The Sculptor Robotic Guidance Arm (RGA) is intended to assist the surgeon in providing software-defined spatial boundaries for orientation and reference information to anatomical structures during orthopedic procedures. The Sculptor RGA is indicated for use in unicompartmental knee replacement, in which the use of stereotactic surgery may be appropriate, and where reference to rigid anatomical bony structures can be identified relative to a CT-based model of the anatomy.
Device Story
The Sculptor RGA is a robotic surgical system used in orthopedic procedures. It takes CT scan data as input to create a 3D anatomical model for pre-operative planning. During surgery, a tracking arm monitors the patient's anatomy and the position of the robotic arm relative to the surgical plan. The system provides dynamic referencing and establishes software-defined spatial boundaries. The surgeon operates a milling tool attached to the robotic arm; the system restricts the tool's movement to the planned bone-removal area, ensuring accurate bone preparation for implant placement. Used in clinical settings by surgeons, the device enhances precision in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, potentially improving implant positioning and patient outcomes.
Clinical Evidence
Clinical evidence consists of a prospective, single-site case series of 35 patients (36 knees) diagnosed with osteoarthritis undergoing primary unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Primary endpoints included radiographic assessment of implant placement, Oxford Knee Score outcomes, and quality of life assessments. Results demonstrated the system's ability to accurately prepare the tibia and femur for component positioning, with good radiographic outcomes reported.
Technological Characteristics
System comprises a robotic arm, tracking arm, drill system, and touch screen monitor. Operates via CT-based 3D modeling and real-time spatial tracking. Software performs thresholding, segmentation, landmarking, and registration to anatomical structures. Connectivity includes data import/export and patient file management. Verification testing covered electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility.
Indications for Use
Indicated for patients undergoing unicompartmental knee replacement for osteoarthritis where stereotactic surgery is appropriate and rigid anatomical bony structures can be registered to a CT-based model.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A stereotaxic instrument is a device consisting of a rigid frame with a calibrated guide mechanism for precisely positioning probes or other devices within a patient's brain, spinal cord, or other part of the nervous system.
Predicate Devices
MAKO Surgical's Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopaedic System (K093425)
Submission Summary (Full Text)
{0}------------------------------------------------
# 510(k) Summary
.
· ・・・・
JAN 1 1 2013
| Preparation Date | 9 January 2013 |
|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Applicant/Sponsor | Stanmore Implants Worldwide Ltd<br>210 Centennial Avenue<br>Centennial Park<br>Elstree<br>WD6 3SJ<br>Phone: +44 (0) 20 8238 6503<br>Facsimile: +44 (0) 20 8954 0351 |
| Contact Person: | Jon Charters<br>Director of Regulatory affairs<br>Stanmore Implants Worldwide Ltd.<br>+44 (0) 20 8238-6500 |
| Prepared by: | Musculoskeletal Clinical Regulatory Advisers, LLC<br>1331 H Street, NW, 12th Floor<br>Washington, DC 2005<br>202.552.5800 (phone)<br>202.552.5789 (fax) |
| Trade Name: | Sculptor Robotic Guidance Arm (RGA) |
| Common Name: | Orthopedic Stereotaxic Instrument |
| Classification: | 21 CFR 882.4560 |
| Class | II |
| Product Code | OLO |
| Indications for Use | The Sculptor Robotic Guidance Arm (RGA) is intended to assist the<br>surgeon in providing software-defined spatial boundaries<br>for<br>orientation and reference information to anatomical structures during<br>orthopedic procedures.<br><br>The Sculptor RGA is indicated for use in unicompartmental knee<br>replacement, in which the use of stereotactic surgery may be<br>appropriate, and where reference to rigid anatomical bony structures<br>can be identified relative to a CT-based model of the anatomy. |
| Device Description: | Stanmore Implants Sculptor RGA utilizes a robotic arm to limit the<br>surgeon's operation of a milling (cutting) tool to a safe area and a<br>tracking arm to determine and monitor the location of the patient,<br>providing dynamic referencing relative to the position of the robotic<br>arm and the surgical plan; the device allows the surgeon to remove<br>bone corresponding to the implant's shape as determined pre/intra operatively. |
{1}------------------------------------------------
### Predicate Devices
Technological Characteristics Compared to Predicate Device The Sculptor RGA is substantially equivalent to MAKO Surgical's Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopaedic System (K093425).
