K062756 · Bioimagene, Inc. · NOT · Feb 20, 2007 · Hematology
Device Facts
Record ID
K062756
Device Name
PATHIAM IMAGING SOFTWARE FOR HER2/NEU
Applicant
Bioimagene, Inc.
Product Code
NOT · Hematology
Decision Date
Feb 20, 2007
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 864.1860
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Software as a Medical Device
Indications for Use
The imaging software is intended to detect and classify cells of clinical interest by analyzing digitized images of microscope slides based on recognition of cellular objects of particular color, size and shape. The software can be used with a computer and image digitizer with features specified in the labeling. BioImagene PATHIAM is intended for use as an accessory to the Dako HercepTest® to aid a pathologist in semi-quantitative measurement of HER2/neu (c-erbB-2) in Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissue. When used with the Dako HercepTest it is indicated as an aid in the assessment of breast cancer patients for whom Herceptin® (Trastuzumab) treatment is being considered. NOTE: The actual correlation of the Dako HercepTest to Herceptin clinical outcome has not been established.
Device Story
PATHIAM is standalone software for semi-quantitative assessment of Her2/neu staining in breast cancer tissue. Input: digital images (JPEG, BMP, TIFF) of IHC-stained slides acquired via microscope/camera or digital slide scanner. Operation: pathologist selects representative tumor fields; software automatically differentiates tumor cells from stromal cells/artifacts using morphological features; calculates total positively/unstained tumor cells, median intensity, extent, and thickness of membrane staining. Output: semi-quantitative score (0 to 3) displayed alongside digital image for pathologist review. Used in clinical laboratory settings by pathologists to aid interpretation of Her2/neu expression levels. Benefits: provides standardized, reproducible semi-quantitative data to assist clinical decision-making regarding Trastuzumab therapy.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Study evaluated 176 breast cancer specimens stained with Dako HercepTest. Agreement between manual scoring and PATHIAM raw scores, and manual scoring vs. PATHIAM-assisted pathologist scores, was assessed across three sites using different imaging hardware. Percent agreement between manual and PATHIAM-assisted scores ranged from 81.25% to 84.09%. Reproducibility across different imaging setups showed high consistency (93.67% to 95.45% agreement for raw scores).
Technological Characteristics
Standalone software; requires Windows 2000+, 2.4 GHz processor, 512MB RAM. Supports TIFF, JPEG, JPEG 2000, BMP formats. Uses colorimetric pattern recognition for object identification based on size, shape, color, and intensity. Operates on digitized images from standard microscope/camera or digital slide scanners.
Indications for Use
Indicated for use as an accessory to Dako HercepTest® to aid pathologists in semi-quantitative measurement of HER2/neu in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissue for patients being considered for Herceptin® (Trastuzumab) treatment.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
Immunohistochemistry test systems (IHC's) are in vitro diagnostic devices consisting of polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies labeled with directions for use and performance claims, which may be packaged with ancillary reagents in kits. Their intended use is to identify, by immunological techniques, antigens in tissues or cytologic specimens. Similar devices intended for use with flow cytometry devices are not considered IHC's.
Special Controls
(2) Class II (special control, guidance document: “FDA Guidance for Submission of Immunohistochemistry Applications to the FDA,” Center for Devices and Radiologic Health, 1998). These IHC's are intended for the detection and/or measurement of certain target analytes in order to provide prognostic or predictive data that are not directly confirmed by routine histopathologic internal and external control specimens. These IHC's provide the pathologist with information that is ordinarily reported as independent diagnostic information to the ordering clinician, and the claims associated with these data are widely accepted and supported by valid scientific evidence. Examples of class II IHC's are those intended for semiquantitative measurement of an analyte, such as hormone receptors in breast cancer.
Predicate Devices
ChromaVision Medical Systems, Inc. Automated Cellular Imaging System (ACIS) for Her2/neu (K032113)
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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# 510(k) SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCE DETERMINATION DECISION SUMMARY
A. 510(k) Number:
k062756
B. Purpose for Submission:
New device.
