The Armada 18 is indicated to dilate stenosis in femoral, popliteal, and renal arteries and for the treatment of obstructive lesions of native or synthetic arteriovenous dialysis fistulae. In addition, the device is also indicated for post-dilatation of balloon-expandable and self-expanding stents.
Device Story
Armada 18 PTA Catheter is an over-the-wire, 0.018" guide wire compatible catheter for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Device features single-layer balloon (2.0-6.0 mm diameter; 20-200 mm length) and catheter shaft (90 or 150 cm). Radiopaque marker bands facilitate balloon positioning relative to stenosis. Proximal adaptation arm with luer-lock connects to inflation device. Physician operates device in clinical setting to dilate arterial stenoses or dialysis fistulae, or post-dilate stents. Inflation of balloon via side port expands balloon to specific diameter at controlled pressures. Device is single-use and ethylene oxide sterilized.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Testing included dimensional verification, catheter preparation/delivery/retraction, rated burst pressure, fatigue, balloon compliance, inflation/deflation time, tensile strength, flexibility, kink test, torque strength, particulate evaluation, coating integrity, and accelerated aging. Biocompatibility testing included cytotoxicity, sensitization, acute systemic toxicity, material-mediated pyrogen, hemolysis, coagulation, and complement activation. All tests met acceptance criteria.
Technological Characteristics
Over-the-wire PTA catheter; 0.018" guide wire compatible. Single-layer balloon; 2.0-6.0 mm diameter; 20-200 mm length. Shaft lengths 90/150 cm. Radiopaque marker bands for positioning. Luer-lock inflation port. Ethylene oxide sterilization. Single-use.
Indications for Use
Indicated for patients requiring dilation of stenosis in femoral, popliteal, and renal arteries, treatment of obstructive lesions in native or synthetic arteriovenous dialysis fistulae, and post-dilatation of balloon-expandable and self-expanding stents.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A percutaneous catheter is a device that is introduced into a vein or artery through the skin using a dilator and a sheath (introducer) or guide wire.
{0}------------------------------------------------
Image /page/0/Picture/1 description: The image is a black and white logo for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The logo features a stylized image of three human profiles facing right, with flowing lines suggesting hair or wings above them. The profiles are arranged in a row, slightly overlapping each other. The text "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES - USA" is arranged in a circular fashion around the image.
Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Document Control Center - WO66-G609 Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002
July 6, 2015
Abbott Vascular Shu Chi Hsu Project Manager, Regulatory Affairs 3200 Lakeside Drive Santa Clara, CA 95054
Re: K151317
Trade/Device Name: Armada 18 PTA Catheter Regulation Number: 21 CFR 870.1250 Regulation Name: Percutaneous Catheter Regulatory Class: Class II Product Code: LIT Dated: June 19, 2015 Received: June 22, 2015
#### Dear Shu Chi Hsu:
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
{1}------------------------------------------------
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.
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.htm.
Sincerely yours.
M.A. Hilleman
for Bram D. Zuckerman, M.D. Director Division of Cardiovascular Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
{2}------------------------------------------------
# Indications for Use
510(k) Number (if known) K151317
Device Name
Armada 18 PTA Catheter
#### Indications for Use (Describe)
The Armada 18 is indicated to dilate stenosis in femoral, popliteal, and renal arteries and for the treatment of obstructive lesions of native or synthetic arteriovenous dialysis fistulae. In addition, the device is also indicated for post-dilatation of balloon-expandable and self-expanding stents.
Type of Use (Select one or both, as applicable)
| <div> <span> <input checked="true" type="checkbox"/> Prescription Use (Part 21 CFR 801 Subpart D) </span> </div> |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| <div> <span> <input type="checkbox"/> Over-The-Counter Use (21 CFR 801 Subpart C) </span> </div> |
#### CONTINUE ON A SEPARATE PAGE IF NEEDED.
This section applies only to requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
#### *DO NOT SEND YOUR COMPLETED FORM TO THE PRA STAFF EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.*
The burden time for this collection of information is estimated to average 79 hours per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data sources, gather and maintain the data needed and complete and review the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:
> Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration Office of Chief Information Officer Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) Staff PRAStaff@fda.hhs.gov
"An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB number."
