The PLUS EPF Acetabular Cup is intended for all types of arthrosis. such as advanced destruction of the hip joint due to degenerative, post-traumatic or rheumatoid arthritis, fracture or avascular necrosis of the femoral head, sequelae of previous operations, such as internal fixation, joint reconstruction, arthrodesis, hemiarthroplasty or total hip replacement. The same considerations apply to acetabular revisions. In normal cases, however, the surgeon will use an acetabular implant one size larger and in exceptional cases two sizes larger.
Device Story
PLUS EPF Acetabular Cup is a cementless total hip prosthesis component; features triple-radius profile design. Device implanted by surgeons in clinical settings to replace damaged acetabulum. Principle of operation involves press-fit fixation with physiological load transfer through the peripheral acetabular zone; design promotes osseous integration and primary stability without screw fixation. Output is the physical implant itself, which restores hip joint function. Benefits include minimal bone resection and stable fixation for patients requiring hip arthroplasty or revision.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Biomechanical performance evaluated by comparing the PLUS EPF Cup against four competitive cementless acetabular cups. Testing measured: 1) pull-out force to unseat the titanium cup; 2) push-out force for the polyethylene liner; 3) force required to seat the cup into a foam block simulating a reamed acetabulum. Results indicated the PLUS EPF Cup was comparable to or exceeded the performance of competitive devices.
Technological Characteristics
Cementless acetabular cup; triple-radius profile design; titanium construction. Designed for press-fit fixation. No software or energy source.
Indications for Use
Indicated for patients with advanced hip joint destruction due to degenerative, post-traumatic, or rheumatoid arthritis, femoral head fracture or avascular necrosis, or sequelae of prior surgeries (e.g., internal fixation, joint reconstruction, arthrodesis, hemiarthroplasty, total hip replacement) and acetabular revisions. Contraindicated in patients with acute/chronic local or systemic infections, serious muscle/nerve/blood vessel lesions, poor bone quality/defects endangering stability, or concurrent diseases interfering with implant function.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A hip joint femoral (hemi-hip) metallic cemented or uncemented prosthesis is a device intended to be implanted to replace a portion of the hip joint. This generic type of device includes prostheses that have a femoral component made of alloys, such as cobalt-chromium-molybdenum. This generic type of device includes designs which are intended to be fixed to the bone with bone cement (§ 888.3027) as well as designs which have large window-like holes in the stem of the device and which are intended for use without bone cement. However, in these latter designs, fixation of the device is not achieved by means of bone ingrowth.
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## 510(k) Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Information
(as required by 807.92c), prepared by Hartmut Loch, President of HHL Consulting for PLUS Orthopedics in San Diego, California August 6, 1997
NOV 1 3 1997
Trade name: PLUS EPF Acetabular Cup
Common name: Cementless Total Hip Prosthesis, Acetabular Component
Classification name: Hip joint metal/polymer/metal semi constrained porous coated uncemented prosthesis
Equivalence: We are claiming substantial equivalency to the cementless Press-fit Cup, marketed by Encore Orthopedics, Austin, Texas (K-961526).
Characteristics: The PLUS EPF Cup is a cementless acetabular cup, which was designed with a triple-radius profile. The advantages are 1) minimal bone resection, 2) press-fit with physiological load transfer through the peripheral zone of the acetabulum, thus ensuring good primary stability without the need for screw fixation and 3) optimal osseous integration due to good primary stability.
The PLUS EPF Cup is intended for all types of arthrosis, such as Indications: advanced destruction of the hip joint due to degenerative, post-traumatic or rheumatoid arthritis, fracture or avascular necrosis of the femoral head, sequelae of previous operations, such as internal fixation, joint reconstruction, arthrodesis, hemiarthroplasty or total hip replacement. The same considerations apply to acetabular revisions. In normal cases, however, the surgeon will use an acetabular implant one size larger and in exceptional cases two sizes larger.
