510(k) Report

510(k) · Cleared

Recalled · Class II · 2023

Caiman 5 Maryland

K183180510(k) TraditionalCleared Mar 12, 2019113-day reviewClass II21 CFR 878.4400Recalls 1

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 12, 2019 as substantially equivalent to K151696 (Aesculap, Inc., 2015) after a 113-day review. Its family tree reaches back 9 generations to 1994. It has been recalled once.

Decided
Mar 12, 2019
Review
113 days
Class
Class II
Product code
GEI
Recalls
1
Predicates
1

Its longest line of descent runs back 9 generations to K932293 (1994). 20 ancestors in all. No later device cites it as a predicate yet.

  1. Root · 9 generations backK932293 Cabot Medical Bipolar Cutting ForcepsCabot Medical Corp. · 1994 · Recalled
  2. 5 generations between
  3. 3 generations backK093075 Aragon Surgical RF System Teleo InstrumentAragon Surgical, Inc. · 2010 · Recalled
  4. 2 generations backK130596 Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc. · 2013
  5. 1 generation backK151696 Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc. · 2015
  6. This deviceK183180 Caiman 5 MarylandAesculap, Inc. · 2019
Show all 9 generations
  1. Root · 9 generations backK932293 Cabot Medical Bipolar Cutting ForcepsCabot Medical Corp. · 1994 · Recalled
  2. 8 generations backK981916 Ligasure Vessel Sealing SystemValleylab, Inc. · 1998
  3. 7 generations backK031011 Ligasure 5MM Laparoscopic Sealer-Divider, Model LS1500Valleylab, Inc. · 2003 · Recalled
  4. 6 generations backK041587 Ligasure Precise Model #LS1200/Ligasure 5MM Laparoscopic Sealer…Valleylab · 2004
  5. 5 generations backK081312 Aragon Oneshot SystemAragon Surgical, Inc. · 2008
  6. 4 generations backK090306 Aragon Surgical RF System L2 InstrumentAragon Surgical, Inc. · 2009
  7. 3 generations backK093075 Aragon Surgical RF System Teleo InstrumentAragon Surgical, Inc. · 2010 · Recalled
  8. 2 generations backK130596 Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc. · 2013
  9. 1 generation backK151696 Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc. · 2015
  10. This deviceK183180 Caiman 5 MarylandAesculap, Inc. · 2019
View FIG. 1 as a table

Line of descent and top descendants

GenerationNumberDeviceApplicantDecidedRecalls
−9K932293Cabot Medical Bipolar Cutting ForcepsCabot Medical Corp.19943
−8K981916Ligasure Vessel Sealing SystemValleylab, Inc.1998—
−7K031011Ligasure 5MM Laparoscopic Sealer-Divider, Model LS1500Valleylab, Inc.20032
−6K041587Ligasure Precise Model #LS1200/Ligasure 5MM Laparoscopic Sealer Divider Model…Valleylab2004—
−5K081312Aragon Oneshot SystemAragon Surgical, Inc.2008—
−4K090306Aragon Surgical RF System L2 InstrumentAragon Surgical, Inc.2009—
−3K093075Aragon Surgical RF System Teleo InstrumentAragon Surgical, Inc.20102
−2K130596Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc.2013—
−1K151696Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc.2015—
0 (this device)K183180Caiman 5 MarylandAesculap, Inc.2019—

Other ancestors by year cleared

Year clearedDevicesWith a Class I recall
199540
199610
200120
200510
200710
200910
201110
FIG. 1 — Lineage of K183180, 1994–2019Source: 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
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What was it cleared against? (1)

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
*K151696Caiman Seal and Cut Technology
Summary page 4
…n & Accessories REGULATION NUMBER: 21 CFR 878.4400 PRODUCT CODE: GEI REVIEW PANEL: General and Plastic Surgery PRIMARY PREDICATE K151696 – Caiman Seal and Cut Technology REFERENCE DEVICE K130596 – Caiman Seal and Cut Technology K110824 - Aragon Surgical RF System -…
Aesculap, Inc.2015—
†K130596Caiman Seal and Cut TechnologyAesculap, Inc.2013—
†K110824Aragon Surgical RF System - 5MM Laparoscopic InstrumentAragon Surgical, Inc.2011—

Also cleared against K151696: 1 other device →

What descends from it?

No later submission names this one as a predicate yet.

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

Recalls of this device

DateClassRecallRoot causeReason
Mar 21, 2023Class IIZ-1569-2023Device DesignPotential for the spring to become loose and fall out of the device, if the spring falls out during a surgical procedure, it may enter the patient's body.

No ancestor or descendant has a Class I recall.

What does this lineage say?

  • The line of descent spans 25 years and passes through 5 companies; a new generation was cleared every 3.2 years on median.
  • 5 of the 20 ancestors have a recall of any class.
  • 1 other device also cites its predicate K151696.

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. 2019, 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. Instruments…

Read the full statement (201 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.

Instruments 12.5 cm, 17 cm, and 24 cm in length are indicated for open procedures and instruments 36 cm and 44 cm in length are indicated for laparoscopic 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 fundoplication, 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. “K183180: Caiman 5 Maryland.” Lineage record from FDA 510(k) data and the FDA summary. Updated Nov 3, 2026. Accessed Nov 6, 2026. https://510kreport.com/device/K183180

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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