7D Surgical System Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular Catheter Placement Application
K192945 · 7D Surgical, Inc. · HAW · Nov 27, 2019 · Neurology
Device Facts
Record ID
K192945
Device Name
7D Surgical System Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular Catheter Placement Application
Applicant
7D Surgical, Inc.
Product Code
HAW · Neurology
Decision Date
Nov 27, 2019
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Special
Regulation
21 CFR 882.4560
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
AI/ML
Indications for Use
The 7D Surgical System is a stereotaxic image guidance system intended for the spatial positioning and orientation of neurosurgical instruments used by surgeons. The system is also intended to be used as the primary surgical luminaire during image guided surgery. The device is indicated for cranial surgery where reference to a rigid anatomical structure can be identified.
Device Story
The 7D Surgical System is a stereotaxic image guidance system used in cranial surgery. It utilizes a cart-based machine vision system with an integrated structured light scanner to capture 3D intraoperative images of patient anatomy. These images are registered with preoperative scan data to provide real-time navigation. The system tracks wireless, passive-marker instruments (Pointer, Reference Frame, and Biopsy Guide) within the surgical field. The Biopsy Guide allows surgeons to target lesions along pre-planned trajectories and place ventricular catheters. The system also functions as a surgical luminaire to illuminate the field without interfering with structured light acquisition. Surgeons view the instrument position relative to registered anatomy on a workstation display, facilitating precise navigation for biopsies and tumor resections. The system benefits patients by providing accurate, real-time guidance for neurosurgical procedures.
Clinical Evidence
No clinical data was required. Safety and effectiveness were demonstrated through non-clinical bench testing, including system verification, software validation, usability testing, and accuracy testing on phantom models. Accuracy results: Mean TRE of 1.36 mm (99% CI upper limit 1.44 mm) and Mean ATE of 1.35° (99% CI upper limit 1.43°).
Technological Characteristics
System comprises a cart, articulating arm, head unit (structured light scanner/luminaire), tracked instruments, and software. Instruments use passive reflective marker spheres. Complies with ISO 10993-1 (biocompatibility), ISO 17665-1 (sterilization), and electrical safety standards IEC 60601-1, IEC 60601-1-2, IEC 60601-1-6, IEC 60601-2-41, and IEC 60825-1.
Indications for Use
Indicated for cranial surgery in patients where reference to a rigid anatomical structure can be identified for spatial positioning and orientation of neurosurgical instruments.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A stereotaxic instrument is a device consisting of a rigid frame with a calibrated guide mechanism for precisely positioning probes or other devices within a patient's brain, spinal cord, or other part of the nervous system.
{0}------------------------------------------------
Image /page/0/Picture/0 description: The image contains the logo of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On the left is the Department of Health & Human Services logo. To the right of that is the FDA logo, which is a blue square with the letters "FDA" in white. To the right of the blue square is the text "U.S. FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION" in blue.
7D Surgical Inc. Daniel Ziskind Director, Quality & Regulatory 60 Scarsdale Road, Unit 118 Toronto, M3B 2R7 CA
Re: K192945
Trade/Device Name: 7D Surgical System Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular Catheter Placement Application Regulation Number: 21 CFR 882.4560 Regulation Name: Stereotaxic Instrument Regulatory Class: Class II Product Code: HAW Dated: October 15, 2019 Received: October 30, 2019
Dear Daniel Ziskind:
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. Although this letter refers to your product as a device, please be aware that some cleared products may instead be combination products. The 510(k) Premarket Notification Database located at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmr/pmn.cfm identifies combination product submissions. The general controls provisions of the Actinclude 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
{1}------------------------------------------------
requirements, including, but not limited to: registration and listing (21 CFR Part 807); labeling (21 CFR Part 801); medical device reporting of medical device-related adverse events) (21 CFR 803) for devices or postmarketing safety reporting (21 CFR 4, Subpart B) for combination products (see https://www.fda.gov/combination-products/guidance-regulatory-information/postmarketing-safety-reportingcombination-products); good manufacturing practice requirements as set forth in the quality systems (QS) regulation (21 CFR Part 820) for devices or current good manufacturing practices (21 CFR 4, Subpart A) for combination products; and, if applicable, the electronic product radiation control provisions (Sections 531-542 of the Act); 21 CFR 1000-1050.
Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21 CFR Part 807.97). For questions regarding the reporting of adverse events under the MDR regulation (21 CFR Part 803), please go to https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-safety/medical-device-reportingmdr-how-report-medical-device-problems.
For comprehensive regulatory information about mediation-emitting products, including information about labeling regulations, please see Device (https://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/device-advice-comprehensive-regulatory-assistance)and CDRH Learn (https://www.fda.gov/training-and-continuing-education/cdrh-learn). Additionally, you may contact the Division of Industry and Consumer Education (DICE) to ask a question about a specific regulatory topic. See the DICE website (https://www.fda.gov/medical-device-advice-comprehensive-regulatoryassistance/contact-us-division-industry-and-consumer-education-dice) for more information or contact DICE by email (DICE@fda.hhs.gov) or phone (1-800-638-2041 or 301-796-7100).
Sincerely,
For Matthew Krueger Assistant Director DHT5A: Division of Neurosurgical. Neurointerventional and Neurodiagnostic Devices OHT5: Office of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices Office of Product Evaluation and Quality Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
{2}------------------------------------------------
# Indications for Use
510(k) Number (if known) K192945
Device Name
7D Surgical System Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular Catheter Placement Application
#### Indications for Use (Describe)
The 7D Surgical System is a stereotaxic image guidance system intended for the spatial positioning and orientation of neurosurgical instruments used by surgeons. The system is also intended to be used as the primary surgical luminaire during image guided surgery. The device is indicated for cranial surgery where reference to a rigid anatomical structure can be identified.
| Type of Use (Select one or both, as applicable) | |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| <div> <span>☑ Prescription Use (Part 21 CFR 801 Subpart D)</span> </div> | <div> <span>☐ 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 of Safety and Effectiveness 7D Surgical System Cranial Application
This summary of safety and effectiveness information is submitted in accordance with 21CFR §807.92
1. Submitter's name, address, telephone number, contact person. 7D Surgical, Inc. 60 Scarsdale Road, Unit 118 Toronto, ON, M3B 2R7, Canada
Contact person: Daniel Ziskind Quality and Regulatory, Director 7D Surgical, Inc. 60 Scarsdale Road, Unit 118 Toronto, ON, M3B 2R7, Canada Phone: (647) 484-0079 Fax: (647) 749-0400 (wait until you hear a message, then press 7) Email: daniel.ziskind@7dsurgical.com
Date prepared: November 18, 2019
- 2. Name of the device, including the trade or proprietary name if applicable, the common or usual name, and the classification name, if known:
| Common/usual name: | Computer-assisted surgical device |
|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Proprietary name: | 7D Surgical System Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular<br>Catheter Placement Application |
These devices are classified as follows:
| Classification Name | 21 CFR Section | Product Code |
|------------------------|------------------|--------------|
| Stereotaxic instrument | 21 CFR §882.4560 | HAW |
#### 3. Substantially Equivalent Devices
7D Surgical believes the 7D Surgical System Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular Catheter Placement Application is substantially equivalent to the following currently marketed devices:
| Product | 510(k) |
|----------------------------------------|---------|
| 7D Surgical System Cranial Application | K181041 |
{4}------------------------------------------------
The indications for use of the subject device 7D Surgical System Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular Catheter Placement Application are equivalent to the predicate device 7D Surgical System Cranial Application K181041. Furthermore, the technological characteristics of the 7D Surgical System Cranial Application are substantially equivalent. The differences in the technological characteristics do not raise new questions of safety and effectiveness. Consequently, the subject is substantially equivalent to the predicate device. It is important to note the 7D Surgical System Cranial Application K181041 is considered the Primary Predicate Device for this application.