C. Manufacturer and Instrument Name:
BioImagene, Inc.’s Pathiam IHC Module software for Her2/neu
D. Type of Test or Tests Performed:
Computer-assisted image analyzer for immunohistochemistry (immunocytochemistry) slides. The Her2/neu test is semi-quantitative.
E. System Descriptions:
1. Device Description:
PATHIAM is a standalone software program employing image analysis in an assessment of shape, size and density of a digital image of a specimen. It will provide semi-quantitative assessment of Her-2/neu staining intensity and distribution in user-selected fields, and display a semi-quantitative score, which can be reviewed by the pathologist as he/she views the digital image of the selected field.
PATHIAM software is a standalone software application that will work on a system with the following accessories (required but not provided) with the following features:
## Computer
- Processor: 2.4 GHz, Pentium IV equivalent
- Memory: 512 MB RAM
- Operating System: Windows 2000 or later
- Hard Drive: minimum 100MB for software installation, 20GB for image storage
- LAN connectivity, minimum 100 MBPS (recommended), support for USB interface, support for HTTP, TCP/IP protocols (using the Operating system)
- High Speed Graphic Accelerator Card (1024 x 768)
- 17” High resolution display monitor
- 24 bit color depth
- Font Setting: Small font (DPI setting: 96 DPI)
## Digitizing Equipment: Camera
- Resolution: at least 2048 x 1536 pixels
- Frame rate: 20 fps@1200 x 768 resolution (6 fps @ 2048 x 1536 resolution)
- Sampling Frequency of 6.26 square/μm
- Compression format: JPEG 2000, BMP, TIFF. JPEG
- Color 24-bit (R, G, B)
- Connection to computer
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# Digitizing Equipment: Digital Side Scanner
- Input Format: 25X75mm microscope slides
- Resolution: 54,000 pixel/inch with 20X objective
- Method: Line-scanning
- File Format: TIFF/JPEG2000; compliant with TIFF 6.0 standard.
- Color 24-bit (R, G, B)
- Connectivity: 100/1000 MBPS Ethernet
- Compression format: JPEG 2000, BMP, TIFF. JPEG
The software allows both archiving of the digital image, and semi quantitative analysis of extent and intensity of stained tissue, providing the pathologist with an aid to interpretation of level of expression of Her2/neu in breast cancer tissue. The pathologist is presented with a digital image of the tissue section and a suggested staining score (0 to 3). The pathologist then makes an assessment of the digital image and reports his/her score.
PATHIAM employs several Quality Assurance algorithms to assure that only analyzable images are processed by the software.
## 2. Principles of Operation:
The first step in the process requires the user to acquire an image using a digital scanner or camera. From this image, the user must use their judgment and training as a pathologist to select the field(s) that contains the representative tumor cells. This process mimics the current practice of pathologists examining tissue under a microscope, finding the areas that contain diagnostically useful information and ignoring areas that are not useful. Once the field(s) is selected, the user may use the drawing tools to select sections within a field that are most representative of the tumor.
Within the user selected sections, there are tumor cells and also likely artifacts and stromal cells. When the user launches the analysis function, the software automatically detects and differentiates between tumor cells, stromal cells and artifacts using morphological features. After eliminating stromal cells and artifacts, the software automatically determines the total number of positively stained and unstained tumor cells as well as the median intensity, extent and thickness of membrane staining. Therefore, the section(s) is user-selected. Then the software automatically identifies certain features in that section. The user does not need to manually dissect away stromal cells and artifacts in the field. This device is not yet well established, but neither is it new or unproven.
## 3. Modes of Operation:
Semi-automated computer-assisted interpretation.
## 4. Specimen Identification:
A JPEG, BMP or TIFF image is captured from an individual slide by a pathologist using a digitizing scanner or digital camera and placed in an identified computer file. This file is acquired by the PATHIAM software. Each patient’s file is identified using a “surgical pathology number” (SPN) assigned to each
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patient.
5. Specimen Sampling and Handling:
Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded slides of breast tissues are handled manually.