| Technological<br>Characteristics | Stanmore Sculptor<br>RGA | MAKO Surgical<br>RIO (K093425) |
|----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| Major Components | Robotic arm,<br>tracking arm, drill<br>system, Touch<br>Screen Monitor | Guidance module,<br>robotic arm, camera<br>stand, drill system |
| Tools/Accessories | Cutting tools<br>Bone interlock for<br>tracking | Various probes,<br>arrays tracked by<br>optical camera |
| Images Used | CT | CT |
Performance Data:
#### Non Clinical Testing
Performance testing of the Sculptor RGA included the FDA recommended Electromagnetic Compatibility and Electrical Safety testing, and verification and validation testing for a software controlled device. Verification testing was performed to verify the Sculptor RGA registration process, software flow, and device safety. The following activities were verified:
- Touch screen calibration t
- . Software and hardware setup and shutdown procedures
- Individual hardware component function (e.g., Sculptor Arm, . Tracking Arm)
- · Correct interoperation of components
- Registration procedures .
- Bone sculpting function and boundary data integrity .
- . Software thresholding, segmentation, data import, 3D model creation, joint and implant selection, landmarking, frames of reference, planning, workflow, patient file management, data integrity and backup, and CD burning
- System run-through .
System level verification and validation testing was performed in the laboratory using Sawbone models to evaluate setup, registration, and overall accuracy and functionality of the system in supporting unicondylar knee replacement.
#### Clinical Case Series
Results from a prospective, single site, clinical case series of patients undergoing primary unicompartmental knee arthroplasty with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis demonstrate the ability of the Sculptor RGA to prepare the tibia and femur for accurate positioning of the components of a unicompartmental knee system. The case series involved 35 patients (36 knees) and included a radiographic assessment of implant placement. Oxford Knee Score outcomes, and quality of life assessment.
{2}------------------------------------------------
Assessments of lateral and A/P radiographs were performed by two orthopedic surgeons. Their analyses confirmed that the Sculptor accurately prepares the bone for unicompartmental knee replacement and validate the system's intended use.
Testing performed on this device indicates that the Sculptor RGA is Substantial substantially equivalent to the predicate device. Performance testing Equivalence: of the Sculptor RGA included the FDA recommended verification and validation testing. System level verification and validation testing was performed in the laboratory using Sawbone models to evaluate setup, registration, and overall accuracy and functionality of the system in supporting unicondylar knee replacement. A prospective, single arm clinical study conducted in the United Kingdom demonstrated good radiographic outcomes with respect to implant placement when the Sculptor RGA was used to prepare the bone for implantation.
The Sculptor RGA is shown to be substantially equivalent to Conclusion previously cleared devices with respect to its intended use, indications for use, technological characteristics, and performance characteristics.
{3}------------------------------------------------
Image /page/3/Picture/0 description: The image shows the logo for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The logo is circular and contains the text "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES - USA" around the perimeter. In the center of the logo is a stylized image of what appears to be a caduceus, a symbol often associated with healthcare.
#### DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Document Control Center - WO66-G609 Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002
Stanmore Implants Worldwide, Limited % Musculoskeletal Clinical Regular Advisers, LLC Ms. Hollace Saas Rhodes 1331 H. Street Northwest, 12th Floor Washington. District of Columbia 20005
Re: K121765
Trade/Device Name: Sculptor Robotic Guidance Arm (RGA) Regulation Number: 21 CFR 882.4560 Regulation Name: Stereotaxic instrument Regulatory Class: Class II Product Code: OLO Dated: December 21, 2012 Received: December 26, 2012
Dear Ms. Rhodes:
We have reviewed your Section 510(k) premarket notification of intent to market the device referenced above and have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to legally marketed predicate devices marketed in interstate commerce prior to May 28, 1976, the enactment date of the Medical Device Amendments, or to devices that have been reclassified in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act) that do not require approval of a premarket approval application (PMA). You may, therefore, market the device, subject to the general controls provisions of the Act. The general controls provisions of the Act include requirements for annual registration, listing of devices, good manufacturing practice, labeling, and prohibitions against misbranding and adulteration. Please note: CDRH does not evaluate information related to contract liability warranties. We remind you; however, that device labeling must be truthful and not misleading.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (PMA), it may be subject to additional controls. Existing major regulations affecting your device can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Parts 800 to 898. In addition, FDA may publish further announcements concerning your device in the Federal Register.
Please be advised that FDA's issuance of a substantial equivalence determination does not mean that FDA has made a determination that your device complies with other requirements of the Act or any Federal statutes and regulations administered by other Federal agencies. You must comply with all the Act's requirements, including, but not limited to: registration and listing (21 CFR Part 807); labeling (21 CFR Part 801); medical device reporting (reporting of medical device-related adverse events) (21 CFR 803); good manufacturing practice requirements as set
January 11, 2013
{4}------------------------------------------------
Page 2 - Ms. Hollace Saas Rhodes
forth in the quality systems (QS) regulation (21 CFR Part 820); and if applicable, the electronic product radiation control provisions (Sections 531-542 of the Act); 21 CFR 1000-1050.
