(85 days)
The ARx® Spinal System implants are non-cervical spinal fixation devices intended for posterior spine (T1 to S2/ilium) and posterior hook fixation (T1-L5) in skeletally mature patients and for pediatric patients to treat adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. It provides stabilization and immobilization of spinal segments as an adjunct to fusion in the treatment of acute and chronic instabilities or deformities of the posterior thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine. These devices are to be used with autograft and/or allograft. Pediatric pedicle screw fixation is limited to a posterior approach.
When used as a posterior spine thoracic/lumbar system, the ARx® Spinal System is indicated for one or more of the following: (1) degenerative disc disease (is defined as back pain of discogenic origin with degeneration of the disc confirmed by history and radiographic studies), (2) trauma (i.e. fracture or dislocation), (3) curvatures and spinal deformity (scoliosis, kyphosis, and/or lordosis), (4) spinal tumor, (5) failed previous fusion (pseudarthrosis), (6) spinal stenosis, (7) spondylolisthesis.
In order to achieve additional levels of fixation in skeletally mature patients, the ARx® Spinal System 5.5/6.0 rod system may be connected to the Solstice OccipitoCervicoThoracic Fixation System's 3.5mm rod.
The ARX® Spinal System consists of screws and longitudinal rods intended to provide temporary stabilization and immobilization following surgery to fuse a portion of the thoracic, lumbar, and/or sacral spine. The ARX® Spinal System consists of an assortment of connectors, cross connectors, rods, hooks and screws. The bone screw, head, and taper lock are assembled together during manufacturing to create the ARX® Spinal System screw assembly component. The ARX® Spinal System implant components are made from titanium alloy (Ti- 6AI-4V ELI) as described by ASTM F136 and Cobalt Chrome (Co-28Cr-6Mo) as described by ASTM F1537. Do not use any of the ARX® Spinal System components with the components from any other system or manufacturer.
This document is a 510(k) premarket notification for the ARx Spinal System, a spinal fixation device. It is important to note that this document is for a medical device (spinal implant components), not an AI/ML-driven device or diagnostic tool. Therefore, many of the requested criteria, such as acceptance criteria based on metrics like sensitivity, specificity, or AUC, sample size for AI test and training sets, expert ground truthing, and MRMC studies, are not applicable.
The "acceptance criteria" and "study that proves the device meets the acceptance criteria" in this context refer to the mechanical performance testing of the physical implant components.
Here's a breakdown of the applicable information:
1. Table of Acceptance Criteria and Reported Device Performance:
| Acceptance Criteria (Test Standard) | Reported Device Performance (Summary) |
|---|---|
| ASTM F1717 | Testing performed to demonstrate substantial equivalency to predicate device. Includes Static Axial Compression Bending Testing, Static Torsion, Dynamic Compression Testing. |
| ASTM F1798 | Testing performed to demonstrate substantial equivalency to predicate device. Includes Axial Grip & Torsional Grip Testing. |
Note: The document only states that testing was performed according to these standards and that the results "demonstrate the substantial equivalency" to the predicate devices. It does not provide specific numerical results or define explicit pass/fail criteria for these mechanical tests within this summary. Such detailed results would typically be found in the full submission, not in this 510(k) summary.
2. Sample size used for the test set and the data provenance (e.g. country of origin of the data, retrospective or prospective):
- Sample size for test set: The document does not specify the number of physical samples (implants) used for each mechanical test. Mechanical testing typically involves a statistically relevant number of samples, but the exact count is not provided in this summary.
- Data provenance: Not applicable in the context of mechanical testing of physical implant components. The tests are performed in a lab setting, not on patient data.
3. Number of experts used to establish the ground truth for the test set and the qualifications of those experts:
- Not applicable. The "ground truth" for mechanical testing is established by the test standards (ASTM F1717, F1798) themselves and the physical measurements taken during the tests. There are no human experts "establishing ground truth" in the way it would be for an AI diagnostic.
4. Adjudication method (e.g. 2+1, 3+1, none) for the test set:
- Not applicable. Adjudication methods are relevant for human interpretation of data, typically in diagnostic or clinical studies. Mechanical testing results are objective measurements.
5. If a multi-reader multi-case (MRMC) comparative effectiveness study was done, If so, what was the effect size of how much human readers improve with AI vs without AI assistance:
- Not applicable. This is not an AI/ML device.
6. If a standalone (i.e. algorithm only without human-in-the-loop performance) was done:
- Not applicable. This is not an AI/ML device.
