WARNING LETTER
Miach Orthopaedics
MARCS-CMS 709827 —
August 19, 2025
Delivery Method:
VIA Electronic Mail
Product:
Medical Devices
Recipient:
Recipient Name
Patrick McBrayer
Recipient Title
President & CEO
Miach Orthopaedics
69 Milk St Ste 100
Westborough
,
MA
01581
United States
pmcbrayer@miachortho.com
Issuing Office:
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
United States
WARNING LETTER
CMS # 709827
August 19, 2025
Dear Mr. McBrayer:
During an inspection of your firm located in Westborough, MA from March 31, 2025 through April 23, 2025, investigators from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that your firm manufactures the Bridge-Enhanced ACL Restoration (BEAR) Implant intended for the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Under section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), 21 U.S.C. § 321(h), these products are devices because they are intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or to affect the structure or function of the body.
Quality System Regulation Violation(s)
This inspection revealed that these devices are adulterated within the meaning of section 501(h) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 351(h), in that the methods used in, or the facilities or controls used for, their manufacture, packing, storage, or installation are not in conformity with the current good manufacturing practice requirements of the Quality System regulation found at Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 820.
We received a response from Ms. Rita Paparazzo, Vice President of Quality, Regulatory, and Clinical Affairs, dated May 13, 2025, concerning our investigator’s observations noted on the Form FDA 483 (FDA 483), List of Inspectional Observations, which was issued to your firm. We address this response below, in relation to each of the noted violations. These violations include but are not limited to the following:
1. Failure to establish and maintain procedures for monitoring and control of process parameters for validated processes to ensure that the specified requirements continue to be met, as required by 21 CFR 820.75(b).
Specifically, the
(b)(4)
dose audits conducted as a process monitoring activity to ensure that the specified sterility assurance level (SAL) of
(b)(4)
of your firm’s validated E-Beam sterilization process continues to be met for your BEAR Implant devices, is inadequate. The rationale dated 8/2/23 to only use
(b)(4)
during sterility testing to recover microorganisms from the BEAR Implant devices and remove the use of
(b)(4)
to detect the presence of anaerobes on the basis that section A.6.1.1 of ISO 11737-1 states “***
If evaluation has shown that testing for anaerobes is not indicated, then this test can be eliminated in the future
***” and section 6.7 of ISO 11737-2 states “***
Culture conditions shall be selected after consideration of the types of microorganisms expected to be present. The results of this consideration and the rationale for the decisions reached shall be recorded
***” is unsubstantiated because your historical
(b)(4)
dose audit data for sterility testing shows that
(b)(4)
was unable to detect the presence of a strict anaerobe,
Tissierella Praeacuta
, which was found to only be present in
(b)(4)
during a
(b)(4)
dose audit on 10/7/22 (STR-095-006, Lot #
(b)(4)
). Similarly, the results of other
(b)(4)
dose audits have shown that facultative anaerobes such as
Bacillus licheniformis
and
Bacillus megaterium
were only detected in
(b)(4)
but not
(b)(4)
despite sampling from the same Lot #
(b)(4)
and Lot #
(b)(4)
. Hence, the rationale to eliminate
(b)(4)
for sterility testing from the
(b)(4)
dose audits is not valid due to examples which demonstrate that
(b)(4)
lacked the sensitivity to detect both strict and/or facultative anaerobes on the BEAR Implant devices.
Moreover, your decision to only use
(b)(4)
conflicts with the recommendation from your microbiologist consultant on 10/26/21 (TR-21-12-10) for “***
(b)(4)
for sterility testing of verification dose samples
***” and section 5.2.2 of STR-095-006 which states
(b)(4)
is for recovering aerobes and
(b)(4)
is for recovering anaerobes.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Under CAPA 2025-002, the immediate corrections included quarantining and discarding lot numbers
(b)(4)
through
(b)(4)
. Starting with Lot #
(b)(4)
, you plan to re-implement use of
(b)(4)
for bioburden monitoring of facultative and strict anaerobic microorganisms. In addition, you plan to review bioburden data for 12 months and assess whether use of both media still remains appropriate; establish a new procedure for bioburden monitoring to align with the contract manufacturer’s procedure; revise the process validation procedure to ensure that validated parameters are properly monitored; review all other process validations for the BEAR Implant devices; and revise relevant work instructions as needed to ensure that the validated parameters are properly monitored. However, no timelines were provided for these corrections and/or corrective actions. Therefore, please provide a response on how you plan to address the above deficiencies. In addition, please continue to provide updates on the progress of your corrections and/or corrective actions, including any supporting evidence.