6. Calibration:
No calibration is employed.
7. Quality Control:
The performance of the system depends on the quality control of the staining using the recommended immunohistochemistry (immunocytochemistry) kit associated with the PATHIAM. The PATIAM software also assesses the quality of the image to make sure it passes minimum standards before it is analyzed.
The image analysis algorithms consider the following Image Quality Aspects and the image will be rejected if there is:
1. Small tissue area: Where the area % < 20
2. Poor overall contrast:
a. Gray standard deviation < 10, OR
3. Counter-stained poor contrast:
a. Counter-stained standard deviation < 5
b. If stained pixel % < 15 AND counter-stained standard deviation ≤ 11
4. Over stained: Stained pixel % ≥ 98.5
5. Mask on Image: Stained pixel % = 100 or a tint throughout the image due to color filter settings of the digital camera.
6. High texture: If the tissue was too thick, it will result in an image of poorer quality with muddy background and more artifacts due to lack of light passing through the tissue.
a. If stained pixel % < 2 AND Red Mean is < 160 AND the value of Blue - Red mean is ≥ 20
8. Software:
FDA has reviewed the applicant’s Hazard Analysis and Software Development processes for this line of product types:
Yes ☐ X or No ☐
F. Regulatory Information:
1. Regulation section:
21 CFR §864.1860 Immunohistochemistry reagents and kits
2. Classification:
Class II
3. Product code:
NOT (microscope, automated, image analysis, operator intervention)
4. Panel:
Pathology 88
G. Intended Use:
1. Indication(s) for Use:
For laboratory use as an accessory to the Dako HercepTest® to aid a pathologist in semi-quantitative measurement of HER2/neu [c-erb-2] in Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissue.
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When used with the Dako HercepTest® it is indicated as an aid in the assessment of breast cancer patients for whom Herceptin® (Trastuzumab) treatment is being considered.
2. Special Conditions for Use Statement(s):
To be used only with Dako HercepTest®
H. Substantial Equivalence Information:
1. Predicate Device Name(s) and 510(k) numbers:
Software HER2/neu application of ChromaVision Medical Systems, Inc.
Automated Cellular Imaging System (ACISTM) for Her2/neu, k032113.
2. Comparison with Predicate Device:
| Attribute | ACIS HER2/neu software component | PATHIAM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Intended use | The imaging software is intended to detect and classify cells of clinical interest by analyzing digitized images of microscope slides based on object identification of cellular objects of particular intensity, shape, size and color. The software can be used with a computer and image digitizer with features specified in the labeling. | Same |
| Indications for use | As an accessory to an assay which is indicated as an aid in the assessment of breast cancer patients for whom Herceptin treatment is considered. | As an accessory to the Dako HercepTest® to aid a pathologist in semi-quantitative measurement of HER2/neu (c-erbB-2) in Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissue. When used with the Dako HercepTest it is indicated as an aid in the assessment of breast cancer patients for whom Herceptin® (Trastuzumab) treatment is being considered. |
| Specimen Type | Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens stained by immunohistochemistry reagent for HER2/neu | Same |
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| Attribute | ACIS HER2/neu software component | PATHIAM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Image Analysis System | Histologic observation by a pathologist through a controlled microscope/digital camera combination | Histologic observation by a pathologist through a specified microscope/digital camera combination or slide scanner |
| Method of Cell Detection | Colorimetric pattern recognition by microscopic examination of prepared cells by size, shape, hue and intensity as observed by a computer assisted microscope and by visual observation by a health care professional. | Object identification of a digitized field of view of a pathology slide, using size, shape, color and intensity as observed by a software, and by visual observation of the digitized image by a health care professional |
| Hardware components | Dedicated computer microscope, color monitor, keyboard, automatic storage of acquired images | Are required but not provided: Computer, either microscope with digitizing camera or slide scanner, keyboard, mouse, hi-resolution color monitor, and hard drive for storage |
| Assay used | DAKO HerceptTest | Same |
I. Special Control/Guidance Document Referenced (if applicable): None
J. Performance Characteristics:
1. Analytical Performance:
a. Accuracy (Comparison to Manual Method):
(NOTE: the DAKO HercepTest™ kit was used to stain the tissue slides for all the performance studies.)