{3}------------------------------------------------
## 510(k) Summary
The 510(k) Summary is submitted in accordance with 21 CFR 8807.92 and the requirements of the Safe Medical Device Act (SMDA) of 1990.
| 1. | Submitter's Name | Abbott Vascular |
|-----|----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2. | Submitter's Address | 3200 Lakeside Dr. Santa Clara, CA 95054 |
| 3. | Telephone | (408) 845-1256 |
| 4. | Fax | (408) 845-3743 |
| 5. | Contact Person | Shu Chi Hsu |
| 6. | Date Prepared | May 14, 2015 |
| 7. | Device Trade Name | Armada 18 PTA Catheter |
| 8. | Device Common Name | PTA Catheter |
| 9. | Device Classification Name | Catheter, angioplasty, peripheral, transluminal<br>(21 CFR 870.1250, LIT) |
| 10. | Predicate Device Name | Armada 14 PTA Catheter (K102705, cleared on<br>December 7, 2010) |
## 11. Device Description
The Armada 18 is a 0.018" guide wire compatible and Over-the-Wire catheter used for Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA) procedures. The single-laver balloon is available in lengths of 20 to 200 mm with nominal diameters of 2.0 to 6.0 mm. The catheter shaft has working lengths of 90 or 150 cm.
There are two radiopaque marker bands for positioning the balloon relative to the stenosis. The radiopaque marker bands indicate the dilating section of the balloon and help in balloon placement.
An adaption arm is provided on the proximal end of the dilatation catheter to provide access to the inflation lumen and the guide wire lumen. It is designed with a luer-lock fitting for connection with an inflation device. The balloon is inflated using the side port, at which point the balloon expands to a known diameter at specific pressures. The working pressure range for the balloon is between the nominal pressure and the rated burst pressure. All balloons distend to diameters above the nominal diameter when inflated to pressures greater than the nominal pressure.
The Armada 18 PTA Catheter is sterilized with ethylene oxide (EO) and is intended for single use.
{4}------------------------------------------------
#### 12. Indication for Use
The Armada 18 is indicated to dilate stenosis in femoral, popliteal, infra-popliteal, and renal arteries and for the treatment of obstructive lesions of native or synthetic arteriovenous dialysis fistulae. In addition, the device is also indicated for post-dilatation of balloonexpandable and self-expanding stents.
### 13. Technological Characteristics
Comparison of the new device and predicate device demonstrate that the technological characteristics such as product performance, design (with minor modifications) and indications for use are substantially equivalent to the current marketed predicate device.
#### 14. Performance Data
Performance testing was successfully completed on the Armada 18 PTA Catheter. The following tests were conducted:
- Dimensional Verification ●
- Catheter Preparation, Delivery, Deployment and Retraction ●
- Rated Burst Pressure, Rated Burst Pressure In Stent ●
- Fatigue, Fatigue In Stent ●
- Balloon Compliance
- Balloon Inflation and Deflation Time
- Catheter Tensile Strength
- Flexibility and Kink Test
- Torque Strength ●
- Particulate Evaluation
- Coating Integrity ●
- . Accelerated Aging
Biocompatibility testing included cytotoxicity, sensitization, acute systemic toxicity, material mediated pyrogen, hemolysis, coagulation and complement activation.
## 15. Conclusions
Test results from the in vitro bench testing conducted on the subject device demonstrate that the Armada 18 PTA Catheter met all acceptance criteria and performed similarly to the predicate device and that no new safety or effectiveness issues were raised during the testing program. Therefore, the Armada 18 PTA Catheter may be considered substantially equivalent to the predicate device.
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.