2. Failure to establish and maintain procedures to control product that does not conform to specified requirements, as required by 21 CFR 820.90(a).
You failed to implement sections 1.0 and 4.2 of your “Nonconforming Materials and Processes” procedure (SOP-0017; Rev. B; Effective: 4/12/23) which state “***
products that do not conform to specification requirements are identified, segregated, investigated and dispositioned
***” and describe the steps for initiation of a nonconformance report, respectively. For example, you did not generate nonconformance reports when the
(b)(4)
dose audit reports for your BEAR Implant devices indicated that Lot #
(b)(4)
exceeded the product requirement specification (PRS) of
(b)(4)
CFU/device (average) (PRS-001; Rev. F; Effective: 7/10/23 – 12/7/23) at
(b)(4)
CFU/device (average) and Lot #
(b)(4)
exceeded the PRS of
(b)(4)
CFU/device (average) (PRS-001; Rev. G; Effective: 12/8/23 – 9/18/24) at
(b)(4)
CFU/device (average). Moreover, the lack of initiation of nonconformance reports for Lot #
(b)(4)
and Lot #
(b)(4)
is inconsistent with past actions to initiate NCR 22-002/CAPA 2022-001 (1/17/22) and CAPA 2022-002 (2/28/22) for Lot #
(b)(4)
and Lot #
(b)(4)
which also exceeded the limits of bioburden.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Under CAPA 2025-001, your immediate corrections are to document decisions and rationale for past production lots (Lot #
(b)(4)
and
(b)(4)
) by 5/31/25; establish procedures for bioburden excursions; review a list of process related nonconformances reported to the firm by the contract manufacturer by 5/31/25; and revise the quality agreement with the contract manufacturer (if needed). In addition, you plan to revise the nonconforming product procedure to describe how to evaluate and disposition devices with bioburden excursions and positive tests for sterility by 5/31/25. However, timelines were only provided for some actions and not others. Therefore, please provide a response on how you plan to address the above deficiencies. In addition, please continue to provide updates on the progress of your corrections and/or corrective actions, including any supporting evidence.
3. Failure to establish and maintain procedures to ensure that the design requirements relating to a device are appropriate and address the intended use of the device, including the needs of the user and patient and a mechanism for addressing incomplete, ambiguous, or conflicting requirements, as required by 21 CFR 820.30(c).
Specifically, you failed to implement the instructions in the “BEAR® Scaffold Design Requirements Trace Matrix” (DCR 2021-011; Rev. D; Effective: 10/1/21) which requires you to consider areas such as performance and intended use, reliability, and safety when identifying user needs and/or design input requirements for your resorbable BEAR Implant devices intended to treat anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. For example, your DCR 2021-011 for the BEAR Implant device lacks user need(s) such as (but not limited to) the need for the implant to achieve full absorption of blood (i.e., hydration) without the use of copious volumes of blood in a timely manner, all while remaining intact.
In addition, because the aforementioned user need(s) are absent from the DCR 2021-011 for the BEAR Implant device, you failed to (1) validate that your BEAR Implant device meets these user needs as a part of your design validation under “BEAR Implant Design Validation Protocol” (TP-20-010; Approved 6/17/25) and (2) adequately implement section 4.5.2 of the “Design Control” procedure (SOP-0001; Rev. E; Effective: 7/8/20) which requires translation of “***
user needs into design inputs and assure the design inputs address***intended use and user needs***functional, performance, and safety requirements
***” and resolution of ambiguous or conflicting requirements prior to approval. For example:
a. The design input "
The BEAR Implant shall be able to absorb whole blood (autologous blood injected during the surgical process)
" (9b) in the “BEAR® Scaffold Design Requirements Trace Matrix” (DCR 2021-011; Rev. D; Effective: 10/1/21) is ambiguous because it does not identify parameters (time, volume, technique, etc.) under which the implant must be able to be fully hydrated while remaining intact.