If you desire specific advice for your device on our labeling regulation (21 CFR Part 801), please go to http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/CDRH/CDRHOffices/ucm115809.htm for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health's (CDRH's) Office of Compliance. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21CFR Part 807.97). For questions regarding the reporting of adverse events under the MDR regulation (21 CFR Part 803), please go to
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/ReportaProblem/default.htm for the CDRH's Office of Surveillance and Biometrics/Division of Postmarket Surveillance.
You may obtain other general information on your responsibilities under the Act from the Division of Small Manufacturers, International and Consumer Assistance at its toll-free number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 796-7100 or at its Internet address http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Resourcesfor You/Industry/default.htm.
Sincerely yours,
# Peter D.,Rumm -S
Mark N. Melkerson Acting Director Division of Surgical Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
{5}------------------------------------------------
## INDICATIONS FOR USE STATEMENT
510(k) Number (if known): K121765
Device Name: Sculptor Robotic Guidance Arm (RGA)
Indications for Use:
The Sculptor Robotic Guidance Arm (RGA) is intended to assist the surgeon in providing software-defined spatial boundaries for orientation and reference information to anatomical structures during orthopedic procedures.
The Sculptor RGA is indicated for use in unicompartmental knee replacement, in which the use of stereotactic surgery may be appropriate, and where reference to rigid anatomical bony structures can be identified relative to a CT-based model of the anatomy.
Prescription Use_ X
AND/ OR
Over-The-Counter Use
(Per 21 CFR 801 Subpart D)
(Per 21 CFR 801 Subpart C)
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE - CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED)
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
## Dwight Yen 2013.01.11 11:03:00 -05'00'
(Division Sign-Off) Division of Surgical Devices 510(k) Number: K121765
Predicate graph will load when search results are available.
Embedding visualization will load when search results are available.
PDF viewer will load when search results are available.
Loading panels...
Select an item from Submissions
Click any panel, subpart, regulation, product code, or device to see details here.
Section Matches
Results will appear here.
Product Code Matches
Results will appear here.
Special Control Matches
Results will appear here.
Loading collections...
Loading
My Alerts
You will receive email notifications based on the filters and frequency you set for each alert.
Sort by:
Create Alert
Search Filters
Agent Token
Create a read-only bearer token for Claude, ChatGPT, or other agents that can call HTTP APIs.
Copy this now. It will not be shown again.
Connected apps
Apps you authorized through browser sign-in. Disconnecting revokes their access immediately.
Learn the FDA Browser
Two short videos show you everything — or skip straight to the written tutorial if you'd rather read. You can reopen this any time from the Tutorial button in the top bar.
Part 1 — Search, results, and everyday workflows 16 min
Part 2 — Embeddings: the galaxy map 3 min
1. Search: exact and fuzzy
Type a phrase like "coronary artery calcification" into the search box. You get two kinds of results. Exact results match the literal phrase — prefix searches work ("coronary artery calcificati") but suffix searches do not. Fuzzy results match on the meaning and intent of your phrase rather than the exact words, and are sorted by relevance score. Hover over the Exact or Fuzzy badge on any row to see exactly why it matched.
Use the checkboxes above the results to narrow: SaMD keeps only software-only devices, AI / ML keeps only devices with AI.
Exact vs. fuzzy search: what's the difference?
Exact matches on the literal phrase (prefix search works, suffix does not). Fuzzy matches on the meaning and intent of the phrase rather than the exact words. Hover over the badge on any row to see why it matched.
You search "coronary artery calcification" and want only software devices with AI. What two filters do you apply?
Narrow by SaMD (software-only devices), then narrow by AI/ML (devices with AI).
2. The results table
Scroll right in the results table. The intended use is extracted for you — no need to open the PDF. The device story gives a high-level snapshot of what the device does and how it's used. The AI Performance sub-table shows each output name, acceptance criteria, observed values, and development/test dataset descriptions — the same format Innolitics uses for regulatory strategy outputs, and the fastest high-level fingerprint of an AI device. It is AI-generated but has been very reliable in practice.
Where do you find a device's intended use without opening the PDF?
Scroll right in the search results table. The intended use column is extracted for you; no need to dig into the 510(k) summary PDF.
What does the AI Performance sub-table show, and why is it useful?
Output name, acceptance criteria, observed values, development dataset description, and test dataset description. It's the same format we use for regulatory strategy output and Fast 510(k) input, and the fastest high-level fingerprint of an AI device. AI-generated but reliable in practice.
