The RTA is a computerized laser slitlamp biomicroscope that is intended to provide manual and computerized tomography of the retina in vivo. The RTA scans successive slit images on the fundus, without the need for a contact lens, to determine the thickness and the inner structure of the retina, both by observation of the slit images and by computer analysis of these images. It is indicated for assessing the area and location of retinal thickness abnormalities, such as thickening due to macular edema and atrophy associated with degenerative diseases, and for visualizing other retinal pathologies.
Device Story
RTA is a computerized laser slitlamp biomicroscope for in vivo retinal tomography. Input: successive slit images of the fundus captured via 0.2 mW HeNe laser (543.5 nm) and digital cameras. Operation: device projects laser slits onto retina; stereo angle set at 11.5° or 5.7°; computer system processes reflected light images to generate retinal thickness maps. Used in clinical settings by eye care professionals. Output: visual slit images and computerized thickness maps displayed on monitor. Clinical utility: assists in identifying/quantifying retinal thickening (e.g., macular edema) and atrophy; aids in monitoring degenerative retinal diseases. Benefits: non-contact imaging, objective thickness quantification, and visualization of inner retinal structure.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing and human subject studies performed. In vitro depth precision: 5-10 µm; depth resolution: 50 µm. Human subject FWHM: 10 µm. Reproducibility assessed in 5 subjects over 3 visits: intra-visit reproducibility ± 12 µm; single scan inter-visit reproducibility ± 13 µm; tri-scan inter-visit reproducibility ± 10 µm. Device also tested for electromagnetic compatibility (EN 50081-1, EN 50082-1).
Technological Characteristics
Computerized electro-optical system; optical head includes 0.2 mW HeNe laser (543.5 nm), conventional light source, scanner, and three digital cameras. Slit dimensions: 2.2 mm length, 15 microns width. Scan area: 2x2 mm (normal density) or 1x2 mm (dense density). Computer system includes peripheral boards, monitor, printer, and software. Connectivity: standalone system. Sterilization: N/A (non-contact).
Indications for Use
Indicated for assessing area and location of retinal thickness abnormalities, including macular edema and atrophy associated with degenerative diseases, and for visualizing retinal pathologies in patients requiring retinal tomography.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
An ophthalmoscope is an AC-powered or battery-powered device containing illumination and viewing optics intended to examine the media (cornea, aqueous, lens, and vitreous) and the retina of the eye.
Special Controls
*Classification.* Class II (special controls). The device, when it is an AC-powered opthalmoscope, a battery-powered opthalmoscope, or a hand-held ophthalmoscope replacement battery, is exempt from the premarket notification procedures in subpart E of part 807 of this chapter subject to the limitations in § 886.9.
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K964137
FEB - 3 1997
510(k) SUMMARY
Talia Technology Ltd.
RTA RETINAL THICKNESS ANALYZER
Submitter's Name, Address, Telephone Number, Contact Person and Date Prepared
Submitter
Jonathan S. Kahan, Esq.
Hogan & Hartson, L.L.P
555 Thirteenth Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004-1109
Phone: (202) 637-6904
Facsimile: (202) 637-5910
Contact Person
Jonathan S. Kahan, Esq.
Hogan & Hartson, L.L.P
555 Thirteenth Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004-1109
Phone: (202) 637-6904
Facsimile: (202) 637-5910
Date Prepared: September 9, 1996
Name of Device and Name/Address of Sponsor
RTA Retinal Thickness Analyzer
Talia Technology, Ltd.