Per your instructions for use (IFU) (ML-1002; Rev. H; Effective: 3/2025), the implant “***
is intended to be used with up to 10 ml of autologous blood
***” and states to “***
hydrate the BEAR Implant with 5-10 mL of non-coagulated autologous blood
***.” In addition, the “The BEAR® Implant Physeal Sparing Technique” (ML-1274; Rev. A; Effective: 3/2025) describes the technique by which to infuse the implant with blood: “***
Massage the autologous blood into the BEAR Implant, starting with approximately 1mL on the proximal side, then to the sides and finishing with the bottom. Add 1-2mL at a time while massaging the blood in, softening the implant. Once the implant is pliable, inject whole blood into the center of the implant
***.”
b. The DCR 2021-011 includes design inputs which do not directly address the user need under which they are categorized. For example, the above design input (9b) was inappropriately categorized under the user need (UN-2) of “***
The BEAR Implant must demonstrate non-inferiority in terms of effectiveness when compared with the current standard of care (ACL reconstruction with an autograft) at 2 years post-surgery
***” and there was no other applicable user need which describes user need(s) of the surgeon such as (but not limited to) the need for the implant to achieve full hydration without the use of copious volumes of blood and absorption of blood in a timely manner, all while remaining intact.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Under CAPA 2025-004, your immediate corrections are to identify a new or existing user need as the basis of the design input “
(b)(4)
;” develop a design output specification tied to the new or revised design input; verify that the design output specification meets the design input specification; and develop a test to provide evidence that the new or revised user need is met. Your corrective action is to revise SOP-0001 to require participation of surgeons and other relevant experts in design review for design inputs. However, no timelines were provided for these corrections and/or corrective actions. In addition, there were no corrective actions identified to require that surgeons and other experts are included in the development of user needs and to retrospectively review all user needs and design inputs for the BEAR Implant device for any missing user needs, adequacy, and appropriate categorization by user need. Therefore, please provide a response on how you plan to address the above deficiencies. In addition, please continue to provide updates on the progress of your corrections and/or corrective actions, including any supporting evidence.
4. Failure to ensure that when the results of a process cannot be fully verified by subsequent inspection and test, the process shall be validated with a high degree of assurance and approved according to established procedures, as required by 21 CFR 820.75(a).
Specifically, you failed to validate, with a high degree of assurance, that your gelation and lyophilization processes consistently produce BEAR Implant devices which meet the specifications for density (0.062 - 0.072 g/cm3). For example, although your “Miach BEAR 20510-01 Process Qualification Report” (VAL-08164; Rev. AA; Approved 4/24/24) states that your performance qualification (PQ) demonstrates “***
with
(b)(4)
, the
(b)(4)
density of the BEAR devices is between
(b)(4)
***,” this sampling method to use the
(b)(4)
density from
(b)(4)
BEAR Implants per lot (Lot #:
(b)(4)
; and
(b)(4)
) does not take into account the impact of an individual implant failing to meet specification, outliers, or standard deviation. Review of the raw data in your PQ revealed that 1 out of
(b)(4)
of the BEAR implants under Lot #
(b)(4)
failed to meet specification (
(b)(4)
) for density and over
(b)(4)
of the density values across lots were at or below the minimum specification, none of which demonstrates a high degree of assurance that your processes result in devices which consistently meet density specifications.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. You provided no corrective actions for this deficiency on the basis that an
(b)(4)
sampling plan is an acceptable means of showing that a process is able to consistently meet specification because it offers statistical confidence that an average characteristic is repeatable and reliable. In addition, you state this approach was used during process validation because the
(b)(4)
density from the
(b)(4)
lots was also used during clinical trials. However, this rationale does not take into account the impact of an individual implant failing to meet specification or high standard deviations. In addition, confidence intervals based
(b)(4)
sampling plans provide a range within which a value is likely to fall, not a high degree of assurance that a process will produce product that consistently meets specification. Therefore, please provide a response on how you plan to address the above deficiency.
5. Failure to ensure that sampling plans are written and based on a valid statistical rationale when used, as required by 820.250(b).
