510(k) · Cleared
ClearedVariLift-LX Interbody Fusion System, VariLift-C Interbody Fusion System
Data to Oct 25, 2026 (FDA decisions) Oct 12, 2026 (recalls) Sep 30, 2026 (MAUDE) refreshed weekly
Wenzel Spine, Inc. · MAX Intervertebral Fusion Device With Bone Graft, Lumbar
Cleared on Jan 28, 2019 as substantially equivalent to K151900 (Wenzel Spine, Inc., 2015) and 2 other predicates after a 304-day review. Its family tree reaches back 19 generations to 1984. 5 later devices descend from it.
- Decided
- Jan 28, 2019
- Review
- 304 days
- Class
- Class II
- Product code
- MAX
- Recalls
- None
- Predicates
- 3
Its longest line of descent runs back 19 generations to K841189 (1984). 241 ancestors in all. 5 later devices descend from it, 1 citing it directly.
- Root · 19 generations backK841189 Oec/Rezaian Spinal FixatorOrthopedic Equipment Co., Inc. · 1984
- 15 generations between
- 3 generations backK143163 AVS® AL and ALign PEEK Spacers, AVS® PL and UniLIF PEEK Spacers…Stryker Corporation · 2015
- 2 generations backK150788 Talos Intervertebral Body Fusion Devices, Talos -C Cervical…Meditech Spine, LLC · 2015
- 1 generation backK160924 Amendia Interbody Fusion DevicesAmendia, Inc. · 2016
- This deviceK180822 VariLift-LX Interbody Fusion System, VariLift-C Interbody Fusion…Wenzel Spine, Inc. · 2019
- Descendant · cites it directly · 4 of its ownK231076 VariLift®-C Interbody Fusion SystemWenzel Spine, Inc. · 2023
- Descendant · 2 generations on · 2 of its ownK240830 Reef TO/TA System; Regatta Lateral System; Explorer TO System…Orthofix Medical, Inc. · 2024
- Descendant · 2 generations on · 0 of its ownK262595 VariLift-C Cervical Interbody Fusion SystemWenzel Spine, Inc. · 2026
- Descendant · 3 generations on · 0 of its ownK253420 Admiral ACP System; Explorer TO System; Laminoplasty System; Manta…SeaSpine Orthopedics Corporation · 2026
- Descendant · 3 generations on · 0 of its ownK251617 X-PAC® TLIF Expandable Posterior Cage System; X-PAC® LLIF Expandable…Expanding Innovations, Inc. · 2025
Show all 19 generations
- Root · 19 generations backK841189 Oec/Rezaian Spinal FixatorOrthopedic Equipment Co., Inc. · 1984
- 18 generations backK990148 Stackable Cage SystemDepuy Motech Acromed · 1999
- 17 generations backK003043 Surgical Titanium Mesh SystemDepuyacromed · 2001
- 16 generations backK022793 Tetris Spinal ImplantSignus Medical, LLC · 2003
- 15 generations backK031757 Peek Tetris Spinal ImplantSignus Medical, LLC · 2003
- 14 generations backK041888 Curved Peek Tetris Spinal ImplantSignus Medizintechnik GmbH · 2004
- 13 generations backK042930 Spacevision Cage SystemSpine Vision, Inc. · 2004
- 12 generations backK062759 Paramount VBR SystemInnovative Spinal Technologies, Inc. · 2007
- 11 generations backK072120 Paramount Intervertebral Body Fusion DeviceInnovative Spinal Technologies, Inc. · 2007
- 10 generations backK073291 Capstone Spinal SystemMedtronic Sofamor Danek USA, Inc. · 2008
- 9 generations backK094025 Crescent Spinal SystemMedtronic Sofamor Danek · 2010
- 8 generations backK110543 Crescent (R) Spinal System TitaniumMedtronic Sofamor Danek USA, Inc. · 2011
- 7 generations backK121683 Acculif TL CageCoalign Innovations, Inc. · 2012
- 6 generations backK123752 Acculif TL and PL CageCoalign Innovations, Inc. · 2013
- 5 generations backK132505 Acculif TL and PL CageCoalign Innovations, Inc. · 2013 · Recalled
- 4 generations backK141217 Acculif TL and PL CageStryker Corporation · 2014 · Recalled
- 3 generations backK143163 AVS® AL and ALign PEEK Spacers, AVS® PL and UniLIF PEEK Spacers…Stryker Corporation · 2015