Agreement with Manual Scoring
Agreement was evaluated between manual HER2/neu scores and raw PATHIAM scores, and manual HER2/neu scores and PATHIAM HER2/neu score after they had been reviewed by three pathologists at three different laboratories employing the following different image acquisition setups to produce images of the same set of slides. The equipments used at the different laboratories were:
- Site #1: Light Microscope: Olympus BH2, Lens: Olympus S Plan 20X PL microscope objective. Magnification = 20X. Numeric Aperture: 0.46. Tube Length: 160. Cover slip = 0.17. Light source: Halogen lamp. Camera: PAXcam 3, Model number Px3 – CM. Serial Number = 4110130
- Site #2: ScanScope T3 (Aperio Technologies Inc), digital slide scanner
- Site #3: ScanScope T2 (Aperio Technologies Inc), digital slide scanner
176 specimens of breast cancer were stained for HER2/neu using the DAKO HercepTest, and were used for the study. The images were first scored by PATHIAM. One week later they were read manually by the same pathologist. The results are presented in 4X4 tabulations for HER2/neu scores of 0, 1+, 2+, and 3+.
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# Results
Comparison between Manual (M) and PATHIAM (P) Raw Scores
Site #1
| M vs. P | P0 | P1 | P2 | P3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| M0 | 13 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| M1 | 0 | 44 | 7 | 0 |
| M2 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 6 |
| M3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 40 |
Percent Agreement = (142/176) x 100 = 80.68%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 74.18% - 85.87%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 74.07% - 86.23%
Site #2
| M vs. P | P0 | P1 | P2 | P3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| M0 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| M1 | 0 | 47 | 8 | 0 |
| M2 | 0 | 3 | 44 | 4 |
| M3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 42 |
Percent Agreement = (146/176) x 100 = 82.95%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 76.67% - 87.83%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 76.57% - 88.19%
Site #3
| M vs. P | P0 | P1 | P2 | P3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| M0 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| M1 | 3 | 52 | 17 | 1 |
| M2 | 0 | 6 | 37 | 6 |
| M3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
Percent Agreement = (135/174) x 100 = 77.58%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 70.8%% - 83.18%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 70.66% - 83.55%
Comparison between Manual (M) and PATHIAM Assisted Pathologist's (PP) Final Score
Site #1
| M vs. PP | PP0 | PP1 | PP2 | PP3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| M0 | 15 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| M1 | 0 | 47 | 4 | 0 |
| M2 | 0 | 10 | 40 | 3 |
| M3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 41 |
Percent Agreement = (143/176) x 100 = 81.25%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 74.8% - 86.36%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 74.69% - 86.73%
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Site #2
| M vs. PP | PP0 | PP1 | PP2 | PP3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| M0 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| M1 | 0 | 51 | 4 | 0 |
| M2 | 0 | 7 | 39 | 5 |
| M3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 43 |
Percent Agreement = (148/176) x 100 = 84.09%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 77.92% - 88.81%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 77.83% - 89.16%
Site #3
| M vs. PP | PP0 | PP1 | PP2 | PP3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| M0 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| M1 | 7 | 58 | 8 | 0 |
| M2 | 0 | 8 | 37 | 4 |
| M3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
Percent Agreement = (145/176) x 100 = 82.38%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 76.04% - 87.35%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 75.94% - 87.71%
Comparison between Pathologist Agreement (Manual to Manual) for Comparison Purposes
Site #1 vs. Site #2
| 1 vs. 2 | M0 | M1 | M2 | M3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| M0 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| M1 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 0 |
| M2 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 2 |
| M3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 |
Percent Agreement = (170/176) x 100 = 96.59%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 92.6% - 98.59%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 92.73% - 98.74%
Site #1 vs. Site #3
| 1 vs. 3 | M0 | M1 | M2 | M3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| M0 | 14 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| M1 | 2 | 44 | 5 | 0 |
| M2 | 0 | 14 | 38 | 1 |
| M3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 37 |
Percent Agreement = (133/176) x 100 = 75.56%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 68.70% - 81.35%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 68.53% - 81.72%
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Site #2 vs. Site #3
| 2 vs. 3 | M0 | M1 | M2 | M3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| M0 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| M1 | 2 | 48 | 5 | 0 |
| M2 | 0 | 14 | 37 | 0 |
| M3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 38 |
Percent Agreement = (137/176) x 100 = 77.84%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 71.12% - 83.37%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 70.98% - 83.74%
Conclusion: It can be seen that the agreement of the manual scores compared to the PATHIAM raw score is more consistent than inter-pathologist comparison. The consistency is improved even more when the PATHIAM score assists the pathologist in their interpretation.