Specifically, the sampling plan outlined in “7540 Dimensional Inspection” for (FRM-01379; Rev AA) to use the
(b)(4)
density from the first
(b)(4)
BEAR Implants per lot to accept lots which meet the density specification (
(b)(4)
) on the premise that the collagen slurry mixture in the
(b)(4)
manufacturing step would have met the homogeneity specification is not based on valid statistical rationale. For example, per your Vice President of Research and Development and Manufacturing, if a single implant fails the density acceptance criteria, it will still be released, so long as the
(b)(4)
density of the
(b)(4)
implants remain within specification. On the other hand, if the
(b)(4)
density of the
(b)(4)
implants fails, then density is calculated on every implant within the lot, and all samples that do not meet specification will be treated as a nonconformance and scrapped. However, the rationale for this sampling plan is not based on valid statistical rationale because (1) samples are not taken at random; (2) samples are not based on lot sizes which can be up to
(b)(4)
units; (3) individual samples may still fail to meet density specifications, even if the previous collagen slurry specification met the specification for homogeneity; and (4) single implants which do not meet density specifications have the potential to be released if the
(b)(4)
density specification is met. The practice of releasing product when an individual data point was outside of the specification also constitutes distribution of nonconforming product without valid justification. Your complaint and/or corrective and preventive action investigations have determined that the gelation process affects densities such that implants with low densities can cause rapid blood absorption and those with high densities can delay or hinder blood absorption, both of which can render the implant unusable due to disintegration or lack of proper hydration, the result of which is delayed surgery requiring use of a second implant (if available) or impaired
(b)(4)
per lines
(b)(4)
through
(b)(4)
of your hazard analysis (001-003-HZ; Rev. B; Effective: 7/10/23).
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Per the response to the process validation observation, which employed the same
(b)(4)
sampling plan strategy as that used during lot release of product, you provided no corrective actions on the basis that an
(b)(4)
sampling plan is an acceptable means of showing that a process is able to consistently meet specification because it offers statistical confidence that an
(b)(4)
characteristic is repeatable and reliable. In addition, you state this approach was used during process validation because the
(b)(4)
density from the
(b)(4)
lots was also used during clinical trials. However, this rationale does not take into account the impact of an individual implant failing to meet specification or high standard deviations. Therefore, please provide a response as to how you plan to address the above deficiency.
6. Failure to establish and maintain the requirements, including quality requirements, that must be met by suppliers, contractors, and consultants and documented evaluation and selection of potential suppliers, contractors, and consultants on the basis of their ability to meet specified requirements, including quality requirements, as required by 21 CFR 820.50(a)(1).
Specifically, you failed to implement:
a. Sections 4 and 18 of your “Supplier Quality Agreement” (Approved 1/27/22) which require you to approve protocols and reports for process, sterilization and inspection/test validations performed by the contract manufacturer and “***
provide copies of quality records upon request
***,” respectively. For example, your contract manufacturer refused to provide unredacted supporting documents, such as the process routers, device history records, and process parameters used to manufacture the BEAR Implant device during the FDA inspection.
b. Section 4.8 of your “Supplier Management” (SOP-0025; Rev. D; Effective: 12/8/23) which requires
(b)(4)
evaluation of major suppliers using the “Supplier Re-evaluation Form” (FRM-0025). For example, your contract manufacturer of the BEAR Implant device has not been evaluated since May 2023 despite being categorized as a major supplier.
c. Section 4.1.1 of SOP-0025 which requires “***
no products or services associated with the QMS are to be purchased from a supplier not on the Approved Supplier List
***.” For example, your firm’s microbiology consultant who authored “Rationale for Eliminating
(b)(4)
for the Test of Sterility and Anaerobic Bioburden Monitoring” dated 7/30/23 was not on the Approved Supplier List or evaluated. You have been using this consultant since November 2021.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Under CAPA 2025-007, your immediate correction is to complete the 2024 supplier re-evaluation form for the contract manufacturer and for the consultant and revise the quality agreement to allow alternative methods for reviewing all supporting documentation for process, sterilization, and inspection/test validations such as onsite review, establishing a master file with the FDA, or having a 3rd party consultant review the documents. As a part of corrective actions, you plan to perform a gap analysis for the approved supplier list and revise SOP-0025 to allow alternative methods for review of supporting documents. However, no timelines were provided for these corrective actions. Therefore, please provide a response on how you plan to address the above deficiencies. In addition, please continue to provide updates on the progress of your corrections and/or corrective actions, including any supporting evidence.