- 2 generations backK150788 Talos Intervertebral Body Fusion Devices, Talos -C Cervical…Meditech Spine, LLC · 2015
- 1 generation backK160924 Amendia Interbody Fusion DevicesAmendia, Inc. · 2016
- This deviceK180822 VariLift-LX Interbody Fusion System, VariLift-C Interbody Fusion…Wenzel Spine, Inc. · 2019
Most influential descendants
Showing 5 of 5 · See all- K231076VariLift®-C Interbody Fusion SystemWenzel Spine, Inc. · 2023 · cites it directly4descendants
- K240830Reef TO/TA System; Regatta Lateral System; Explorer TO System; WaveForm C Interbody…Orthofix Medical, Inc. · 2024 · 2 generations on2descendants
- K262595VariLift-C Cervical Interbody Fusion SystemWenzel Spine, Inc. · 2026 · 2 generations on0descendants
- K253420Admiral ACP System; Explorer TO System; Laminoplasty System; Manta Ray TDF Spacer…SeaSpine Orthopedics Corporation · 2026 · 3 generations on0descendants
- K251617X-PAC® TLIF Expandable Posterior Cage System; X-PAC® LLIF Expandable Lateral Cage SystemExpanding Innovations, Inc. · 2025 · 3 generations on0descendants
View FIG. 1 as a table
Line of descent and top descendants
| Generation | Number | Device | Applicant | Decided | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| −19 | K841189 | Oec/Rezaian Spinal Fixator | Orthopedic Equipment Co., Inc. | 1984 | — |
| −18 | K990148 | Stackable Cage System | Depuy Motech Acromed | 1999 | — |
| −17 | K003043 | Surgical Titanium Mesh System | Depuyacromed | 2001 | — |
| −16 | K022793 | Tetris Spinal Implant | Signus Medical, LLC | 2003 | — |
| −15 | K031757 | Peek Tetris Spinal Implant | Signus Medical, LLC | 2003 | — |
| −14 | K041888 | Curved Peek Tetris Spinal Implant | Signus Medizintechnik GmbH | 2004 | — |
| −13 | K042930 | Spacevision Cage System | Spine Vision, Inc. | 2004 | — |
| −12 | K062759 | Paramount VBR System | Innovative Spinal Technologies, Inc. | 2007 | — |
| −11 | K072120 | Paramount Intervertebral Body Fusion Device | Innovative Spinal Technologies, Inc. | 2007 | — |
| −10 | K073291 | Capstone Spinal System | Medtronic Sofamor Danek USA, Inc. | 2008 | — |
| −9 | K094025 | Crescent Spinal System | Medtronic Sofamor Danek | 2010 | — |
| −8 | K110543 | Crescent (R) Spinal System Titanium | Medtronic Sofamor Danek USA, Inc. | 2011 | — |
| −7 | K121683 | Acculif TL Cage | Coalign Innovations, Inc. | 2012 | — |
| −6 | K123752 | Acculif TL and PL Cage | Coalign Innovations, Inc. | 2013 | — |
| −5 | K132505 | Acculif TL and PL Cage | Coalign Innovations, Inc. | 2013 | 3 |
| −4 | K141217 | Acculif TL and PL Cage | Stryker Corporation | 2014 | 3 |
| −3 | K143163 | AVS® AL and ALign PEEK Spacers, AVS® PL and UniLIF PEEK Spacers, AVS® TL PEEK… | Stryker Corporation | 2015 | — |
| −2 | K150788 | Talos Intervertebral Body Fusion Devices, Talos -C Cervical Intervertebral… | Meditech Spine, LLC | 2015 | — |
| −1 | K160924 | Amendia Interbody Fusion Devices | Amendia, Inc. | 2016 | — |
| 0 (this device) | K180822 | VariLift-LX Interbody Fusion System, VariLift-C Interbody Fusion System | Wenzel Spine, Inc. | 2019 | — |
| +1 | K231076 | VariLift®-C Interbody Fusion System | Wenzel Spine, Inc. | 2023 | — |
| +2 | K240830 | Reef TO/TA System; Regatta Lateral System; Explorer TO System; WaveForm C… | Orthofix Medical, Inc. | 2024 | — |
| +2 | K262595 | VariLift-C Cervical Interbody Fusion System | Wenzel Spine, Inc. | 2026 | — |
| +3 | K253420 | Admiral ACP System; Explorer TO System; Laminoplasty System; Manta Ray TDF… | SeaSpine Orthopedics Corporation | 2026 | — |