3. Judging fuzzy relevance
Fuzzy results trail off in relevance as you scroll. Use three signals to decide how far down to go: the fuzzy badge explanations, the intended use column, and whether your target output (e.g., Cobb angle) still appears in the AI Performance sub-table. Once it stops appearing, you're past the relevant zone. A top hit with a low score (~0.4) and a stretched explanation is a hint the closest predicates are far away — the project may be headed for De Novo. Note the fuzzy search is a pattern match: it doesn't handle negation ("not") well, and hardware devices can appear — filter by SaMD/AI ML to cut them.
How do you judge how far down fuzzy search results to go?
Use the relevancy signals: the fuzzy badge explanations, the intended use column, and whether the target output (e.g., Cobb angle) still appears in the AI Performance sub-table. Once it stops appearing, results are trailing off in relevancy.
4. Device detail page: chat and citations
Click a device name to open its detail page: device facts on the left, a chat window on the right. Ask something like "Describe the training data". The answer carries little citation bubbles — click one to jump to the highlighted passage in the source PDF, so you can verify every AI answer against the document. There's also a Download PDF button for sharing.
How do you verify an AI chat answer on the device detail page?
Click the citation bubbles to jump to the relevant highlight in the source document.
Reading rule for every project: how many summaries do you read in full?
At least the three most relevant 510(k) or De Novo summaries, in full. After that, use targeted chat questions to confirm your memory quickly. The tool supports this professional habit — it doesn't replace it.
5. Side-by-side comparison
Select multiple rows in the results table (aim for under ~10), then open the PDF Viewer tab. Ask one question — it goes to all selected devices in parallel, each with citations. This is the fastest way to compare and contrast devices: training data, PCCP scope, how they handled adding new scanners, and so on.
What does the side-by-side PDF viewer mode do?
Select multiple devices, open the PDF viewer tab, and ask one question (e.g., "Describe the training data"). It queries all selected devices simultaneously with citations, so you can compare and contrast quickly.
6. Collections
With rows selected, go to the Collections tab and create a labeled collection (e.g., "Cobb Angle Project"). Reload that selection any time — before a client call, pull up the collection and ask questions across all of its devices at once.
How do you save a set of selected devices for later use?
Select the rows, go to the Collections tab, and create a labeled collection (e.g., "Cobb Angle Project"). You can reload the selection anytime and carry it into the PDF viewer and other tabs that support selections.
7. Product codes and the regulations tree
Click a product code in the results to jump to it in the regulations tree — identification text, sibling product codes, and devices you can open in a PDF viewer on the right. Click a regulation number to see its identification, special controls, and related product codes. You can also search by product code or regulation number at the top of the tree. Always read the special controls if any exist for your device — it broadens your search and sharpens pre-kickoff research.
What can you do from the regulations tree view?
Browse product codes and regulation numbers, read the identification text and special controls, browse sibling product codes, open device PDFs on the right, and search by product code or regulation number at the top of the tree.
8. Chart view
Click Show Chart and segment by regulation number (or product code) to see which regulations dominate your result set. Clicking a regulation takes you into the regulations tree. Great for spotting that most matches are, say, hardware laparoscopic devices — a cue to go back and filter.
How do you see which regulations dominate a search result set?
Click "Show Chart" and segment by Regulation Number. Clicking a regulation takes you to the regulations tree.
9. The predicate graph
Open the Predicates tab for a family-tree view of predicate relationships. Click a node to trace its parents and children; selections from search carry over pre-selected. Commonly predicated devices are worth reading — a lot of people predicated them for a reason. The visual lineage is also handy on client calls, e.g. to show how a predicate family evolved and justify why your predicate still holds.
In the predicate graph, why are commonly predicated devices worth reading?
A lot of people predicated them for a reason. Clicking a node traces parents and children, and selections from search carry over pre-selected.
10. Embeddings: the galaxy map
The Embeddings tab plots every matching document in a 2-D "galaxy map" where semantically similar devices cluster together. Hover or click clusters to explore, and let AI label the clusters for you. Embeddings beat product codes for grouping: two devices can carry different product codes (LLZ vs. QIH) yet do the same thing — the embedding captures the meaning of the intended use and device story. This is also exactly how retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) works under the hood, and it makes a great visual on client calls.
Try it yourself
Head to the search page and work through a few of these AI/ML fuzzy searches to build intuition: perivascular fat on CT · aortic valve calcification opportunistic screening on noncontrast CT · breast cancer prediction on digital pathology slides · autism detection · gestational age prediction · a hearing aid that can also detect a pulse · foundation model based analysis of ECG · large language models · penetration test. Watch how the relevance scores, intended use, and AI Performance tables tell you when results stop being meaningful.