510(k) Report

510(k) · Cleared

Cleared

Ethi-Pack* Surgical Stainless Steel Suture

K931271510(k) TraditionalCleared Jan 7, 1994305-day reviewClass II21 CFR 878.4495

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

ETHICON, Inc. · GAQ Suture, Nonabsorbable, Steel, Monofilament And Multifilament, Sterile

Cleared on Jan 7, 1994 after a 305-day review. FDA has not posted a summary or statement for it, so its predicates are not known. 114 later devices descend from it.

Decided
Jan 7, 1994
Review
305 days
Class
Class II
Product code
GAQ
Recalls
None
Predicates
0

114 later devices descend from it, 19 citing it directly.

Descendants, by year cleared 2011: 5 descendants cleared2012: 4 descendants cleared2006: 2 descendants cleared2009: 1 descendant cleared2018: 4 descendants cleared2001: 1 descendant cleared2003: 3 descendants cleared2016: 6 descendants cleared2014: 6 descendants cleared2002: 1 descendant cleared1999: 1 descendant cleared2007: 2 descendants cleared2022: 10 descendants cleared2010: 1 descendant cleared2024: 16 descendants cleared2013: 1 descendant cleared2020: 1 descendant cleared2025: 15 descendants cleared2021: 3 descendants cleared2023: 8 descendants cleared2008: 1 descendant cleared2019: 3 descendants cleared2015: 6 descendants cleared2026: 13 descendants cleared1990200020102020
  1. This deviceK931271 Ethi-Pack* Surgical Stainless Steel SutureETHICON, Inc. · 1994
  2. Descendant · cites it directly · 85 of its ownK110789 Synthes Sternal Zipfix SystemSynthes (Usa) · 2011 · Recalled
  3. Descendant · cites it directly · 78 of its ownK111908 Biomet Microfixation Sternal Closure SystemBiomet Microfixation, Inc. · 2011
  4. Descendant · 2 generations on · 75 of its ownK121302 Biomet Microfixation Sternal Closure SystemBiomet Microfixation · 2012
  5. Descendant · cites it directly · 62 of its ownK051165 KLS Martin Sternal TalonKLS-Martin L.P. · 2006
  6. Descendant · 2 generations on · 61 of its ownK070169 KLS Martin Quick Disc, Sternal Talon and Sternal Plating - SterileKLS Martin L.P. · 2007

Showing 5 of 114 descendants. See all descendants

Descendants cleared per year

1999: 12001: 12002: 12003: 32006: 22007: 22008: 12009: 12010: 12011: 52012: 42013: 12014: 62015: 62016: 62018: 42019: 32020: 12021: 32022: 102023: 82024: 162025: 152026: 13
1999high 16 (2024) · low 0 (2000)2026

Most influential descendants

Showing 5 of 114 · See all
  • K110789Synthes Sternal Zipfix SystemSynthes (Usa) · 2011 · cites it directly85descendants
  • K111908Biomet Microfixation Sternal Closure SystemBiomet Microfixation, Inc. · 2011 · cites it directly78descendants
  • K121302Biomet Microfixation Sternal Closure SystemBiomet Microfixation · 2012 · 2 generations on75descendants
  • K051165KLS Martin Sternal TalonKLS-Martin L.P. · 2006 · cites it directly62descendants
  • K070169KLS Martin Quick Disc, Sternal Talon and Sternal Plating - SterileKLS Martin L.P. · 2007 · 2 generations on61descendants
View FIG. 1 as a table

Line of descent and top descendants

GenerationNumberDeviceApplicantDecidedRecalls
0 (this device)K931271Ethi-Pack* Surgical Stainless Steel SutureETHICON, Inc.1994—
+1K110789Synthes Sternal Zipfix SystemSynthes (Usa)20113
+1K111908Biomet Microfixation Sternal Closure SystemBiomet Microfixation, Inc.2011—
+2K121302Biomet Microfixation Sternal Closure SystemBiomet Microfixation2012—
+1K051165KLS Martin Sternal TalonKLS-Martin L.P.2006—
+2K070169KLS Martin Quick Disc, Sternal Talon and Sternal Plating - SterileKLS Martin L.P.2007—

Descendants by year cleared

Year clearedDevicesWith a Class I recall
199910
200110
200210
200330
200620
200720
200810
200910
201010
201150
201240
201310
201460
201560
201660
201840
201930
202010
202130
2022100
202380
2024160
2025150
2026130
FIG. 1 — Lineage of K931271, 1994–2026Source: 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), FDA recall and enforcement reports, and MAUDE; processed by 510(k) Report. Verify on FDA.gov · Methodology and accuracy.

Planning a device in GAQ? 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 GAQ device

  1. #1 K203855 CoNextions TR Tendon Repair Systemscore 3.8 · 3 generations · no Class I recall
  2. #2 Held for the reportin the report
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What was it cleared against?

FDA has not posted a summary or statement for it, so its predicates are not known.

What descends from it? (114)

See all 114

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

NumberDeviceApplicantDecidedDescendants
K110789Synthes Sternal Zipfix SystemSynthes (Usa)201185
K111908Biomet Microfixation Sternal Closure SystemBiomet Microfixation, Inc.201178
K051165KLS Martin Sternal TalonKLS-Martin L.P.200662
K151983KLS Martin LSS Plating SystemKLS Martin L.P.201645
K991073Acier SuturesCardio Thoracic Systems199911
K013059Stony Brook Surgical Innovaions Sterna-Wire (Sternal Sutures)Stony Brook Surgical Innovations, Inc.20017
K101484Compressyn BandDallen Medical20115
K023594Teno FixOrtheon Medical, LLC20035
K023411Steelex Sternum SetAesculap, Inc.20024
K173579Thorecon™ Fixation SystemA & E Medical Corporation20181

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?

  • Of its descendants, K110789 (Synthes (Usa), 2011) has gone furthest, with 85 descendants of its own.

How does its category compare?

All GAQ devices

GAQ Suture, Nonabsorbable, Steel, Monofilament And Multifilament, Sterile: FDA decisions, review times, recalls and adverse event reports over 20 years.

FDA decisions per year · GAQ

1in 2022

2007: 12008: 22014: 22017: 12018: 12020: 12022: 1
2007high 2 (2008) · low 0 (2009)2026

2026 to Oct 25, outlined.

Median 510(k) review, days · GAQ

Too few GAQ 510(k)s in any year since 2007 to give a median.

Recalls per year · GAQ

2so far in 2026, the most since 2007

2026 (partial year): 2
2007high 2 (2026) · low 0 (2007)2026

Class I (0 since 2007) Class II/III not classified

Adverse event reports per year · GAQ

83in 2025

2007: 72008: 42009: 72010: 132011: 192012: 102013: 162014: 182015: 172016: 232017: 112018: 532019: 762020: 522021: 392022: 702023: 1002024: 1762025: 83
2007high 176 (2024) · low 4 (2008)2025

MAUDE reports naming product code GAQ, 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
20071—07
20082—04
20090—07
20100—013
20110—019
20120—010
20130—016
20142—018
20150—017
20160—023
20171—011
20181—053
20190—076
20201—052
20210—039
20221—070
20230—0100
20240—0176
20250—083
20260—2—
Cite this page

510(k) Report. “K931271: Ethi-Pack* Surgical Stainless Steel Suture.” Lineage record from FDA 510(k) data and the FDA summary. Updated Nov 3, 2026. Accessed Nov 4, 2026. https://510kreport.com/device/K931271

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Record history
  • FDA decision record loaded May 2, 2026
  • Lineage and recalls computed Nov 3, 2026
  • Page last updated Nov 3, 2026