| +3 | K251617 | X-PAC® TLIF Expandable Posterior Cage System; X-PAC® LLIF Expandable Lateral… | Expanding Innovations, Inc. | 2025 | — |
Other ancestors by year cleared
| Year cleared | Devices | With a Class I recall |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 | 0 |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 | 2 | 0 |
| 2001 | 10 | 0 |
| 2002 | 8 | 0 |
| 2003 | 14 | 0 |
| 2004 | 22 | 0 |
| 2005 | 16 | 0 |
| 2006 | 7 | 0 |
| 2007 | 11 | 0 |
| 2008 | 35 | 0 |
| 2009 | 24 | 0 |
| 2010 | 16 | 0 |
| 2011 | 17 | 0 |
| 2012 | 8 | 0 |
| 2013 | 12 | 0 |
| 2014 | 9 | 0 |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 |
Descendants by year cleared
| Year cleared | Devices | With a Class I recall |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
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 MAX? 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 MAX device
- #1 K203714 NuVasive Thoracolumbar Interbody Systems…score 102.5 · 24 generations · no Class I recall
- #2 Held for the reportin the report
- #3 Held for the reportin the 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.
| Type | Number | Device | Decided |
|---|---|---|---|
| * | K151900 | VariLift-L Interbody Fusion DeviceSummary page 7…prior to treatment with an intervertebral fusion device. Predicate Devices VariLift-LX Interbody Fusion Device Primary Predicate: VariLift®-L Interbody Fusion Device, K151900 Additional Predicate: Amendia Interbody Fusion Devices, K160924 VariLift-C Interbody Fusion Device Primary Predicate: VariLift-C… | 2015 |
| * | K160924 | Amendia Interbody Fusion DevicesSummary page 7…ate Devices VariLift-LX Interbody Fusion Device Primary Predicate: VariLift®-L Interbody Fusion Device, K151900 Additional Predicate: Amendia Interbody Fusion Devices, K160924 VariLift-C Interbody Fusion Device Primary Predicate: VariLift-C Interbody Fusion Device, K120603 Additional Predicate: Amendia… | 2016 |
| * | K120603 | Varilift -CSummary page 7…evice, K151900 Additional Predicate: Amendia Interbody Fusion Devices, K160924 VariLift-C Interbody Fusion Device Primary Predicate: VariLift-C Interbody Fusion Device, K120603 Additional Predicate: Amendia Interbody Fusion Devices, K160924 Summary of Technological Characteristics VariLift-LX Interbody… | 2013 |
What descends from it? (5)
1 later device cites it directly; ranked here by how many devices descend from each in turn.
| Number | Device | Decided | Descendants |
|---|---|---|---|
| K231076 | VariLift®-C Interbody Fusion System | 2023 | 4 |
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 35 years and passes through 14 companies; a new generation was cleared every 11 months on median.
- 25 of the 241 ancestors have a recall of any class.
- Of its descendants, K231076 (Wenzel Spine, Inc., 2023) has gone furthest, with 4 descendants of its own.
- 1 other device also cites its predicate K151900.
How does its category compare?
All MAX devicesMAX Intervertebral Fusion Device With Bone Graft, Lumbar: FDA decisions, review times, recalls and adverse event reports over 20 years. 2019, this device’s year, is highlighted.
FDA decisions per year · MAX
29in 2025
2026 to Oct 25, outlined.
Median 510(k) review, days · MAX
85in 2025
Receipt to decision; years with fewer than 3 clearances left blank.
Recalls per year · MAX
5in 2025
Class I (1 since 2007) Class II/III not classified
Adverse event reports per year · MAX
811in 2025
MAUDE reports naming product code MAX, not matched to any one device; reports are not rates.
