K140395 · Vital Images, Inc. · LLZ · May 13, 2014 · Radiology
Device Facts
Record ID
K140395
Device Name
VITREA IMAGE DENOISING SOFTWARE
Applicant
Vital Images, Inc.
Product Code
LLZ · Radiology
Decision Date
May 13, 2014
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 892.2050
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Software as a Medical Device
Indications for Use
Vitrea® Image Denoising software is intended to assist radiologists and specialists in the enhancement of CT and 3D-XA image presentation by enabling noise reduction and contrast enhancement technique.
Device Story
Software tool for radiology workstations; processes CT and 3D-XA images. Performs 3D analysis of voxel neighborhoods to distinguish random noise from dominant structural features; suppresses noise by averaging voxel data while preserving structural details. User-controlled via presets in MPR and 3D views; allows interactive application/removal of filters and creation of custom presets. Output is denoised image series for visual assessment. Assists clinicians in image review; potentially improves diagnostic clarity by reducing noise without degrading spatial resolution or contrast. Used in medical facilities by radiologists and specialists.
Clinical Evidence
No clinical studies required. Evidence consists of bench testing, including software verification, validation, phantom testing (Catphan), and simulated usability testing by independent medical professionals. External validation performed by radiologists and an interventional cardiologist confirmed noise reduction and contrast enhancement while preserving structural details.
Technological Characteristics
Software-based image enhancement tool; operates on Vitrea platform. Employs 3D analysis of voxel-level image structure for noise reduction. Complies with DICOM 3.0 standards. Standards: ISO 14971:2007 (risk management), IEC 62304:2006 (software lifecycle).
Indications for Use
Indicated for radiologists and specialists to enhance CT and 3D-XA image presentation via noise reduction and contrast enhancement. No specific patient population or contraindications defined.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A medical image management and processing system is a device that provides one or more capabilities relating to the review and digital processing of medical images for the purposes of interpretation by a trained practitioner of disease detection, diagnosis, or patient management. The software components may provide advanced or complex image processing functions for image manipulation, enhancement, or quantification that are intended for use in the interpretation and analysis of medical images. Advanced image manipulation functions may include image segmentation, multimodality image registration, or 3D visualization. Complex quantitative functions may include semi-automated measurements or time-series measurements.
Special Controls
*Classification.* Class II (special controls; voluntary standards—Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) Std., Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) Std., Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) Test Pattern).
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K140395
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Vitrea® Image Denc 510(k) Pre-market Notification
VITAL
A Tepton Microsystems Group Company
# 510(k) Summarv
This 510(k) summary is submitted in accordance with the requirements of 21 C.F.R. Part 807.92.(c)
| Purpose of<br>Submission: | Vital Images, Inc. hereby submits this traditional 510(k) to provide<br>notification submission of Vitrea Image Denoising software as an addition<br>to the existing tools on the 510(k) cleared Vitrea platform. |
|--------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Submitter: | Vital Images, Inc.<br>5850 Opus Parkway<br>Suite 300<br>Minnetonka, MN 55343-4414 |
| Establishment<br>Registration: | 2134213 |
| Contact Person: | Parthiv Shah<br>Sr. Regulatory Affairs Specialist<br>Phone : 952-487-9574<br>Fax: 952-487-9510<br>E-mail: pshah@vitalimages.com |
| 510(k) Type: | Traditional |
| Summary Date: | February 14, 2014 |
| Device Name<br>Trade Name: | Vitrea® Image Denoising Software |
| Common Name: | Image Enhancement System |
| Classification Name: | System, Image Processing, Radiological (21 C.F.R. 892.2050, LLZ) |
| Regulatory Description: | Picture Archiving and Communications System |
Predicate Device: Sapheneia Commercial Products AB, Sapheneia Clarity™ (K063391)
### Device Description:
The Vitrea Image Denoising software is a tool available on the Vitrea platform. It assists radiologists and specialists in the enhancement and viewing of CT and 3D-XA images from a variety of diagnosis imaging systems by noise reduction and contrast enhancement. Vitrea Image Denoising software employs 3D analysis of the image structure of each voxel. Random noise does not have a 3D structure and can thus be separated from dominant structures. Once the structure has been determined, the denoising tool suppresses noise by averaging voxel information without removing important structural details for reducing the noise.