### 4. Purpose of Submission
The purpose of this submission is intended introduce the 7D Surgical Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular Catheter Placement Application. With the 7D Surgical Biopsy Guide surgeons can target lesions with pre-planned trajectories and provide real-time tracking of the IZI Navigable Brain Biopsy Cannula K143241. The Biopsy Guide offers continuous position feedback and precise step-by-step workflow guidance for a variety of procedures. Surgeons are able to take biopsies and place Ventricular Catheters in the cranium through passive-marker technology. The articulating arm design connects directly to the skull head clamp for accurate positioning and the best approaches for the IZI Biopsy Needle and Ventricular Catheters.
The IZI Navigable Brain Biopsy Cannula K143241 is designed for navigated removal of tissue samples in frameless neurosurgery procedures. The 7D Surgical System stores the pre-calibrated geometry of the IZI Navigable Brain Biopsy Cannula allowing for instant use for navigation. Together with 7D Surgical Biopsy Guide and the 7D Surgical System Cranial Navigation application, pre-planned trajectories can be quickly targeted.
#### 5. Indications for Use
The 7D Surgical System is a stereotaxic image guidance system intended for the spatial positioning and orientation of neurosurgical instruments used by surgeons. The system is also intended to be used as the primary surgical luminaire during image guided surgery. The device is indicated for cranial surgery where reference to a rigid anatomical structure can be identified.
## 6. Device Description and Technical Comparison to Predicate Devices
The 7D Surgical System Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular Catheter Placement Application is intended for use as a stereotaxic image guided surgical navigation system during cranial surgical procedures. The Cranial Application software assists in guiding surgeons during cranial surgical procedures such as biopsies, tumor resections, and Ventricular Catheters placement. The Cranial Application software works in conjunction with 7D Surgical Machine Vision Guidance System which consists of clinical software, optically tracked surgical Pointer, a reference frame
{5}------------------------------------------------
7D Surgical System Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular Catheter Placement Application
instrument and platform/computer hardware which is substantially equivalent to K181041. Image guidance tracks the position of instruments in relation to the surgical anatomy and identifies this position on DICOM images or intraoperative structured light images of the patient. The Cranial software functionality is described in terms of its feature sets which are categorized as imaging, registration, planning, and views. Feature sets include functionality that contributes to clinical decision making and are necessary to achieve system performance.
It is important to note that the fundamental technology of the Cranial Application is equivalent to the currently cleared Spinal and Cranial Applications Both applications require structured light imaging provided by the currently marketed system cart hardware. The system provides image registration between preoperative scan data and data captured intraoperatively from the 7D Surgical System integrated structured light scanner and/or user selected points of the Cranium. The system provides guidance data by displaying the locations of wireless optically tracked 7D Surgical System Cranial Instruments (examples include Reference Frame, Pointer, and now the Biopsy Guide) relative to the patient. Position and orientation data of tracked 7D Surgical System Cranial Instruments are linked to the preoperative scan data using the 7D Surgical System workstation. The system is intended to be used as the primary surgical luminaire for image guided surgery.
The system is intended to be used for both image fusion and navigation for neurological applications where reference to a rigid structure can be identified relative to a pre-operative image data of the anatomy.
