K060125 · Palpometer Systems, Inc. · IKE · Mar 16, 2006 · Physical Medicine
Device Facts
Record ID
K060125
Device Name
SONIC PALPOMETER
Applicant
Palpometer Systems, Inc.
Product Code
IKE · Physical Medicine
Decision Date
Mar 16, 2006
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 890.1615
Device Class
Class 1
Attributes
3rd-Party Reviewed
Indications for Use
The intended use of the Sonic Palpometer is to assess patient sensitivity to tactile stimulus by providing quantification of fingertip pressure, for tactile response procedures and treatments that use digital palpation.
Device Story
Sonic Palpometer is a finger-worn device for standardizing manual palpation; consists of thin pressure sensor attached to examiner's finger via Velcro strap. Sensor measures mechanical pressure between finger and soft tissue; converts input to analog electrical signals. Microprocessor processes signals; triggers piezoelectric speaker to emit audible beeps at five programmable pressure thresholds. Used by clinicians in clinical settings to quantify fingertip pressure during tactile response procedures. Output provides real-time auditory feedback to examiner, enabling controlled, consistent pressure application. Benefits include improved reliability and reproducibility of manual palpation, reducing inter-observer variability in tenderness assessments.
Clinical Evidence
Evidence includes multiple clinical studies comparing the Palpometer to conventional manual palpation and mechanical dolorimeters (algometers) in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, headache, and fibromyalgia. Studies (e.g., Atkins et al. 1992, Bendtsen et al. 1995) demonstrate high construct validity, with correlation coefficients >0.7 between Palpometer and conventional scores. Results show improved intra-observer reliability and reduced inter-observer variability (P=0.89 vs P=0.0003 for conventional methods). Data confirms a positive linear correlation between applied pressure and pain intensity.
Indicated for patients requiring assessment of sensitivity to tactile stimulus during procedures or treatments involving digital palpation.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A miniature pressure transducer is a device intended for medical purposes to measure the pressure between a device and soft tissue by converting mechanical inputs to analog electrical signals.
{0}------------------------------------------------
K060125
Image /page/0/Picture/1 description: The image is a logo for Palpometer Systems Inc. The logo features a stylized representation of a palpometer, with a circular sensor head and a stem extending downwards. The company name, "PALPOMETER SYSTEMS INC," is arranged in an arc above the sensor head, following the curve of the circle.
MAR 16 2006
PALPOMETER SYSTEMS INC PO Box 3075 STN CSC R Hut McKenzie Avenue Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 3W2 Telephone: 250.472.4321 Fax: 250.472.4321 Email: info@palpometer.net
+ Website: www.palpometer.net
## 510(k) Summary
- Submitted by: Palpometer Systems Inc PO Box 3075 STN CSC R Hut McKenzie Ave Victoria, BC V8W 3W2 Tel: (250) 721-6502 Fax: (250) 721-6497
Contact: Lindsay Roach
Summary Prepared on January 6th, 2006
Trade Name: Sonic Palpometer
Common Name: palpometer
Classification Name: Miniature pressure transducer (per 21 CFR 890.1615)
Although there is no legally marketed predicate device for the Palpometer (as stated in the 513(g) device classification letter, reference: C030037, See Appendix B) these are devices in the same product code to which we are claiming some level of equivalence:
| Device | Applicant | 510(k) | Decision<br>Date | Device website<br>information |
|--------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Pressore Monitor | Cleveland Medical<br>Devices, Inc. | K954670 | 10/30/1995 | http://www.clevemed.<br>com/products/rehab/<br>pm/index.html |
| micro-emed-system | novel electronics,<br>inc. | K902967 | 09/17/1990 | http://www.novel.de/p<br>df/flyer/eng/rls_eng.p<br>df<br>http://www.novel.de/p<br>df/flyer/eng/emed_en<br>g_ver2.pdf |
| Dynatron 2000 | Dynatronics Corp. | K880912 | 03/15/1988 | http://www.dynatronic<br>s.com/chronicpain/dy<br>natron/<br>http://www.mdall.ca/<br>"dynatron" |
| emed-f-system | novel gmbh | K871690 | 05/15/1987 | http://www.novel.de/p<br>df/flyer/eng/rls_eng.p<br>df |
| ZEUS MicroWrist<br>Surgical System * | Intuitive Surgical<br>Inc., Computer<br>Motion | Approved<br>Class 3<br>device | | http://www.intuitivesu<br>rgical.com |
{1}------------------------------------------------
Image /page/1/Picture/0 description: The image shows the number 406000 at the top. Below the number is the number 1 followed by a dash. The numbers are written in a handwritten style. The image is a simple black and white picture.
