MANOSCAN MOTILITY WITH IMPEDANCE VISUALIZATION SYSTEM
K091070 · Sierra Scientific Instruments, Inc. · FFX · May 19, 2009 · Gastroenterology, Urology
Device Facts
Record ID
K091070
Device Name
MANOSCAN MOTILITY WITH IMPEDANCE VISUALIZATION SYSTEM
Applicant
Sierra Scientific Instruments, Inc.
Product Code
FFX · Gastroenterology, Urology
Decision Date
May 19, 2009
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 876.1725
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
3rd-Party Reviewed
Indications for Use
The ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System obtains a high resolution mapping of pressures and impedance levels within organs of the human gastrointestinal tract. These include the pharynx, upper esophageal sphincter (UES), esophagus, lower esophageal sphincter (LES), stomach, sphincter of oddi, small bowel, colon, duodenum and anorectal organs. It is used in a medical clinical setting to acquire pressures, impedance levels and video and store the corresponding data. The system also provides visualization and analysis tools and information. The real time data as well as the analysis information can be viewed for diagnostic and analysis purposes with an intention of assisting in the diagnosis and evaluation of gastrointestinal and swallowing disorders. The device is intended for use by gastroenterologists, surgeons and medically trained personnel.
Device Story
System acquires GI tract data via catheter probe inserted transorally, transnasally, or rectally; sensors monitor pressure and impedance levels. Hardware includes catheter with capacitive tactile pressure sensors and gold conductive ring impedance electrodes; data acquisition modules; computer platform. Software processes signals, synchronizes video, and provides real-time visualization/analysis. Used in clinical settings by physicians/trained personnel. Playback/review function allows analysis of stored sessions; software calculates parameters like LES location, resting/residual pressure, pressure inversion point, UES pressure, and esophageal motility (amplitude, duration, velocity). Output aids diagnosis of motility and swallowing disorders.
Clinical Evidence
No clinical data performed. Bench-top verification testing conducted to confirm pressure and impedance accuracy, noise, and repeatability meet or exceed predicate device performance.
Technological Characteristics
Catheter with capacitive tactile pressure sensors and gold conductive ring impedance electrodes. Multiplexing scheme used for signal transmission. System includes data acquisition modules, computer platform, and touch screen interface. Complies with IEC 60601-1, EN/IEC 60601-1-2, and ISO 10993 standards.
Indications for Use
Indicated for patients requiring evaluation of gastrointestinal and swallowing disorders. Used by gastroenterologists, surgeons, and trained medical personnel to monitor pressure and impedance levels in the pharynx, UES, esophagus, LES, stomach, sphincter of Oddi, small bowel, colon, duodenum, and anorectal area.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A gastrointestinal motility monitoring system is a device used to measure peristalic activity or pressure in the stomach or esophagus by means of a probe with transducers that is introduced through the mouth into the gastrointestinal tract. The device may include signal conditioning, amplifying, and recording equipment. This generic type of device includes the esophageal motility monitor and tube, the gastrointestinal motility (electrical) system, and certain accessories, such as a pressure transducer, amplifier, and external recorder.
InSight Motility Visualization System (K984444 / K012232)
Solar GI High Resolution Manometry with Impedance System (K052338)
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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K091070
PAGE 1 OF 5
SIERRA SCIENTIFIC
INSTRUMENTS
#### 510(k) Summary
| <b>Identification:</b> | |
|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| <b>Date:</b> | April 3rd, 2009 |
| | MAY 19 2009 |
| <b>Applicant's/Owner's Name:</b> | Sierra Scientific Instruments, Inc. |
| <b>Phone number:</b> | 310.641.8492 |
| <b>Fax number:</b> | 310.872.5558 |
| <b>Submission Contact person:</b> | Eric S. Finkelman |
| <b>Phone number:</b> | 310.641.8492 |
| <b>Fax number:</b> | 310.872.5558 |
| <b>Manufacturing site address:</b> | Sierra Scientific Instruments, Inc. |
| | 5757 West Century Boulevard |
| | Suite 660 |
| | Los Angeles, CA 90045 |
| <b>Device Trade Name:</b> | Gastrointestinal Motility System (Electrical) |
| <b>Proprietary Name:</b> | ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System |
| <b>Device classification:</b> | Class II |
| <b>Panel / Regulation Number:</b> | 876.1725 |
| <b>Product Code</b> | FFX |
| <b>Establishment registration number:</b> | 3005344223 |
Substantial equivalence claimed to:
- K031169 Sierra Scientific Instruments, Inc. Motility Visualization System; ManoScan 1.
- K984444 / K012232 Sandhill Scientific Instruments, Inc InSight Motility Visualization System 2.
- K052338 Medical Measurement Systems B.V .- Solar GI High Resolution Manometry with Impedance 3. System
#### Description:
The ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System is used to acquire gastrointestinal tract data in order to present a high-resolution mapping of pressures with Impedance levels within tubular organs. It includes the ability to acquire, display and replay video data captured from within the gastrointestinal tract organs. The ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization can be used with either or both of the video with Impedance data capture features disabled.
The System is used in a medical clinical setting to sense pressure and Impedance levels, acquire and store the corresponding data and enable viewing or analyzing in real time or anytime after the data is acquired and stored. Accordingly, the System provides visualization and analysis tools that can be used for evaluation of the data and analytic diagnosis.
