to decision; years with fewer than 3 clearances left blank.

Recalls per year · GEI

4in 2025

2007: 212008: 192009: 272010: 512011: 322012: 302013: 132014: 32015: 42016: 32017: 22018: 62019: 52020: 12021: 62022: 492023: 27, 4 Class I2024: 22, 10 Class I2025: 42026 (partial year): 8
2007high 51 (2010) · low 1 (2020)2026

Class I (14 since 2007) Class II/III not classified

Adverse event reports per year · GEI

7,592in 2025

2007: 2,7952008: 2,5562009: 3,5912010: 3,3772011: 4,4632012: 5,2162013: 4,8972014: 4,9082015: 4,9362016: 5,6162017: 6,0732018: 6,5452019: 7,0672020: 6,4902021: 6,3542022: 6,1032023: 7,1762024: 7,8972025: 7,592
2007high 7,897 (2024) · low 2,556 (2008)2025

MAUDE reports naming product code GEI, not matched to any one device; reports are not rates.

View these four charts as a table
YearDecisionsMedian 510(k) review, daysRecalls (Class I)MAUDE reports
20075051212,795
20086171192,556
200942130273,591
201046109513,377
201135135324,463
201239133305,216
201348136134,897
20144910334,908
20154712344,936
20166410835,616
2017527226,073
2018479366,545
2019489357,067
20205910516,490
20214614666,354
202255150496,103
20236510427 (4)7,176
20245912522 (10)7,897
20255211347,592
2026431838—

What is it indicated for?

Caiman Seal and Cut Technology consists of dedicated bipolar electrosurgical instruments intended for use in general surgery and gynecologic surgical procedures where ligation and division of vessels is desired. The instruments create a seal by the application of bipolar electrosurgical RF energy (coagulation) to vascular structure (vessels) interposed between the jaws of the device. A cutting blade is actuated for the division of tissue. The Caiman 12…

Read the full statement (197 words)

Caiman Seal and Cut Technology consists of dedicated bipolar electrosurgical instruments intended for use in general surgery and gynecologic surgical procedures where ligation and division of vessels is desired. The instruments create a seal by the application of bipolar electrosurgical RF energy (coagulation) to vascular structure (vessels) interposed between the jaws of the device. A cutting blade is actuated for the division of tissue.

The Caiman 12 Plus (44cm) and the Caiman 5 are indicated for laparoscopic procedures and the Caiman 12 Plus (24cm) is indicated for open procedures. The indications for use include general surgical procedures, (including urologic, vascular, thoracic, and thoracoscopic), and gynecological procedures where ligation and division of vessels is performed. These procedures include: vaginal hysterectomies, Nissen flindoplication, colectomy, adhesiolysis, bowel resection, and oophorectomy etc., or any procedure where vessel ligation (seal and cut), tissue grasping, and dissection is performed. The devices can be used on vessels up to and including 7mm and bundles as large as will fit in the jaws of the instrument.

Caiman Seal and Cut Technology has not been shown to be effective for tubal sterilization or tubal coagulation for sterilization procedures. Do not use the system for these procedures.

Indications for use as stated in the FDA summary.

Cite this page

510(k) Report. “K130596: Caiman Seal and Cut Technology.” Lineage record from FDA 510(k) data and the FDA summary. Updated Nov 3, 2026. Accessed Nov 6, 2026. https://510kreport.com/device/K130596

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Record history
  • FDA decision record loaded May 2, 2026
  • Summary read Oct 13, 2026 (extraction version 9eaa42aa01ed)
  • Lineage and recalls computed Nov 3, 2026
  • Page last updated Nov 3, 2026