b. Precision/Reproducibility:
PATHIAM Reproducibility between Three Different Set-ups using PATHIAM Software
Site #1 vs. Site #2
| 1 vs. 2 | P0 | P1 | P2 | P3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| P0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| P1 | 1 | 60 | 1 | 0 |
| P2 | 0 | 1 | 52 | 2 |
| P3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 44 |
Percent Agreement = (168/176) x 100 = 95.45%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 91.15% - 97.82%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 91.24% - 98.02%
Site #1 vs. Site #3
| 1 vs. 3 | P0 | P1 | P2 | P3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| P0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| P1 | 1 | 60 | 1 | 0 |
| P2 | 0 | 3 | 50 | 2 |
| P3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 43 |
Percent Agreement = (163/174) x 100 = 93.67%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 88.92% - 96.55%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 88.97% - 96.80%
Site #2 vs. Site #3
| 2 vs. 3 | P0 | P1 | P2 | P3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| P0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P1 | 0 | 60 | 2 | 0 |
| P2 | 0 | 4 | 49 | 2 |
| P3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 43 |
Percent Agreement = 163/174 X 100 = 93.67%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 88.92% - 96.55%
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Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 88.97% - 96.80%
As can be seen, the comparison of the PATHIAM raw scores across the three different set-ups in three different laboratories is very good. Differences may be due to the selection, by the pathologists, of different field of view (FOV) for analysis.
## Reproducibility of PATHIAM Assisted Scores
Site #1 vs Site #2
| 1 vs. 2 | PP0 | PP1 | PP2 | PP3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| PP0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PP1 | 0 | 68 | 3 | 0 |
| PP2 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 4 |
| PP3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
Percent Agreement = (169/176) x 100 = 96.02%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 91.87% - 98.21%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 91.98% - 98.39%
Site #1 vs. Site #3
| 1 vs. 3 | PP0 | PP1 | PP2 | PP3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| PP0 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| PP1 | 5 | 58 | 8 | 0 |
| PP2 | 0 | 11 | 32 | 3 |
| PP3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 39 |
Percent Agreement = (143/176) x 100 = 81.25%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 74.80% - 86.36%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 74.69% - 86.73%
Site #2 vs. Site #3
| 2 vs. 3 | PP0 | PP1 | PP2 | PP3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| PP0 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| PP1 | 5 | 57 | 6 | 0 |
| PP2 | 0 | 12 | 31 | 2 |
| PP3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 40 |
Percent Agreement = (142/176) x 100 = 80.68%
Adjusted Wald 95% Confidence Interval = 74.18% - 85.87%
Exact 95% Confidence Interval = 74.07% - 86.23%
c. Linearity:
Not applicable because this is not a quantitative test
d. Carryover:
Not applicable because the images of microscopic slides are examined one-at-a-time.
e. Interfering Substances:
Not applicable to the software image analysis.
2. Other Supportive Instrument Performance Data Not Covered Above:
None.
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K. Proposed Labeling:
The labeling is sufficient and it satisfies the requirements of 21 CFR Part 809.10.
L. Conclusion:
The submitted information in this premarket notification is complete and supports a substantial equivalence decision.
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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.
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.