It provides a control to turn on or off a denoising preset in Multi-planar Reformatting (MPR) and 3D views to reduce noise and enhance contrast in reconstructed CT and 3D-XA image datasets, while preserving structural details of contrast, spatial size, and 3D structure in the native images for visual assessment. The user can interactively apply and remove the noise reduction filter during the image review to assess the effect of the noise reduction on the images and generate a new series of denoised snapshots for further review in other workstations or PACS. The denoised images can be used in conjunction with the original images as the user can switch between the original image and the denoised image while conducting image review. It also enables the user to create new denoising presets, edit existing denoising presets, and save the current denoising values as a custom preset.
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# Vitrea® Image Denoising Software 510(k) Pre-market Notification
A Toshiba Medical Systems Group Company
# Intended Use / Indications for Use:
Vitrea® Image Denoising software is intended to assist radiologists and specialists in the enhancement of CT and 3D-XA image presentation by enabling noise reduction and contrast enhancement technique.
# Intended for Disease / Condition / Patient Population:
Not applicable as this is a medical image post processing software tool for image enhancement.
# Substantial Equivalence:
With regards to safety, the Vitrea Image Denoising software is substantially equivalent to the currently marketed post-processing noise reduction software products that analyze data from medical images. Specifically, intended use, design, function and performance characteristics of Vitrea Image Denoising software are substantially equivalent to the Sapheneia Clarity (K063391) Image Enhancement System, which is manufactured by Sapheneia Commercial Products AB ("predicate device").
The comparison table below shows the equivalence between Vitrea Image Denoising software and the predicate device:
| Vitrea Image Denoising<br>(Submission Subject) | Sapheneia Clarity (K063391)<br>(Predicate Device) | Noted Differences |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| Intended Use: | | |
| Vitrea® Image Denoising software is<br>intended to assist radiologists and<br>specialists in the enhancement of CT<br>and 3D-XA image presentation by<br>enabling noise reduction and contrast<br>enhancement technique. | The Sapheneia Clarity is intended<br>for use by radiologists for transfer,<br>storage, noise reduction, contrast<br>enhancement and viewing of multi-<br>modality images from a variety of<br>diagnostic systems.<br><br>The device is also intended to be<br>used by trained/qualified<br>technologists for installation and<br>maintenance of the software. For<br>your legal protection, it is strongly<br>recommended that you backup your<br>original data.<br><br>For digital mammography, only<br>DICOM 'For Presentation' images<br>should be displayed for primary<br>image diagnosis. | None |
| Intended Users: | | |
| Radiologists and specialists. | Radiologists and technologists. | None |
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Image /page/2/Picture/0 description: The image shows the word "VITAL" in bold, sans-serif font. Below the word "VITAL" is the phrase "A Sysmex Medical Systems Group Company" in a smaller font size. The text is black against a white background. The overall impression is a clean and professional logo or heading.