The 7D Surgical System Cranial Application is comprised of 5 major components:
- 1. Cart
- 2. Arm
- 3. Head
- 4. Tracked 7D Surgical System Cranial Instruments
- 5. Software
The Cart of the system serves the following purposes:
- Easy movement of system with secure attachment of all moveable components to the cart
- · Space efficient storage of system, when not used
- . Allow stable positioning of the entire system when in use
- · Safe enclosure of the computer and electric supplies
- . Allow user interaction and data-transfer to and from the computer workstation
The Arm of the system serves the following purposes:
{6}------------------------------------------------
- Link the cart and the head allowing easy positioning of the head by the sterile surgeon but is stable otherwise (no motion of the head after positioning)
- Allow positioning of the head outside of the sterile field in all positions
- Provides mechanisms for routing cables between the head and the cart
The Head of the system serves 3 main purposes:
- Capture 3D structured light images of the intraoperative patient anatomy to facilitate registration of patient preoperative data with the local surgical coordinate system to enable surgical navigation
- To passively track the location of 7D Surgical System Cranial Instruments -Pointer and a Reference Frame within the surgical field and provide intraoperative guidance to the surgeon.
- To illuminate the surgical field during navigated portions of the surgery. The incorporation of an illumination module into the system is driven by the fact that external surgical lighting can prevent the acquisition of structured light images due to saturation of cameras during registration.
The Tracking System enables the surgeon to view the position and orientation of these 7D Surgical System Cranial Instruments relative to registered pre-operative image data while performing the surgical procedure. Each 7D Surgical System Instrument utilizes 4 commercially available passive reflective marker spheres used to determine the position and orientation of each 7D Surgical System Instrument. Each 7D Surgical System Instrument requires a unique marker position configuration to enable the tracking system to distinguish the tools from one to the other.
The Software links all system components and displays navigational data to the surgeon. It provides methods for loading preoperative scans and guides the surgeon through the process of surface model creation, structured light acquisition, registration, registration verification and navigation.
## 7. Technological Characteristics
The literature research and the comparison to the predicate devices show that the device makes use of equivalent technological characteristics and functionality and is intended for equivalent surgical procedures as compared to the predicate devices.
{7}------------------------------------------------
### 8. Nonclinical Performance Data
Verification and Validation activities have been conducted to provide assurance that the device meets the performance requirements under the indications for use conditions.
7D Surgical performed the following testing to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the 7D Surgical System device:
- . Non-Clinical System, Software, and Instrumentation Verification and Validation
- Non-Clinical Performance Surgical Simulations Conducted on Phantom Models
- Compliance Conformity Assessments
- ISO 10993-1 Biological evaluation of medical devices.
- ISO 17665-1 Sterilization of health care products Moist heat Part 1: ● Requirements for the development, validation and routine control of a sterilization process for medical devices
- AAMI / ANSI ST79:2010 & A1:2010 & A2:2011 & A3:2012 & A4:2013, (Consolidated Text) Comprehensive Guide To Steam Sterilization And Sterility Assurance In Health Care Facilities. (Sterility)
Device performance tests were performed to verify the absolute accuracy of the accuracy of the device. Target Registration Error (TRE) and Angular Trajectory Error (ATE) has been used to evaluate the clinical accuracy of the system on phantom models in a clinical simulated environment. TRE and ATE evaluates the error discrepancy between the position reported by the image guided surgery system and the ground truth position measured physically or otherwise. The following tables summarizes the results of Target Registration Error (TRE) and Trajectory Angle Error of the 7D Surgical System Cranial Biopsy Guide Application:
| | Mean | Standard<br>Deviation | 99% CI*)<br>Upper Limit |
|--------------------------------------|------|-----------------------|-------------------------|
| Target Registration Error (TRE) [mm] | 1.36 | 0.68 | 1.44 |
| Trajectory Angle Error [°] | 1.35 | 0.74 | 1.43 |
{8}------------------------------------------------
The following table contains an overall summary of verification and validation performed on the 7D Surgical System Cranial Application:
| Verification and Validation | Description | Conclusion |