7. Failure to establish and maintain procedures for receiving, reviewing, and evaluating complaints by a formally designated unit, including evaluations to determine whether the complaint represents an event which is required to be reported to FDA under part 803 of this chapter, Medical Device Reporting, as required by 21 CFR 820.198(a).
Specifically, you failed to implement section 4.3.6 of your “Customer Feedback” procedure (SOP-0027; Rev. B – C; Effective: 6/27/24 and 12/8/23) which requires you to categorize customer feedback as complaints, to be processed by the “Complaint Management” procedure (SOP-0019; Rev. C – D; Effective: 12/8/23 and 4/26/24), when they meet the definition of complaints as defined under section 3 of SOP-0027. For example, your customer feedback descriptions in 3 out of 6 reviewed customer feedback forms, which met the definition of complaints, were classified as “Observations” instead of “Complaints” and, therefore, did not include documented evaluations for medical device reporting (MDR) and investigations per sections 4.2 and 4.3 of SOP-0019, respectively, as evidenced below:
a.
CF 2024-006 (6/3/24)
: BEAR Implant “***
hydrating far too quickly (<10 seconds) and becoming unable to properly implant
***.”
b.
CF 2024-004 (4/12/24)
: BEAR Implant “***
hydrated EXTREMELY slow. Took 20 cc and maybe 5 min. Much much much slower than average hydration. Could tell the implant was very dense when the surgeon slid Keith needle into it
***.”
c.
CF 2023-007 (3/7/23)
: BEAR Implant “***
it was too dense and seemed not to have a porous side. This happened with two of the implants***He is concerned about the variability between implants of the same lot, and does not like the difficulty he had hydrating it
***.”
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Under CAPA 2025-009, your immediate corrections are to process the above incidents as complaints and retrospectively review “observations” since 2021 to ensure that no other complaints were missed. As a part of corrective actions, you plan to provide training to ensure that future customer feedback is evaluated in accordance with SOP-0019 and update the training procedure (SOP-004) to control training in accordance with the risk inherent in the process. However, no timelines were provided for these corrective actions. Therefore, please provide a response on how you plan to address the above deficiencies. In addition, please continue to provide updates on the progress of your corrections and/or corrective actions, including any supporting evidence.
8. Failure to adequately establish and maintain procedures for implementing corrective and preventive action, as required by 21 CFR 820.100(a).
Specifically, you failed to adequately implement section 4.2 of your firm's “Corrective and Preventive Action Procedure” (SOP-0014; Rev. C; Effective: 9/8/21) which requires completion of a Field Action Decision Form (FADF) and risk assessment if product in the field may be impacted. For example, the FADF for CAPA 2023-001, initiated on 1/27/23 in response to complaints regarding rapid blood absorption and disintegration of BEAR Implants from Lot #
(b)(4)
, concluded that a field action was not required per the results of the Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Form (DCR 2019-005; Approved 2/17/23) which determined that the hazard of "ACL is not fully healed" (
(b)(4)
) was “low risk” when an occurrence rating of
(b)(4)
was applied. However, this conclusion conflicted with the original “Internal Memorandum***Risk Assessment” conducted per the “Risk Management Plan – BEAR Implant (Project: 001)” (DCR 2020-008; Rev. B; Effective: 8/27/20) on 1/30/23 which found that the risk for this same hazard
(b)(4)
was “Unacceptable” (“further risk reduction or additional risk-benefit is required”) when an occurrence rating of
(b)(4)
was applied. Applying this same occurrence level of
(b)(4)
to the HHE would have moved the risk level from “low” to “high” (“Field action is required”). Therefore, you failed to conduct an adequate risk assessment under this CAPA 2023-001 in that the discrepancy in occurrence ratings between the HHE and the “Internal Memorandum*** Risk Assessment” was not resolved prior to completion of the FADF.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. You stated that there are no BEAR implants that remain in commercial distribution. Under CAPA 2025-006, your immediate correction is to reopen CAPA 2023-001 for review and reiteration if needed. As a corrective action, you plan to revise SOP-0014 to require that FADFs, Health Hazard Assessments, and Risk Assessments are compared for correlation and completeness and that at least two reviewers are included for the assessments. However, no timelines were provided for these corrective actions. In addition, although you obtained Lot #
(b)(4)
from your sales personnel, no corrective actions were identified to document justification for not reporting a correction and/or removal of product from the field, including removals limited to sales personnel, to the FDA. Therefore, please provide a response on how you plan to address the above deficiencies. In addition, please continue to provide updates on the progress of your corrections and/or corrective actions, including any supporting evidence.