: 上一篇:
:
| Vitrea Image Denoising<br>(Submission Subject) | Sapheneia Clarity (K063391)<br>(Predicate Device) | Noted Differences |
|------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Modality Support: | | |
| CT and 3D-XA. | Multi-modality (CT, MR, 3D-XA). | Our software supports<br>CT and 3D-XA datasets<br>as the predicate device.<br><br>Note: Our software<br>does not support MR<br>datasets. |
The technological comparison table below shows the equivalence between Vitrea Image Denoising software and the predicate device:
| Vitrea Image Denoising<br>(Submission Subject) | Sapheneia Clarity (K063391)<br>(Predicate Device) | Noted Differences |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| Device Description: | | |
| Vitrea Image Denoising software is a<br>software tool available on the Vitrea<br>platform. It assists radiologists and<br>specialists in the enhancement and<br>viewing of CT and 3D-XA modality<br>images from a variety of diagnosis<br>imaging systems by noise reduction<br>and contrast enhancement. | The Sapheneia Clarity image<br>processing software reduces noise<br>and enhances contrast of relevant<br>structures to increase image quality<br>through structure adaptation, tissue<br>adaptation, scale adaptation, and<br>noise adaptation. | None |
| Random noise does not have a 3D<br>structure and can thus be separated<br>from dominant structures. | Using robust estimation methods<br>the dominant structures are<br>separated from the embedding<br>noise. | None |
| Once the structure has been<br>determined, it is possible to suppress<br>noise by averaging voxel information<br>without removing important structural<br>details for reducing the noise. | Once the structure has been<br>determined, it is possible to<br>strengthen the interesting parts<br>while simultaneously reducing the<br>noise. | None |
| The acquisition remains the same,<br>i.e., the image processing can be<br>generated from CT and 3D-XA<br>modalities and with predefined or<br>specific acquisition protocol settings. | The acquisition remains the same,<br>i.e. the image processing can be<br>generated from multiple modalities<br>and with predefined or specific<br>acquisition protocol settings. | None |
:
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Image /page/3/Picture/0 description: The image shows the word "VITAL" in bold, black letters. Below the word "VITAL" is the phrase "A Toshiba Medical Systems Group Company" in a smaller font size. The text is all black and the background is white.
100 - 100 - 100 -
:
:
| Vitrea Image Denoising<br>(Submission Subject) | Sapheneia Clarity (K063391)<br>(Predicate Device) | Noted Differences |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| <b>Characteristics:</b> | | |
| Image<br>Enhancement System. | Image<br>Enhancement System. | None |
| <b>Where Used (Hospital, Home, Ambulance, etc.)</b> | | |
| Medical facility. | Medical facility. | None |
| <b>User Interface:</b> | | |
| The software is designed for use on a<br>radiology workstation. | The software is designed for use on a<br>radiology workstation. | None |
| <b>DICOM Standard Compliance:</b> | | |
| The software processes DICOM 3.0<br>compliant image data. | The software processes DICOM 3.0<br>compliant image data. | None |
| <b>Noise Reduction Method:</b> | | |
| Image-space noise reduction method. | Image-space noise reduction<br>method. | None |
| Separation of embedding noise from<br>dominant structures. | Separation of embedding noise<br>from dominant structures. | None |
| <b>Level:</b> | | |
| Voxel (volumetric pixel) level noise<br>reduction. | Pixel level noise reduction. | None |
.
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Image /page/4/Picture/0 description: The image shows the word "VITAL" in large, bold, black letters. Below the word "VITAL" is the phrase "A Toshiba Medical Systems Group Company" in a smaller font. The text is centered horizontally. The background is white.
Vitrea® Image Denoising Software 510(k) Pre-market Notification
| Vitrea Image Denoising<br>(Submission Subject) | Sapheneia Clarity (K063391)<br>(Predicate Device) | Noted Differences |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Vitrea Image Denoising software<br>employs 3D analysis of the image<br>structure in the neighborhood of each<br>voxel. | Sapheneia Clarity employs a<br>sophisticated statistical analysis of<br>the image structure in the<br>neighborhood of each pixel. | Both methods aim at<br>distinguishing structure<br>from noise.<br>Statistical analysis<br>distinguishes between<br>the two by studying the<br>statistical distribution of<br>the data whereas 3D<br>analysis studies the first<br>and second order<br>derivatives of the image<br>data to determine the<br>dominant direction of<br>structure if it exists. |
Vital Images believes that Vitrea Image Denoising software has the same intended use i.e. enhancement of CT and 3D-XA images, similar indication statement i.e. to be used by trained radiologists and specialists at a medical facility, and similar technological characteristics i.e. image-space noise reduction method as the predicate device.