106 Industrial Zone
Mevaseret Zion, Israel
Phone: 972-2-5344023
Facsimile: 972-2-5344486
Common or Usual Name
Retinal Thickness Analyzer
Classification Name
AC-powered slitlamp biomicroscope
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# Predicate Devices
Talia’s Laser Slit™ Slit Lamp Attachment (K930518)
Heidelberg Engineering’s Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (K912891)
Humphrey Instruments’ Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) System (K944523)
Rodenstock Instrument’s Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (K871268 and K882517)
Laser Diagnostic Technologies, Inc.’s Nerve Fiber Analyzer (K941705)
Laser Diagnostic Technologies, Inc.’s Topographic Scanning System TOPSS (923742)
Ophthalmic Imaging Systems, Inc.’s Glaucoma Scope (K913118)
# Intended Use
The RTA is a computerized laser slitlamp biomicroscope that is intended to provide manual and computerized tomography of the retina *in vivo*. The RTA scans successive slit images on the fundus, without the need for a contact lens, to determine the thickness and the inner structure of the retina, both by observation of the slit images and by computer analysis of these images. It is indicated for assessing the area and location of retinal thickness abnormalities, such as thickening due to macular edema and atrophy associated with degenerative diseases, and for visualizing other retinal pathologies.
# Technological Characteristics and Substantial Equivalence
The Talia RTA is a computerized electro-optical system comprised of two primary components, the optical head and the computer system. The main elements of the optical head include laser and conventional light sources, optics, a scanner, and three digital cameras.
The optical head has a 0.2 mW helium neon (HeNe) laser that emits green light at a wavelength of 543.5 nm. The beam is focused into a thin slit, 2.2 mm in length and 15 microns in width. The mirror directs the laser beam toward the eye, but permits simultaneous illumination with the conventional slit. The laser scans 10 slits of 2 mm length in each scan and can scan at a rate of 20 msec per slit for retinas. The stereo angle of the scan (the angle between the laser beam on the retina and the detector axis) can be set at 11.5° or 5.7°. The scan density (the distance between slits in the scan) is 200 microns for normal density and has a total scan area of 2 × 2 mm. The scan density for dense density is 100 microns and has a total scan area of 1 × 2 mm.
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The computer system consists of the computer, peripheral boards, color monitor, printer, keyboard, mouse, footpedal, isolation transformer, and software. The RTA software is composed of two parts, the control software and the analysis software. The control software controls the operation of the RTA. For analysis of images to create thickness maps, it invokes the analysis software.
The RTA is substantially equivalent to the predicate devices in that it has the same intended use and operates on the same basic principle. The Talia RTA and its predicate devices are intended to project a beam of light onto a patient's eye in order to visualize details and provide measurements of various ocular structures. Like the RTA, the other predicate devices have a light source, optical system, scanner, and, with the exception of Talia's Laser Slit™, a computer that controls the operations of the device and analyzes the images and a monitor to display the images. With the RTA and its predicate devices, a beam of light is projected onto a patient's eye, the light is reflected according to the optics of the device, and, with the exception of the Laser Slit™, the resulting image or signal is processed by a computer system.
## Performance Data
The safe time for RTA laser radiation has been calculated to be 20 minutes based on the assumption that the human eye is correctly positioned opposite the RTA at the correct distance and is held absolutely stationary.
The RTA was tested and found to be in compliance with the requirements of European Standard EN 50081-1 and EN50082-1, Electromagnetic Compatibility Generic Standards.
Studies were conducted to assess the depth precision, depth resolution, and reproducibility of retinal thickness mapping by the RTA. Depth precision was defined as the sensitivity with which one can establish the depth of a single interface, while depth resolution was defined as the minimal separation that can be detected between two surfaces. The *in vitro* depth precision was calculated to be five to 10 µm and the depth resolution to be 50 µm. Because the Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) was also 10 µm in human subjects, the optimal depth precision was determined to be five to 10 µm and the optimal depth resolution to be 50 µm.
Retinal thickness mapping reproducibility was assessed in five human subjects at three visits. Three scans were obtained at each visit, and the retinal thickness values were analyzed. The intra-visit reproducibility (± 12 µm) was based on three scans performed on five subjects in one visit. Single scan inter-visit reproducibility (± 13 µm) was based on one scan per
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visit, while the tri-scan inter-visit reproducibility (± 10 μm) was based on the average of three scans at each visit. These results indicated that the RTA provides sufficient resolution and reproducibility for retinal thickness mapping.
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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.
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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
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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.