Medical Device Reporting (MDR) Violation(s)
9. Failure to adequately develop, maintain, and implement written MDR procedures as required by 21 CFR 803.17.
Our inspection also revealed that your firm failed to adequately develop, maintain, and implement written MDR procedures as required by 21 CFR 803.17.
Specifically, during the inspection, your firm presented its MDR procedure titled “Medical Device Reporting,” SOP‐0023, Revision B, dated: 8‐Dec‐2023. For example, after reviewing the procedure, the following deficiencies were noted:
a. The procedure SOP‐0023, Revision B, does not establish internal systems that provide for timely and effective identification, communication, and evaluation of events that may be subject to MDR requirements, as required by 21 CFR 803.17(a)(1). For example:
i. The procedure SOP‐0023, Revision B, does not include instructions for how your firm will evaluate information about an event to make MDR reportability determinations in a timely manner.
ii. There are inadequate definitions of what constitutes a reportable event under 21 CFR Part 803. Specifically, the procedure does not include definitions from 21 CFR 803.3 for the terms “become aware,” “caused or contributed,” “malfunction,” and “serious injury,” nor the definition of “reasonably suggests” found in 21 CFR 803.20(c)(1). The absence of these definitions may lead your firm to make an incorrect reportability decision when evaluating a complaint that may meet the criteria for reporting under 21 CFR 803.50(a). Without adequate definitions, your procedure lacks executable instructions or the level of detail needed to ensure timely and effective identification, communication, and evaluation of events that may be subject to MDR requirements.
b. The procedure SOP‐0023, Revision B, does not establish internal systems that provide for a standardized review process to determine when an event meets the criteria for reporting under this part, as required by 21 CFR 803.17(a)(2). For example, there are no instructions for conducting an investigation of each MDR reportable event and evaluating the cause of the event.
c. The procedure SOP‐0023, Revision B, does not establish internal systems that provide for timely transmission of complete medical device reports, as required by 21 CFR 803.17(a)(3). Specifically, your procedure does not include the circumstances under which your firm must submit initial 30-day, supplement or follow-up and 5‐day reports and the requirements for such reports.
d. The procedure SOP‐0023, Revision B, does not adequately describe how your firm will address documentation and record‐keeping requirements, as required by 21 CFR 803.17(b). Specifically, while Section 4.1.3 of the SOP references retaining data for reportable events, it lacks sufficient detail on how the deliberations and decision-making processes used to determine whether an event is reportable or not is to be documented, as required under 21 CFR 803.18(b)(1)(i).
Your firm’s response dated May 13, 2025 did not address the noted procedural deficiencies as they were not listed on the FDA Form 483.
Our inspection also revealed that your firm’s BEAR implant devices are misbranded under section 502(t)(2) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 352(t)(2), in that your firm failed or refused to furnish material or information respecting the device that is required by or under section 519 of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360i, and 21 CFR Part 803 – Medical Device Reporting. Significant violations include, but are not limited to, the following:
10. Failure to submit a report to FDA no later than 30 calendar days after the day that your firm received or otherwise became aware of information, from any source, that reasonably suggests that a device that your firm markets may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury, as required by 21 CFR 803.50(a)(1).
For example, the information included for Complaint 2023‐011 reasonably suggests that the patient developed an infection at the site of BEAR implant after falling 4.5 weeks post-surgery. Although the information included for the complaint establishes that the device did not malfunction in that the ACL damage observed was the result of a re‐tear due to the fall, the occurrence of the infection in the area surrounding the implantation reasonably suggests that the device may have been a factor in the serious injury event that necessitated irrigation and antibiotic treatment to preclude permanent impairment of a body function or permanent damage to a body structure. Your firm became aware of the event on August 23, 2023; however, no corresponding MDR was received by the FDA.
Your firm’s response dated May 13, 2025, did not address this violation, as it was not listed on the FDA Form 483. However, the response indicated that your firm conducted a reportability evaluation in relation to Observation 9. Upon review, the response did not include any information regarding plans to implement systemic corrective actions, such as conducting a retrospective review of previously received complaints to assess MDR reportability.