Image /page/1/Picture/1 description: The image shows the logo and contact information for Palpometer Systems Inc. The logo features the company name surrounding a circular design. The contact information includes a PO Box address, a street address, the city and postal code, telephone and fax numbers, an email address, and a website. The phone and fax numbers are 250.472.4321.
* The ZEUS MicroWrist Surgical System is not in the same Product Code as the Palpometer, however it uses the same Interlink FSR pressure sensor.
#### Description:
The Palpometer is a simple device that combines the fine motor and sensory attributes of manual examination with the precision measurements made with pressure gauges. By measuring the amount of pressure between the device and a soft tissue, the Palpometer standardizes pain response by controlling the pressure of the examiner's palpating finger. The Palpometer consists of a thin sensor, positioned on the palpating portion of the examiner's finger. The sensor changes its electrical resistance caused by varying the pressure exercised by the examining finger. The Palpometer beeps in a different tone as you pass through each programmable pressure threshold (of which there are five).
#### Intended Use:
The intended use of the Palpometer is to assess patient sensitivity to tactile stimulus by providing quantification of fingertip pressure, for tactile response procedures and treatments that use digital palpation.
#### Technological Characteristics:
The technological characteristics of the Palpometer are equivalent to several different devices. Like the Pressore Monitor, the Palpometer is a battery operated device that measures the amount of pressure between the device and soft tissue. The Palpometer uses a commercially available pressure sensor that converts mechanical inputs to analog signals similar to the Micro-emedsystems by novel electronics Inc. This sensor is the same one that is used in sensitive devices such as electronic infusion pumps, robotic controlled surgical systems (the Zeus MicroWrist Surgical System) and radiotherapy equipment to measure applied pressure. A programmed microprocessor, resistors, capacitors, reed switch, and piezoelectric speaker make up the other components. The level of pressure is indicated by the speaker that beeps at different tones depending upon the amount of pressure applied. The components are sealed inside a solid aluminum casing. The Palpometer is held in place on the finger by a Velcro strap.
#### Substantial Equivalence Data:
As there is no legally marketed predicate device (513(g) C030037, See Appendix B) a summary of the data and conclusions drawn from comparing the Palpometer to conventional means of pain measurement is included in the attached table.
{2}------------------------------------------------
| STANDARD MEASUREMENTS OF PAIN<br>COMPARED WITH THE SONIC<br>PALPOMETER | SOURCE OF DATA | Results |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Manual palpation<br>Tender joint scores in<br>rheumatoid arthritis | Atkins, C. J. et al. (1992). An electronic method for<br>measuring joint tenderness in rheumatoid arthritis.<br>Arthritis & Rheum, 35:407-10 | P. 409. Analysis of the modified electronic scores showed an<br>intraobserver error of 0.12 compared with 0.2 for the<br>conventional method. The correlation coefficient between the<br>Palpometer and conventional measurements was increased<br>from 0.62 to 0.78 when the less sensitive instrument was<br>excluded, indicating a high level of construct validity. |
| Tender point scores in<br>headache | Bendtsen, L., Jensen, R., Jensen, N.K. and Olesen, J.R.<br>(1995) Pressure controlled palpation: A new technique<br>which increases the reliability of manual palpation.<br>Cephalalgia 15, 205-210 | P. 206. The sum of tenderness scores recorded by two different<br>observers using conventional palpation differed significantly<br>(P=0.0003) where results did not differ using pressure controlled<br>palpation (P=0.89). A positive linear correlation between<br>pressure and pain intensity was found (P=0.00006). |
| Tender point scores in<br>fibromyalgia | Bennet, R., Atkins, C.J., Zielinski, A., and Makosinski, A.<br>(1996) A miniaturized pain-measuring device called an<br>electronic Palpometer worn on the examiner's finger links<br>a pressure gauge to conventional manual palpation.<br>Collaborative study between University of Victoria with<br>the Oregon Health Sciences University. Abstract in<br>Proceedings of the 8th International Congress on Pain,<br>August 1996, Vancouver, BC. | There was a good correlation (point estimates >0.7) between the<br>Palpometer and conventional scores. Test retest measurements<br>showed a similar correlation (>0.7). |