|--------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| System Verification | Scope of the test is to verify<br>the design requirement<br>specifications of 7D Surgical<br>System under test case<br>protocols. | Verification successful, all<br>design requirements have<br>been fulfilled. |
| System Validation | Scope of the test is to<br>validate the Indications For<br>Use and Customer<br>Requirements of the 7D<br>Surgical System under<br>simulated use case situations. | Validation successful, all user<br>needs met. |
| Usability | This test is conducted to<br>validate the 7D Surgical<br>System with respect to use<br>errors. | Validation successful, device<br>safe and effective with<br>respect to use errors. |
| Safety regarding risk analysis | Implementation and<br>effectiveness of all risk<br>control requirements<br>specified in the 7D Surgical<br>System risk analysis is tested<br>and verified. | Risk Control requirements<br>are effective and mitigate<br>the associated risks to an<br>acceptable level. |
| Biocompatibility | The 7D Surgical System<br>Cranial Instrumentation was<br>assessed to the following<br>recognized standards:<br>ISO 10993-1 | Compliance with recognized<br>standards has previously<br>been established in the<br>predicate device. |
| Sterilization | The 7D Surgical System<br>Cranial Instrumentation was<br>tested to the following<br>recognized standards:<br>ISO 17665-1. | Compliance with recognized<br>standards have been verified<br>in this application. |
| Product Safety standards | The 7D Surgical System was<br>tested to the following<br>recognized standards:<br>IEC 60601-1, IEC 60601-1-2,<br>IEC 60601-1-6, IEC 60601-2-<br>41, and IEC 60825-1. | Compliance with recognized<br>standards have been verified. |
| Non-Clinical Accuracy | System's accuracy is tested<br>using the 7D Surgical System<br>on phantom models to<br>determine Target Registration<br>Error and Angular Trajectory<br>Error | All accuracy specifications<br>have been met. |
All non-clinical tests successfully passed demonstrating that the subject device performs as safely and effectively as the predicate device and supporting substantial equivalence.
{9}------------------------------------------------
It is important to note that the following Compliance Conformity Assessments were not required as a result of design implementation of the Cranial Application, as no substantial changes were made to the system cart. The information provided in application K181041 is still applies to the current 7D Surgical System:
- IEC 60601-1 Medical electrical equipment. General requirements for basic safety and essential performance, 2005, Amendment 1, 2012
- . IEC 60601-1-2 Medical Electrical Equipment – Part 1-2, General Requirements for Basic Safety and Essential Performance – Collateral Standard Electromagnetic Compatibility, 2007
- . IEC 60601-2-41 Medical electrical equipment - Part 2-41: Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of surgical luminaires and luminaires for diagnosis
- IEC 60601-1-6 Medical Electrical Equipment - Part 1-6, General Requirements for Basic Safety and Essential Performance - Usability
- . IEC 60825-1 Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
## 9. Clinical Data
A clinical trial was not required to demonstrate safety and effectiveness of the 7D Surgical System Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular Catheter Placement Application. Clinical validation is unnecessary as the 7D Surgical System Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular Catheter Placement Application introduces no new indications for use, and device features are equivalent to the previously cleared predicate device identified. The clinical safety and effectiveness of Image Guided Surgery Systems are historically accepted for both the predicate and subject device.
# 10. Conclusion
The 7D Surgical System Cranial Application is substantially equivalent in safety and effectiveness to the predicate devices identified above:
- The predicate devices and 7D Surgical System use essentially the same technologies.
- The predicate devices and 7D Surgical System instrumentation have essentially the same materials and performance requirements.
- The predicate devices and 7D Surgical System are designed and manufactured to similar electrical and physical safety standards.
The non-clinical verification and validation performed support the safety and effectiveness of 7D Surgical System C Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular Catheter Placement Application. The conclusions drawn from the nonclinical tests demonstrate that the 7D Surgical System, performs as safely and effectively as the legally marketed device According to the comparison based on the
{10}------------------------------------------------
510(k) Premarket Notification
7D Surgical System Cranial Biopsy and Ventricular Catheter Placement Application
requirements of 21 CFR §882.4560 and the information provided herein. It is concluded that the 7D Surgical System is substantially equivalent to the predicate device with respect to its indications for use, technological characteristics and performance characteristics.
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.