Contraindications: Contraindications include acute or chronic infections (local or systemic), serious lesions of muscles, nerves or blood vessels, which put the affected limb at risk, bony defects or poor bone quality, which might endanger the stability of the prosthesis, and any concurrent disease, which might interfere with the function of the implant.
The following three biomechanical tests were performed Performance data: comparing four cups of other leading manufacturers to the PLUS EPF Cup: out force necessary to unseat the titanium cup from the acetabulum, 2) the push-out force necessary to push the polyethylene liner out of the cup, and 3) the force required to seat the acetabular cups into a block of foam that simulated the reamed acetabulum. In all tests the PLUS EPF Cup was comparable to, or exceeded, cementless competitive acetabular cups.
☎ 415.572.0100 fax 415.572.0901 pager 415.202.6680
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Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
Mr. Hartmut Loch ·President HHL Consulting Representing Plus Orthopedics 835 Cortez Lane Foster City, California 94404
v. 13, 1997
K972931 Re: Plus EPF Acetabular Cup Trade Name: Requlatory Class: II Product Code: LWJ Dated: October 27, 1997 October 27, 1997 Received:
Dear Mr. Loch:
We have reviewed your Section 510(k) notification of intent to market the device referenced above and we have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to 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). You may, therefore, market the device, subject to the general controls provisions The general controls provisions of the Act of the Act. include requirements for annual registration, listing of devices, good manufacturing practice, labeling, and prohibitions against misbranding and adulteration.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (Premarket Approval), it may be subject to such additional controls. Existing major regulations affecting your device can be found in the Code of Federal Requlations, Title 21, Parts 800 to 895. A substantially equivalent determination assumes compliance with the current Good Manufacturing Practice requirement, as set forth in the Quality System Regulation (QS) for Medical Devices: General regulation (21 CFR Part 820) and that, through periodic (QS) inspections, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will verify such assumptions. Failure to comply with the GMP requlation may result in regulatory action. In addition, FDA may publish further announcements concerning your device in the Federal Register. Please note: this response to your premarket notification submission does not affect any obliqation you might have under sections 531 through 542 of the Act for devices under the Electronic Product Radiation Control provisions, or other Federal laws or requlations.
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Page 2 - Mr. Hartmut Loch
This letter will allow you to begin marketing your device as described in your 510(k) premarket notification. The FDA finding of substantial equivalence of your device to a legally marketed predicate device results in a classification for your device and thus, permits your device to proceed to the market.
If you desire specific advice for your device on our labeling regulation (21 CFR Part 801 and additionally 809.10 for in vitro diagnostic devices), please contact the Office of Compliance at (301) 594-4659. Additionally, for questions on the promotion and advertising of your device, please contact the Office of Compliance at (301) 594-4639. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21 CFR 807.97). Other general information on your responsibilities under the Act may be obtained from the Division of Small Manufacturers Assistance at its toll-free number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 443-6597 or at its internet address "http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/dsmamain.html".
Sincerely yours,
Celia M. Witten, Ph.D., M.D. Director Division of General and Restorative Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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Page _1__of____1
(97293 510(k) Number (if known): K-972931
Device Name: PLUS EPF ACETABULAR CUP
Indications for Use:
The PLUS EPF Acetabular Cup is intended for all types of arthrosis. such as advanced destruction of the hip joint due to degenerative, post-traumatic or rheumatoid arthritis, fracture or avascular necrosis of the femoral head, sequelae of previous operations, such as internal fixation, joint reconstruction, arthrodesis, hemiarthroplasty or total hip replacement. The same considerations apply to acetabular revisions. In normal cases, however, the surgeon will use an acetabular implant one size larger and in exceptional cases two sizes larger.
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE - CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED)
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
K972931
Prescription Use × (Per 21 CFR 801.109)
.. *
OR
Over-The-Counter Use
(Optional Format 1-2-96
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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.
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You search "coronary artery calcification" and want only software devices with AI. What two filters do you apply?
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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.
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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.
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Reading rule for every project: how many summaries do you read in full?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.