The above noted difference in the method of image structure analysis, i.e. Vitrea Image Denoising software uses 3D analysis and Sapheneia Clarity uses statistical analysis method to analyze image structure; does not alter the end result of the software, which is to distinguish structure from noise.
Vital Images believes that the verification and validation results demonstrate that Vitrea Image Denoising software is as safe and effective as the predicate device and raises no new issues of safety and effectiveness as compared to the predicate devices. Therefore, Vital Images believes that FDA should find Vitrea Image Denoising software to be substantially equivalent to the predicate device, Sapheneia Clarity.
# Summary of Non-Clinical Tests:
The software was designed, developed and tested according to written procedures that included applying risk management. Software testing was completed to ensure the new feature operates according to its requirements and without impact to existing functionality. Testing included verification, validation, and evaluation of previously acquired medical images.
The following quality assurance measures were applied to the development of Vitrea Image Denoising software:
- Risk analysis .
- Requirements reviews .
- Design reviews .
- Verification of the software that included performance and safety testing .
- Validation of the software that included phantom testing and simulated usability testing by . independent experienced medical professionals.
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### Risk analvsis:
Vital Images performed a risk analysis, referring to software hazards associated with the intended use, including severity assessment and mitigation. The analysis was based upon the application of ISO 14971:2012 risk management to medical devices, in compliance with medical device ISO 13485:2012 and IEC 62304:2006 requirements.
All identified risks were reduced as low as possible. The medical benefits of the software outweigh the residual risk for each individual risks together. The overall residual risk for the software was deemed acceptable.
#### Verification:
The software verification team's primary goal is assuring the software fully satisfies all expected system requirements and features. Test cases were executed against the system features and requirements. As part of creating the test cases, the verification team reviewed and monitored the Requirements Traceability Matrix ("RTM") to ensure coverage of the items within the RTM.
#### Validation:
The software validation team's primary goal is assuring the software conforms to user needs and intended use. The validation team conducted workflow testing that provided evidence that the system requirements and features were implemented, reviewed and met.
#### Internal Validation (Phantom Testing):
The software validation team provided internal validation of Vitrea Image Denoising software. Internal validation included internal beta testing and internal user acceptance testing using various Catphan phantoms. The performed phantom tests validated that the amount of noise reduction is clinically significant considering the clinical use of the filter and the resulting spatial resolution, the level of image sharpness or spatial resolution after noise reduction remains acceptable for the diagnostic purposes and the low contrast resolution is not degraded after the noise reduction.
#### External Validation:
During external validation of Vitrea Image Denoising software, experienced Radiologists and an Interventional Cardiologist evaluated the Vitrea Image Denoising software. Each user felt that the Vitrea Image Denoising software reduces noise and enhances contrast in reconstructed CT and 3D-XA image datasets, while preserving structural details of contrast, spatial size, and 3D structure in the native images for clinically relevant visual assessment.
#### Summary of Clinical Tests:
The subject of this traditional 510(k) notification. Vitrea Image Denoising software, did not require clinical studies to support safety and effectiveness of the software.
## Cyber and Information Security:
- Confidentiality .
The Vitrea platform relies on built in Windows Login security to limit access to the system. The Vitrea platform can only be installed and configured by an administrator of the Windows machine.
- · Intearity
The Vitrea platform complies with the DICOM standard for transfer and storage of this data and does not modify the contents of DICOM instances. Vitrea platform identifies the data it produces, marking and encoding the appropriate DICOM fields.
- . Availability
The Vitrea platform is always available to the logged on user as long as the Windows machine itself is properly maintained.
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K140395
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Vitrea® Image Deñoising Software 510(k) Pre-market Notification
Image /page/6/Picture/2 description: The image shows the word "VITAL" in bold, black letters. Below the word "VITAL" is the phrase "A Toshiba Medical Systems Group Company" in a smaller font size. The text is centered.