7. The type of ground truth used (expert consensus, pathology, outcomes data, etc):
- For mechanical performance, the "ground truth" is defined by the objective physical properties and performance characteristics as measured against established ASTM standards and compared to legally marketed predicate devices.
8. The sample size for the training set:
- Not applicable. This is not an AI/ML device, so there is no "training set."
9. How the ground truth for the training set was established:
- Not applicable. As there is no training set for an AI/ML model, no ground truth needed to be established in this context.
§ 888.3070 Thoracolumbosacral pedicle screw system.
(a)
Identification. (1) Rigid pedicle screw systems are comprised of multiple components, made from a variety of materials that allow the surgeon to build an implant system to fit the patient's anatomical and physiological requirements. Such a spinal implant assembly consists of a combination of screws, longitudinal members (e.g., plates, rods including dual diameter rods, plate/rod combinations), transverse or cross connectors, and interconnection mechanisms (e.g., rod-to-rod connectors, offset connectors).(2) Semi-rigid systems are defined as systems that contain one or more of the following features (including but not limited to): Non-uniform longitudinal elements, or features that allow more motion or flexibility compared to rigid systems.
(b)
Classification. (1) Class II (special controls), when intended to provide immobilization and stabilization of spinal segments in skeletally mature patients as an adjunct to fusion in the treatment of the following acute and chronic instabilities or deformities of the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine: severe spondylolisthesis (grades 3 and 4) of the L5-S1 vertebra; degenerative spondylolisthesis with objective evidence of neurologic impairment; fracture; dislocation; scoliosis; kyphosis; spinal tumor; and failed previous fusion (pseudarthrosis). These pedicle screw spinal systems must comply with the following special controls:(i) Compliance with material standards;
(ii) Compliance with mechanical testing standards;
(iii) Compliance with biocompatibility standards; and
(iv) Labeling that contains these two statements in addition to other appropriate labeling information:
“Warning: The safety and effectiveness of pedicle screw spinal systems have been established only for spinal conditions with significant mechanical instability or deformity requiring fusion with instrumentation. These conditions are significant mechanical instability or deformity of the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine secondary to severe spondylolisthesis (grades 3 and 4) of the L5-S1 vertebra, degenerative spondylolisthesis with objective evidence of neurologic impairment, fracture, dislocation, scoliosis, kyphosis, spinal tumor, and failed previous fusion (pseudarthrosis). The safety and effectiveness of these devices for any other conditions are unknown.”
“Precaution: The implantation of pedicle screw spinal systems should be performed only by experienced spinal surgeons with specific training in the use of this pedicle screw spinal system because this is a technically demanding procedure presenting a risk of serious injury to the patient.”
(2) Class II (special controls), when a rigid pedicle screw system is intended to provide immobilization and stabilization of spinal segments in the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine as an adjunct to fusion in the treatment of degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis other than either severe spondylolisthesis (grades 3 and 4) at L5-S1 or degenerative spondylolisthesis with objective evidence of neurologic impairment. These pedicle screw systems must comply with the following special controls:
(i) The design characteristics of the device, including engineering schematics, must ensure that the geometry and material composition are consistent with the intended use.
(ii) Non-clinical performance testing must demonstrate the mechanical function and durability of the implant.
(iii) Device components must be demonstrated to be biocompatible.
(iv) Validation testing must demonstrate the cleanliness and sterility of, or the ability to clean and sterilize, the device components and device-specific instruments.
(v) Labeling must include the following:
(A) A clear description of the technological features of the device including identification of device materials and the principles of device operation;
(B) Intended use and indications for use, including levels of fixation;
(C) Identification of magnetic resonance (MR) compatibility status;
(D) Cleaning and sterilization instructions for devices and instruments that are provided non-sterile to the end user; and
(E) Detailed instructions of each surgical step, including device removal.
(3) Class II (special controls), when a semi-rigid system is intended to provide immobilization and stabilization of spinal segments in the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine as an adjunct to fusion for any indication. In addition to complying with the special controls in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) through (v) of this section, these pedicle screw systems must comply with the following special controls:
(i) Demonstration that clinical performance characteristics of the device support the intended use of the product, including assessment of fusion compared to a clinically acceptable fusion rate.
(ii) Semi-rigid systems marketed prior to the effective date of this reclassification must submit an amendment to their previously cleared premarket notification (510(k)) demonstrating compliance with the special controls in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) through (v) and paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section.