SurgiCase Viewer is intended to be used as a software interface to assist in visualization of treatment options.
Device Story
SurgiCase Viewer is a web-based software interface for visualizing 3D medical data and images. It allows clinicians to navigate, measure, and annotate 3D models and medical images to evaluate treatment options. The device imports 3D data (STL format with metadata) and medical images; it does not alter the imported data. Functionality includes 3D view navigation (zoom, pan, rotate), object visualization (show/hide, transparency, clipping), interactive image reslicing, contrast adjustment, and 3D contour overlay. It also supports visualization of 3D models in Virtual Reality. Used by medical device manufacturers, service providers, or hospital departments to facilitate communication between the manufacturer and the end-user clinician. The software is integrated with an online Medical Device Data System for case and user management. Clinicians use the output to review and validate treatment proposals, aiding in clinical decision-making and patient-specific device/service planning.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Software verification and validation were performed per FDA guidance. Validation included testing against defined requirements and user needs. Performance of medical image visualization (contrast, reslicing, contour overlay) and measurement functionality was compared against the Mimics Medical reference device, demonstrating equivalent results.
Technological Characteristics
Web-based application; supports various browsers and operating systems. Uses 3D visualization libraries shared with Mimics Medical. Features include 3D model rendering (STL), medical image processing (reslicing, contrast), and VR visualization. Software-based; no specific hardware materials. Connectivity via integration with online Medical Device Data Systems.
Indications for Use
Indicated for use by medical sector professionals to visualize 3D data and perform measurements to evaluate and communicate treatment options. Used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools and expert clinical judgment.
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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Materialise NV % Aya Nishikawa Regulatory Affairs Specialist Technologielaan 15 Leuven, 3001 BELGIUM
Re: K213684
June 15, 2022
Trade/Device Name: SurgiCase Viewer Regulation Number: 21 CFR 892.2050 Regulation Name: Medical image management and processing system Regulatory Class: Class II Product Code: LLZ Dated: May 6, 2022 Received: May 9, 2022
Dear Aya Nishikawa:
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/cfpmn/pmn.cfm identifies combination product submissions. 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 of medical device-related adverse events) (21 CFR 803) for
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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-device-safety/medical-device-reportingmdr-how-report-medical-device-problems.
For comprehensive regulatory information about medical devices and radiation-emitting products, including information about labeling regulations, please see Device Advice (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,
Jessica Lamb. Ph.D. Assistant Director Imaging Software Team DHT8B: Division of Radiological Imaging Devices and Electronic Products OHT8: Office of Radiological Health Office of Product Evaluation and Quality Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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# Indications for Use
510(k) Number (if known) K213684
Device Name SurgiCase Viewer
Indications for Use (Describe)
SurgiCase Viewer is intended to be used as a software interface to assist in visualization of treatment options.
Type of Use (Select one or both, as applicable)
> Prescription Use (Part 21 CFR 801 Subpart D)
| Over-The-Counter Use (21 CFR 801 Subpart C)
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# 510(k) Summary
The following section is included as required by the Safe Medical Devices Act (SMDA) of 1990 and 21CFR 807.92
| Company name | Materialise N.V. |
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Establishment registration number | 3003998208 |
| Street Address | Technologielaan 15 |
| City | Leuven |
| Postal code | 3001 |
| Country | Belgium |
| Phone number | +32 16 39 66 11 |
| Fax number | +32 16 39 66 06 |
| Principal Contact person | Aya Nishikawa |
| Contact title | Regulatory Affairs Specialist |
| Contact e-mail address | Regulatory.Affairs@materialise.be |
| Additional contact person | Anneleen Van Assche |
| Contact title | Software Product Manager |
| Contact e-mail address | Anneleen.VanAssche@materialise.be |
# Submission date
## The date of the Traditional 510(k) submission is November 16th, 2021 Updated: April 25th, 2022
#### Submission information
| Trade Name | SurgiCase Viewer<br>Materialise Viewer |
|-----------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Common Name | Image processing system |
| Classification Name | System, Image processing, Radiological |
| Classification product code | LLZ (21 CFR 892.2050) |
# Predicate Devices
The primary predicate devices to which substantial equivalence is claimed:
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| Trade or proprietary or model name | SurgiCase Viewer |
|------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| 510(k) number | K170419 |
| Decision date | May 11, 2017 |
| Classification product code | LLZ (21 CFR 892.2050) |
| Manufacturer | Materialise N.V. |
The secondary reference device:
| Trade or proprietary or model name | Mimics Medical |
|------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| 510(k) number | K183105 |
| Decision date | March 27, 2019 |
| Classification product code | LLZ (21 CFR 892.2050) |
| Manufacturer | Materialise N.V. |
#### Description and functioning of the device
SurgiCase Viewer provides functionality to allow visualization of 3D data and to perform measurements on these 3D data, which should allow a clinician to evaluate and communicate about treatment options.
SurgiCase Viewer is intended for use by people active in the medical sector. When used to review and validate treatment options, SurgiCase Viewer is intended to be used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools and expert clinical judgment.
The SurgiCase Viewer can be used by a medical device/service manufacturer/provider or hospital department to visualize 3D data during the manufacturing process of the product/service to the end-user who is ordering the device/service. This allows the end-user to evaluate and provide feedback on proposals or intermediate steps in the manufacturing of the device or service.
