(a) Identification. A stainless steel suture is a needled or unneedled nonabsorbable surgical suture composed of 316L stainless steel, in USP sizes 12-0 through 10, or a substantially equivalent stainless steel suture, intended for use in abdominal wound closure, intestinal anastomosis, hernia repair, and sternal closure.

(b) Classification. Class II (special controls). The device, when it is a steel monofilament suture that is uncoated and does not incorporate barbs, is exempt from the premarket notification procedures in subpart E of part 807 of this chapter subject to the limitations in §878.9. The special control for this device is FDA's “Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: Surgical Sutures; Guidance for Industry and FDA.” See §878.1(e) for the availability of this guidance document.

[65 FR 19836, Apr. 13, 2000, as amended at 68 FR 32984, June 3, 2003; ; 84 FR 71814, Dec. 30, 2019]