[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 21, Volume 8] [Revised as of April 1, 2008] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 21CFR878.4493] [Page 401-402] TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) PART 878_GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES--Table of Contents Subpart E_Surgical Devices Sec. 878.4493 Absorbable poly(glycolide/l-lactide) surgical suture. (a) Identification. An absorbable poly(glycolide/l-lactide) surgical suture (PGL suture) is an absorbable sterile, flexible strand as prepared and synthesized from homopolymers of glycolide and copolymers made from 90 percent glycolide and 10 percent l-lactide, and is indicated for use in soft tissue approximation. A PGL suture meets United States Pharmacopeia (U.S.P.) requirements as described in the U.S.P. ``Monograph for Absorbable Surgical Sutures;'' it may be monofilament or multifilament (braided) in form; it may be uncoated or [[Page 402]] coated; and it may be undyed or dyed with an FDA-approved color additive. Also, the suture may be provided with or without a standard needle attached. (b) Classification. Class II (special controls). The special control for this device is FDA's ``Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: Surgical Sutures; Guidance for Industry and FDA.'' See Sec. 878.1(e) for the availability of this guidance document. [56 FR 47151, Sept. 18, 1991, as amended at 68 FR 32984, June 3, 2003]