# Accountability
The Vitrea platform includes an audit capability that enables accountability by tracking authenticated and authorized user operations along with information accessed. Vitrea audit logs are time stamped, enabling correlation with Windows system logging to track information accessed by a user.
# Performance Standard:
The FDA has not established mandatory performance standards and no special controls exist for this device. General software verification and validation tests were conducted to confirm proper function of the device's features.
| Standard No. | Standards<br>Organization | Standard Title | Version | Date |
|----------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|------------|
| PS 3.1- 3.20<br>(2011)<br>(Recognition<br>Number 12-238) | NEMA | Digital Imaging and<br>Communications in<br>Medicine (DICOM) Set<br>(Radiology) | 3 | 03/16/2012 |
| ISO 14971:2007<br>(Recognition<br>Number 5-70) | AAMI / ANSI<br>/ ISO | Medical Devices -<br>Applications of Risk<br>Management to Medical<br>Devices | 2007 | 03/16/2012 |
| IEC 62304:2006<br>(Recognition<br>Number 13-32) | AAMI / ANSI<br>/ IEC | Medical Device Software -<br>Software Life Cycle<br>Processes (Software /<br>Informatics) | 2006 | 08/20/2012 |
Vitrea Image Denoising software complies with following voluntary recognized consensus standards:
### Conclusion:
The testing reported in this 510(k) establishes that Vitrea Image Denoising software is substantially equivalent to the Sapheneia Clarity (K063391) Image Enhancement System and is as safe and effective for its intended use.
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Image /page/7/Picture/1 description: The image shows a circular seal with text around the perimeter and a symbol in the center. The text reads "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES - USA". The symbol in the center consists of three stylized lines that appear to be flowing or waving.
#### Public Health Service
Food and Drue Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Document Control Center - WO66-G609 Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002
# May 13, 2014
Vital Images, Inc. % Mr. Parthiv Shah Sr. Regulatory Affairs Specialist 5850 Opus Parkway, Suite 300 MINNETONKA MN 55343
Re: K140395
Trade/Device Name: Vitread Image Denoising Software Regulation Number: 21 CFR 892.2050 Regulation Name: Picture archiving and communications system Regulatory Class: 11 Product Code: LLZ Dated: February 14, 2014 Received: February 18, 2014
Dear Mr. Shah:
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. Please note: CDRH does not evaluate information related to contract liability warranties. We remind you, however, that device labeling must be truthful and not misleading.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (PMA), it may be subject to 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); medical device reporting (reporting of medical device-related adverse events) (21 CFR 803); good manufacturing practice requirements as set forth in the quality svstems (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.
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Page 2-Mr. Shah
If you desire specific advice for your device on our labeling regulation (21 CFR Part 801), please contact the Division of Industry and Consumer Education at its toll-free number (800) 638 2041 or (301) 796-7100 or at its Internet address
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ResourcesforYou/Industry/default.htm. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21CFR Part 807.97). For questions regarding the reporting of adverse events under the MDR regulation (21 CFR Part 803), please go to
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/ReportaProblem/default.htm for the CDRH's Office of Surveillance and Biometrics/Division of Postmarket Surveillance.
You may obtain other general information on your responsibilities under the Act from the Division of Industry and Consumer Education at its toll-free number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 796-7100 or at its Internet address
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ResourcesforYou/Industry/default.hum.
Sincerely yours,
. Smh.7)
for
Janine M. Morris Director Division of Radiological Health Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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# Indications for Use Form
510(k) Number (if known): _K140395
Device Name: Vitrea® Image Denoising Software
Indications for Use:
Vitrea® Image Denoising software is intended to assist radiologists and specialists in the enhancement of CT and 3D-XA image presentation by enabling noise reduction and contrast enhancement technique.
Prescription Use × (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 In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health (OIR)
Sm.h.7)
Division Sign-Off Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health
K140395 510(k) -
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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.
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).
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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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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.
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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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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.
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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.
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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.
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.