K963808 · American Medical Technology, Inc. · ITI · Feb 12, 1997 · Physical Medicine
Device Facts
Record ID
K963808
Device Name
CHOICE POWERED WHEELCHAIR
Applicant
American Medical Technology, Inc.
Product Code
ITI · Physical Medicine
Decision Date
Feb 12, 1997
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 890.3860
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Therapeutic
Indications for Use
The CHOICE powered wheelchair is intended to provide mobility for a person who, due to medical reasons, the debilitating nature of some illnesses, because of accident, injury and/or subsequent paralysis, is either missing or unable to use the lower extremities. Some, but not all of the specific indications for use of a power wheelchair are: paraplegia, quadriplegia, ALS, muscular dystrophy, muscular sclerosis, lower limb amputation and any one or more of numerous neurological or muscular diseases which render the limbs too weak or unstable for normal use.
Device Story
Powered wheelchair providing mobility for individuals with lower extremity impairment. Fabricated steel frame; dual 12V gel cell batteries (24V DC system). Controller (Penny & Giles) manages drive motors and seating actuators; user interface via joystick or alternative controls (e.g., sip-n-puff). Features include power tilt-in-space, recline, elevating leg rests, and seat elevation. Used in various environments by patients with limited mobility. Healthcare providers use the device to restore independent mobility. Benefits include improved functional independence and pressure relief via seating adjustments.
Clinical Evidence
No clinical data submitted. Bench testing only, conducted per ANSI/RESNA WC/14 standards (static/dynamic stability, braking, dimensions, obstacle climbing) and electromagnetic compatibility requirements.
Technological Characteristics
Fabricated steel frame; 24V DC power (dual 12V gel batteries); Penny & Giles controller; electric actuators for seating (tilt, recline, lift). Dimensions: 34" length, 26-28" width. Compliant with ANSI/RESNA WC/14 standards. Electromagnetic compatibility tested to 40 V/m.
Indications for Use
Indicated for individuals with lower extremity impairment or paralysis due to accident, injury, or disease (e.g., paraplegia, quadriplegia, ALS, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, amputation) requiring powered mobility.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A powered wheelchair is a battery-operated device with wheels that is intended for medical purposes to provide mobility to persons restricted to a sitting position.
{0}
AMERICAN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
COMPASSION • DEDICATION • INNOVATION
# 510(k) Summary K963808
## (a) (1) Submitter's name, address
American Medical Technologies, Inc.
160 Lee Street
Canton, Georgia 30114
**Contact Person**
J.R. McLaughlin
Vice President, Operations
(770) 479-1695
FEB 13 1997
**Date of preparation of this summary:** 14 September 1996
## (2) Device trade or proprietary name:
CHOICE Powered Wheelchair
Device common or usual name or classification name
| Product Nomenclature | Classification Number | Class | Panel |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WHEELCHAIR, POWERED | 89 ITI | II | PHYSICAL MEDICINE |
## (3) Substantial Equivalence
The CHOICE powered wheelchair is substantially equivalent in safety, efficacy, technology and intended use to its predicate model EXCELSIOR SR powered wheelchair currently marketed by American Medical Technologies as well as numerous other devices such as the Permobil, Inc. ‘Chairman’ power wheelchair, the Sunrise Medical ‘Quickie P300’ power wheelchair [K900330] and the Invacare ‘Action Storm’ power wheelchair [K940051].
## (4) Description of the new device
The CHOICE powered wheelchair is manufactured using fabricated steel for the power base and seat assemblies. All components determined to be a permanent part of the structural frame or seating are welded. Any parts which are required to be removable for service or adjustment to perform it’s function are attached with locking fasteners.
The CHOICE is supplied with two, 12 volt gel cell batteries, either Group 22, Group 24 or Group 27 with a #891 style post, wired in series to provide 24 volts DC [Vortex Batteries, Doraville, GA]. The controller of the device is completely manufactured, tested and certified by Penny & Giles, Dorset, UK, which also contains the software programming and power output to operate the chair’s drive motors, as well as interface to various optional features. A joystick, ‘sip-n-puff’, or alternative control mechanism is used to direct the function of the controller. Two drive motors are located on the power base and attached to a gearbox which provides the appropriate speed control and torque for the chair through a direct drive to the drive wheels.
Electrically controlled actuators are used to provide the various movement features of the seating system, including: reduced-shear recline, power elevating leg rests, ‘tilt-in-space’ and seat elevation. The chair is recharged overnight using a dual-mode, fully automatic battery charger [Lester Electrical, Lincoln, NE Model Number 24EL8, 120V/60Hz] certified for safety and fire resistance in compliance with current ANSI/RESNA standards.
AMERICAN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Tippens Building • 160 Lee Street at North Street • Canton, Georgia 30114 • Phone: (770) 479-1695 • Fax: (770) 479-1705
{1}
510(k) Summary
CHOICE Powered Wheelchair
## (5) Intended use of the device.
The CHOICE powered wheelchair is intended to provide mobility for a person who, due to medical reasons, the debilitating nature of some illnesses, because of accident, injury and/or subsequent paralysis, is either missing or unable to use the lower extremities. Some, but not all of the specific indications for use of a power wheelchair are: paraplegia, quadriplegia, ALS, muscular dystrophy, muscular sclerosis, lower limb amputation and any one or more of numerous neurological or muscular diseases which render the limbs too weak or unstable for normal use.