View these four charts as a table
| Year | Decisions | Median 510(k) review, days | Recalls (Class I) | MAUDE reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 7 | 86 | 0 | 12 |
| 2008 | 35 | 88 | 2 | 19 |
| 2009 | 31 | 102 | 9 | 90 |
| 2010 | 29 | 137 | 0 | 154 |
| 2011 | 49 | 98 | 3 | 201 |
| 2012 | 48 | 69 | 11 (1) | 327 |
| 2013 | 58 | 102 | 0 | 380 |
| 2014 | 58 | 115 | 3 | 366 |
| 2015 | 53 | 113 | 1 | 524 |
| 2016 | 64 | 124 | 6 | 647 |
| 2017 | 76 | 116 | 1 | 596 |
| 2018 | 64 | 114 | 4 | 616 |
| 2019 | 60 | 131 | 1 | 699 |
| 2020 | 56 | 106 | 0 | 640 |
| 2021 | 53 | 109 | 0 | 622 |
| 2022 | 41 | 95 | 1 | 618 |
| 2023 | 30 | 87 | 0 | 576 |
| 2024 | 38 | 91 | 1 | 729 |
| 2025 | 29 | 85 | 5 | 811 |
| 2026 | 18 | 95 | 0 | — |
What is it indicated for?
The Wenzel Spine VariLift® Cervical Interbody Fusion System is indicated for use in skeletally mature patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine with accompanying radicular symptoms at one disc level. DDD is defined as discogenic pain with degeneration of the disc confirmed by patient history and radiographic studies. These DDD patients may have up to Grade 1 spondylolisthesis or retrolisthesis at the involved level. The Wenzel…
Read the full statement (327 words)
The Wenzel Spine VariLift® Cervical Interbody Fusion System is indicated for use in skeletally mature patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine with accompanying radicular symptoms at one disc level. DDD is defined as discogenic pain with degeneration of the disc confirmed by patient history and radiographic studies. These DDD patients may have up to Grade 1 spondylolisthesis or retrolisthesis at the involved level.
The Wenzel Spine VariLift Cervical Interbody Fusion System is used to facilitate intervertebral body fusion in the cervical spine and is placed in a unilateral or a bilateral fashion via an anterior approach at the C3 to C7 disc levels using autograft and/or allograft comprised of cancellous and/or corticocancellous bone graft. The Wenzel Spine VariLift Cervical Interbody Fusion System may be used with or without supplemental fixation. Patients should have at least six (6) weeks of non-operative treatment prior to treatment with an intervertebral fusion device.
The Wenzel Spine VariLift® Interbody Fusion System (VariLift®-L/LX and VariLift®-A) is indicated for intervertebral body fusion of the lumbar spine, from L2 to S1, in skeletally mature patients who have had six months of non-operative treatment. The device is intended for use at either one level or two contiguous levels for the treatment of degenerative disc disease (DDD) with up to Grade I spondylolisthesis. DDD is defined as back pain of discogenic origin with degeneration of the disc confirmed by history and radiographic studies.
VariLift®-L/LX is designed to be implanted bi-laterally via a posterior (PLIF) approach or as a single device via a transverse (TLIF) approach. VariLift®-L/LX may be implanted with or without supplemental fixation and is intended for use with autograft and/or allograft comprised of cancellous and/or corticocancellous bone graft to facilitate fusion. VariLift®-A is designed to be implanted bi-laterally via an anterior (ALIF) approach. VariLift®-A may be implanted with or without supplemental fixation and is intended for use with autograft and/or allograft comprised of cancellous and/or corticocancellous bone graft to facilitate fusion.
Indications for use read by OCR from a scanned FDA summary, so letters may be misread. Check the PDF before quoting it.
https://510kreport.com/device/K180822 · printed Nov 4, 2026
Cite this page
510(k) Report. “K180822: VariLift-LX Interbody Fusion System, VariLift-C Interbody Fusion System.” Lineage record from FDA 510(k) data and the FDA summary. Updated Nov 3, 2026. Accessed Nov 4, 2026. https://510kreport.com/device/K180822
Report an extraction error
Are you the manufacturer?
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