| Visual analog scale in fibromyalgia | Bendsten, L., Norregaard, J., Jensen, R., Olesen, J.<br>(1997) Evidence of qualitatively altered nociception in<br>patients with fibromyalgia. Arthritis & Rheum, 40:98 | P. 99. In controls there is a linear relationship between pressure<br>and pain in a double logarithmic plot in which the slope (ß) was<br>3.5 ± 0.66 log mm/log Uj P<0.00001 |
| Dolorimeters (algometers)<br>Handheld pain threshold<br>meter (pain diagnostics and<br>thermography NY) in<br>headache | Neufeld, J.D., Holroyd, K.A., and Lipchik, G.L. (2000)<br>Dynamic assessment of abnormalities in central pain<br>transmission and modulation in tension-type headache<br>sufferers. Headache, 40:142-151 | P. 148. Similar responses before and after manipulation of<br>cranial muscles with Dolorimeter threshold measurements and<br>tenderness measurement with the Palpometer in headache<br>prone patients. See Fig 3 & 4. |
| Pressure Algometer Somedic<br>to in tender myofascial<br>muscles | Bendtsen, L., Jensen, R., Jensen, N.K. and Olesen, J.R.<br>(1994) Muscle palpation with controlled finger pressure:<br>New equipment for the study of tender myofascial<br>tissues. Pain, 59, 235-239 | P. 236. A pressure algometer Somedic was used to relate<br>arbitrary units of the Palpometer to tone. In this fashion, a<br>standard dolorimeter was used to calibrate the Palpometer. |
| Chatillon in fibromyalgia | Puttick, M.P.E., et al. (1995) Reliability and reproducibility<br>of fibromyalgic tenderness: measurement by electronic<br>and mechanical dolorimeters. Journal of Musculoskeletal<br>Pain. 3:3-14 | P. 4. ConstructValidity is demonstrated by similar response to<br>tender point measurements with the dolorimeter at highly<br>reproducible measurements with Palpometer show lesser but<br>still good reliability. |
| Chatillon in fibromyalgia | Atkins, C.J., andZielinski, A. (1997) Comment on Article<br>by Puttick, M.P.E., et al. Reliability and reproducibility of<br>fibromyalgia tenderness, measurement by electronic and<br>mechanical dolorimeters. Journal of Musculoskeletal<br>Pain, 5:127-131 | Atkins and Zielinski comment on the Puttick article indicating<br>that inconsistency in technique and failure to secure the sensor<br>the examining finger resulted in sub-optimal performance by the<br>Palpometer. |
{3}------------------------------------------------
Image /page/3/Picture/2 description: The image shows the logo for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The logo features a stylized eagle with three lines forming its body and head. The eagle is surrounded by a circular border containing the text "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. USA".
MAR 1 6 2006
Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
Palpometer Systems, Inc. c/o Intertek Testing Services Mr. Daniel W. Lehtonen Staff Engineer - Medical Devices 70 Codman Hill Road Boxborough, Massachusetts 01719
Re: K060125
Trade/Device Name: Sonic Palpometer Regulation Number: 21 CFR 890.1615 Regulation Name: Miniature pressure transducer Regulatory Class: I Product Code: IKE Dated: March 2, 2006 Received: March 3, 2006
Dear Ms. Lehtonen:
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.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (PMA), it may be subject to such 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); good manufacturing practice requirements as set
{4}------------------------------------------------
# Page 2 – Mr. Daniel W. Lehtonen
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. This letter will allow you to begin marketing your device as described in your Section 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), please contact the Office of Compliance at (240) 276-0115. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21CFR Part 807.97). 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) 443-6597 or at its Internet address http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/dsma/dsmamain.html
Sincerely yours.
elmoe
Mark N. Melkerson Acting Director Division of General, Restorative and Neurological Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
{5}------------------------------------------------
Indications for Use
# Indications for Use
### 510(k) Number (if known): K060125
Device Name: Sonic Palpometer
Indications for Use:
The intended use of the Sonic Palpometer is to assess patient sensitivity to tactile stimulus by providing quantification of fingertip pressure, for tactile response procedures and freatments that use digital palpation.
Prescription Use V (Part 21 CFR 801 Subpart D)
AND/OR
Over-The-Counter Use (21 CFR 801 Subpart C)
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE-CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE OF NEEDED)
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
elmdel
(Division Sign-Off) Division of General, Restorative, and Neurological Devices
KOSOL25 510(k) Number.
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.