The SurgiCase Viewer is to be integrated with an online Medical Device Data System which is used to process the medical device or service and which is responsible for case management, user management, authorization, authentication, etc.
The data visualized in the SurgiCase Viewer is controlled by the medical device manufacturer using the SurgiCase Viewer in its process. The Device manufacturer will create the 3D data to be visualized to the end-user and export it to one of the dedicated formats supported by the SurgiCase Viewer. Each of these formats describe the 3D data in STL format with additional meta-data on the 3D models. The SurgiCase Viewer does not alter the 3D data it imports and its functioning is independent of the specific medical indication/situation or product/service it is used for. It's the responsibility of the Medical device company using the SurgiCase Viewer to comply with the applicable medical device regulations.
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### Intended Use
SurgiCase Viewer is intended to be used as a software interface to assist in visualization of treatment options.
### Comparison of Technological Characteristics with the Predicate Device
A detailed comparison shows the subject device is substantially equivalent in intended use, design, functionality, operating principles, materials and performance characteristics to the primary predicate devices.
The subject device SurgiCase Viewer is equivalent to the predicate device SurgiCase Viewer (K170419) in:
- . Intended use: Both the subject device as well as the predicate device have the same intended use;
- O They are both intended to be used as a software interface to assist in visualization and communication of treatment options.
- Device functionality:
- Import plans from dedicated file formats O
- O 3D view navigation: updating camera orientation/zooming/panning
- o Visualization options:
- show/hide, transparency of objects, primitives, measurements
- . ability to visualize predefined views (a view is a preset collection of models/images which are visualized together) optionally including questions to be answered by the end-user
- . clipping of 3D models
- Measuring O
- O Making indications/annotations on the 3D models
- Device architecture/technology: SurgiCase Viewer shares the same architecture/technology and functionality as the primary predicate device, however, functionality was just further extended to improve the usability for the user.
- Device design and development process: Both predicate and subject software are manufactured by the same company (Materialise NV), the subject device originates from the same code base as the predicate device; and follows the same development cycle and testing procedures as the predicate device. The verification and validation of predicate and subject device has been done following the same procedures and workflows.
The main differences between the subject and the predicate device are:
- Device Functionality: the subject's device functionality was further extended from the predicate device's functionality with:
- O Medical images visualization
- . Including image scrolling, zooming, panning
- l Contrast adjustments
- l Interactive image reslicing
- 3D contour overlay on images
- o Visualization of 3D models in Virtual Reality
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The abovementioned technological differences do not impact the safety and effectiveness of the subject device for the proposed intended use as is demonstrated by the verification and validation plan.
The subject device SurgiCase Viewer is substantially equivalent to the secondary reference device Mimics Medical (K183105) in:
- . Device Functionality
- o Medical images visualization
- Including image scrolling, zooming, panning
- Contrast adjustments
- . Interactive image reslicing
- 3D contour overlay on images
- Device design and development process: Both reference and subject software are manufactured by the same company (Materialise NV), the subject device originates from the same code base as the reference device; and follows the same development cycle and testing procedures as the predicate device. The verification and validation of predicate and subject device has been done following the same procedures and workflows.
Differences in technological characteristics of the subject device compared with the reference device Mimics Medical:
- . Intended use: While the subject device SurgiCase Viewer is intended to be used as a software interface to assist in visualization and communication of treatment options, the reference device Mimics Medical is also intended as an image segmentation system and intended for treatment planning.
- Device Functionality:
- O the reference device functionality is much more extended than the subject device, which only includes a limited subset of functionality from the reference device, due to its different intended use.
- Device architecture/technology: while the reference device Mimics Medical is a Windows based desktop solution, the subject device is a web application which can be used in different browsers and on different operating systems (however the underlying libraries used for image based operations are still the same in both products).
The above mentioned technological differences do not impact the safety and effectiveness of the subject device for the proposed intended use as is demonstrated by the verification and validation plan.
#### Performance Data
Software verification and validation were performed and documentation was provided following the "Guidance for the Content of Premarket Submissions for Software Contained in Medical Devices". This includes verification against defined requirements, and validation against user needs with end-users.
The SurgiCase Viewer application has been validated for its intended use to determine substantial equivalence to the primary predicate device SurgiCase Viewer.
The medical images functionality was compared to the same functionality present in the secondary reference device Mimics. Both functionality produce the same results in:
- Contrast adjustments
- . Interactive image reslicing
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- . 3D contour overlay on images
Measurement functionality on images was compared with already existing functionality on the 3D models and shown to provide correct results both on images and 3D.
#### Summary
The characteristics that determine the functionality and performance of the surgiCase Viewer are substantially equivalent to the devices cleared under K170419 and K183105. The non-clinical testing indicates that the subject device is as safe, as effective, and performs as well as the predicates.
From the substantial equivalence analysis we conclude that the intended use and technological characteristics of SurgiCase Viewer are substantially equivalent to a combination of the predicate device SurgiCase Viewer (K170419) and the reference device Mimics Medical (K183105). Based on the application of risk management and performance testing we conclude that SurgiCase Viewer is as safe and effective as its predicate and reference devices and does not raise any new issues related to safety and effectiveness compared to the predicate and reference devices, and has a comparable performance.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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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.
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A lot of people predicated them for a reason. Clicking a node traces parents and children, and selections from search carry over pre-selected.
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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.