11. Failure to submit a report to FDA no later than 30 calendar days after the day that your firm receives or otherwise become aware of information, from any source, that reasonably suggests that a device that your firm markets has malfunctioned and this device or a similar device that it markets would be likely to cause or contribute to a death or serious injury, if the malfunction were to recur, as required by 21 CFR 803.50(a)(2).
For example, the information included for Complaints 2022‐001, 2023‐004 and 2024‐001 reasonably suggests that your firm’s BEAR implant malfunctioned (i.e., improper hydration) while in use. The device is a long‐term implantable device. Generally, malfunctions are reportable if they involve a long-term implant and are likely to cause or contribute to death or serious injury, or the malfunction results in the failure of the device to perform its essential function, thereby compromising its therapeutic effectiveness which could cause or contribute to a death or serious injury. See Medical Devices; Medical User Facility and Manufacturing Reporting, Certification and Registration; Final Rule, 60 Fed. Reg. 63858 (Dec. 11, 1995), Comment 12, for more information. We believe an improperly hydrated BEAR implant could compromise its structural integrity and therapeutic function, leading to serious complications that might cause or contribute to a death or serious injury. Therefore, the referenced complaints represent MDR reportable events as defined in 21 CFR 803.3. Your firm became aware of information on September 1, 2022, for Complaint 2022‐001, on February 24, 2023, for Complaint 2023‐004, and on January 11, 2024, for Complaint 2024‐001. However, the FDA has not received an MDR for any of these referenced events.
Your firm’s response dated May 13, 2025, did not address this violation, as it was not listed on the FDA Form 483. The response noted that your firm conducted a reportability evaluation and will submit MDRs for Complaints 2022‐001 and 2024‐001. However, the response does not address Complaint 2023‐004. Additionally, your firm has not provided any information indicating plans to implement systemic corrective actions, such as conducting a retrospective review of previously received complaints to assess MDR reportability.
Your firm should take prompt action to address any violations identified in this letter. Failure to adequately address this matter may result in regulatory action being initiated by the FDA without further notice. These actions include, but are not limited to, seizure, injunction, and civil money penalties.
Other federal agencies may take your compliance with the FD&C Act and its implementing regulations into account when considering the award of federal contracts. Additionally, should FDA determine that you have Quality System regulation violations that are reasonably related to premarket approval applications for Class III devices, such devices will not be approved until the violations have been addressed. Should FDA determine that your devices or facilities do not meet the requirements of the Act, requests for Certificates to Foreign Governments (CFG) may not be granted.
Please notify this office in writing within fifteen business days from the date you receive this letter of the specific steps your firm has taken to address the noted violations, as well as an explanation of how your firm plans to prevent these violations, or similar violations, from occurring again. Include documentation of the corrections and/or corrective actions (which must address systemic problems) that your firm has taken. If your firm’s planned corrections and/or corrective actions will occur over time, please include a timetable for implementation of those activities. If corrections and/or corrective actions cannot be completed within fifteen business days, state the reason for the delay and the time within which these activities will be completed. Your firm’s response should be comprehensive and address any violations included in this Warning Letter. If you believe that your products are not in violation of the FD&C Act, include your reasoning and any supporting information for our consideration as part of your response.
Your firm’s response should be sent via email to Gina Brackett, Establishment Assessment Team 1 (EAT-1) Assistant Director at CDRHEnforcement@fda.hhs.gov. Please include in the subject line, “CMS Case # 709827” when replying. If you have any questions about the contents of this letter, please contact: Sargum C. Morgan, Compliance Officer at sargum.morgan@fda.hhs.gov.
Finally, you should know that this letter is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the violations at your firm’s facility. It is your firm’s responsibility to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations administered by FDA. The specific violations noted in this letter and in the Inspectional Observations, FDA 483, issued at the close of the inspection may be symptomatic of serious problems in your firm’s manufacturing and quality management systems. Your firm should investigate and determine the causes of any violations and take prompt actions to address any violations and bring the products into compliance.
Sincerely,
/S/
Matthew G. Hillebrenner
Deputy Director
Office of Product Evaluation and Quality
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
CC:
Rita Paparazzo
VP of Quality, Regulatory, and Clinical Affairs
rpaparazzo@miachortho.com
Content current as of:
08/26/2025
Regulated Product(s)
Medical Devices