## (6) Technological characteristics of the device.
### Sizes, configurations and functions of each device component
The CHOICE is available with either a 16- or 18-inch wide base in combination with seats widths from 14- to 20-inches and seat depths from 14- to 24-inches to accommodate most users.
The CHOICE is available as a basic, powered wheelchair with a fixed seat, or with any or all of the following seating and positioning options:
- seat elevator providing 8 to 10 inches of vertical lift
- reduced-shear recliner, with or without power elevating leg rests
- ‘Tilt-in-Space’, 0 to 55 degrees
Both tilt and recline are used to provide pressure relief and, can be used either in combination or independently as necessary.
The elevator feature provides many vocational and functional benefits associated with position. While not providing any physically therapeutic benefit, the practical value tends to make this feature very desirable for those persons with enough use of arms and hands.
### Specifications
Weight: 199 lb. w/o batteries, 270 to 300 lb. with batteries
Length: 34 inches, plus footrest
Height: 19.5 inches, floor to seat
Overall Width: customized, from 26 to 28 inches
Seat Width: customized, from 14 to 22 inches
Front Wheels: 14” OD x 3” wide
Rear Wheels: 8” OD x 2” wide
Page 2
{2}
510(k) Summary
CHOICE Powered Wheelchair
(b) (1) Summary of nonclinical tests submitted with the premarket notification for the device.
The CHOICE was tested in accordance with the ANSI/RESNA Standard, Wheelchairs - Testing of Power and Control Systems for Electric Wheelchair. WC/14, December 1991, parts 00, 01, 02, 03, 05 and 10:
WC 01: Static Stability Test Results
| Test Number | 7.1 | | 7.1 | | | 7.2 | 7.3 | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Chair position | Downhill | | Uphill | | | Uphill | Sideways | |
| Wheel locks | locked | | locked | | | unlocked | locked | |
| Action | Slide | Tip | Slide | Tip | | Tip | Slide | Tip |
| Block Size | 0" | 1.6" | 0" | 0" | 1.6" | 3.9" | 0" | 1.6" |
| seat position fully down | no slide | 17.5° | 18° | | 43° | 49° | 22° | 35° |
| seat position fully up | no slide | 12° | 18° | | 43° | 49° | 19° | 26° |
WC 02: Dynamic Stability Test Results
| Test Number | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| description | Up ramp with max.acceleration | Braking down 5 deg. [lift, tip, slide, stable] | Tuming [lift, tip or stable] |
| seat position fully down | 22° to lift unit is front-wheel-drive | stable. unit is equipped with anti-tip devices | stable. unit is equipped with anti-tip devices |
| seat position fully up | 19° to lift unit is front-wheel-drive | stable. unit is equipped with anti-tip devices | stable. unit is equipped with anti-tip devices |
WC 03: Stopping Distances from Maximum Speed
Maximum Effort (Max) and Automatic (Auto) Braking
| Test Number | | 7.2.1a | | 7.2.1b | | 7.2.1c | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Maximum Speed (mph) | | Forward, Horizontal Plane (feet) | | Backward, Horiz. Plane (feet) | | Forward, down 5' Incline (feet) | |
| Forward | Reverse | Max | Auto | Max | Auto | Max | Auto |
| 5.2 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.8 |
WC 05: Overall Dimensions
| 5.1.1 | | 5.1.2 | | 5.1.3 | | 5.1.4 | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Overall length with leg support and footrest | | Overall length without leg support and footrest | | Overall width | | Overall height with backrest in upright position | |
| inches | mm | inches | mm | inches | mm | inches | mm |
| 45 | 1143 | 31.5 | 800 | 26 | 660 | 41 | 1041 |
{3}
510(k) Summary
CHOICE Powered Wheelchair
WC 05: Overall Dimensions (turning space)
| 7.1 | | 7.2 | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Turning radius | | Turnaround width between limiting walls | |
| inches | mm | inches | mm |
| 24 | 610 | 44 | 1118 |
WC 10: Obstacle Climbing Test Results
| 7.1 | | 7.2 | | 7.3 | | 7.4 | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Forward no run-up | | Backward no run-up | | Forward 20 inch run-up | | Backward 20 inch run-up | |
| inches | mm | inches | mm | inches | mm | inches | mm |
| 2.25 | 57.15 | 2.25 | 57 | 3 | 76 | 2.25 | 57 |
Additionally, the CHOICE was tested in accordance with the ANSI/RESNA “Proposal, Addition to ANSI/RESNA WC/14 - Electromagnetic Compatibility Requirements for Powered Wheelchairs and Motorized Scooters”, Ver. 1.5; 1/11/94 to conclude that the CHOICE is fully compliant with the EMC specification requirements with a test level of 40 V/m.
The CHOICE was also tested for compliance to the specification, Electromagnetic Compatibility for Industrial Process Measurement and Control Equipment, also related to the above ANSI/RESNA Proposal to determine that the CHOICE meets or exceeds all requirements of the test specification.
(b) (2) Summary of clinical tests submitted with the premarket notification for the device.
No clinical tests were submitted with the pre-market notification for the CHOICE Powered Wheelchair.
(b) (3) Conclusions drawn from the clinical and nonclinical trials.
Analysis of the comparison of design, function and features of the CHOICE Powered Wheelchair to other devices currently legally marketed for the same intended use, together with the results of testing conducted to assess the CHOICE’s compliance with existing ANSI/RESNA standards for powered wheelchairs demonstrates the CHOICE to be substantially equivalent to these predicate devices in terms of safety, efficacy, intended use and technology.
Page 4
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.