The system includes a catheter probe that can be configured with a variety of pressure sensing element with Impedance sensor channels. During the clinical procedure, the catheter is inserted transorally or via rectal intubation and pressure with Impedance levels from inside the gastrointestinal tract are monitored. Data collection can include acquisition of data from different segments of the GI tract, including the pharynx, upper esophageal sphincter (UES), esophagus, lower esophageal sphincter (LES), stomach, sphincter of oddi, small bowel, colon, duodenum and anorectal area. Real-time data is sampled from each sensing channel via the interface electronics and made available to the software during each sample period. The software displays the data in real-time to support the clinical procedure.
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K091070
PAGE 2 OF 5
Sierra Scientific
INSTRUMENTS
in davinstic rachaalown
Image /page/1/Figure/2 description: This image shows a diagram of a system with several components. The components include a computer, impedance acquisition electronics, pressure acquisition electronics, a pump, a manometric and impedance catheter, and a calibration pressure chamber. The diagram also includes two boxes labeled A200 and A100, which appear to be connected to the other components.
ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System Typical System Overview
The software also supports operational utility functions such as providing the user an interface for operating the pressure calibration pump. It obtains the cathere pressure sensor and calibration chamber data during the calibration process and determines the correction factors to be used in subsequent data collection.
The ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization system supports physician diagnosis and analysis by means of a playback / review function, which replays a stored session using previously recorded pressure, impedance and video data instead of real-time data. This analysis and diagnosis function is enabled through the presentation of pressure levels, gastrointestinal tract bolus presence, impedance levels and analysis, the impedance and video can be reviewed and analyzed in conjunction with pressure profiles and associated essimated parameters such as LES location, LES resting pressure, LES residual pressure, pressure inversion point (PIP) location, UES pressure, and esophageal motility such as amplitude duration and velocity.
#### Product Functions
The primary ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization functions are:
- Calibrate the pressure sensors .
- . Provide user interface displays, prompts, and controls
- Collect pressure, impedance and video data .
- Display, store and replay collected data .
- Provide analysis and diagnostic tools via software application .
#### Intended use:
The ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization obtains a high resolution mapping of pressures with Impedance levels within organs of the human gastrointestinal tract. These include the pharynx, upper esophageal sphincter (UES), esophagus, lower esophageal sphincter (LES), stomach, sphincter of oddi, small bowel, colon, duodenum and anorectal organs. It is used in a medical clinical setting to acquire pressures, impedance levels and video, to aid in documenting and diagnosing motility, digestive tract and swallowing disorders. The system also provides visualization and analysis tools and reports that can be viewed for diagnostic purposes by appropriately trained medical personnel.
The system includes a catheter probe that can be configured with a variety of pressure sensing elements with Impedance sensor channels. During the clinical procedure, the catheter is inserted transnasally, transorally or via rectal intubation and pressure with Impedance levels from inside the gastrointestinal tract are monitored
```
SIERRA SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS, INC. • 5757 CENTURY BOULEVARD, SUITE 660 • LOS ANGELES, CA 90045
WWW.SIERRAINST.COM
Fax: 310.872.5558
PHONE: 310 641.8492
```
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#### Summary of Technological Characteristics:
The ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System catheter represents a modification to the predicate Sierra Scientific Instruments, Inc. Motility Visualization System; ManoScan pressure sensing catheter. The primary difference is the addition of cylindrical gold conductive rings that create impedance measurement electrodes, when impedance is enabled. Configurations of the subject device will also vary the number of pressure sensors (typically 8 - 36 for the predicate device). The ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System uses a multiplexing scheme to minimize the number of electrical conductors.
The ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System includes separate modules for acquisition of the impedance and pressure data. Both acquisition modules communicate with the data acquisition software via a standard computer platform. Video is captured via standard video capture devices and synchronized within the software application.
The user interface is via touch screen display, keyboard and the use of a hard drive that allows recording and play back of the data. By providing more data, the system gives a more complete pressure, impedance and video data set of the segment of the gastrointestinal tract being investigated. The system can also be used if there are inactive sensors or channels and can be configured with different combinations of the pressure, impedance and video capabilities.
### Substantial Equivalence - Summary of Technical Similarities / Differences with Predicate Devices:
As mentioned above, the ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System hardware architecture is identical to the predicate Motility Visualization System; ManoScan device with the only system difference being that the ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System device includes for auxiliary data like impedance and video. This modules are designed to communicate directly with the software, along with the pressure data acquisition module. As with the predicate devices, the ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System includes a communication link between the data acquisition modules and a computer which hosts the acquisition and analysis software.
The MaroScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System catheter uses the same proprietary capacitive tactile pressure sensor technology utilized in the predication System; ManoScan device to provide circumferential pressure sensing along the active length of the catheter. Pressure sensors are presented in an array similar to the predicate Motility Visualization System; ManoScan device, with certain configurations of the ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System device providing higher density pressure arrays to provide greater measurement resolution.
Additionally, the ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System catheter includes impedance electrodes which are not present in the predication System; ManoScan device but have the same technological characteristics as the predicate catheters provided with the InSight and Solar GI devices referenced. More specifically, the ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System catheter includes impedance electrodes which are integrated into the catheter via a core catheter construction that is identical to the predicate Motility with Impedance Visualization System; ManoScan device and are presented as conductive rings. Each pair of rings creates an impedance channel. This is identical in technology approach as the predicate Insight and Solar GI devices. Aside from the core catheter construction and the pressure sensing technology utilized in the applicant ManoScan, which is identical to the predicate Motility Visualization System; ManoScan device, the primary technology differences with the predicate Insight and Solar GI impedance devices is the impedance electrode material, the number of impedance electrodes and channels as well as the relative location of the impedance electrodes. As compared to these predicate devices, the ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System device uses an impedance electrode ring design which provides equivalent or better impedance measurement effectiveness and enables catheter configurations and data acquisition modules that support a higher number of pressure with Impedance sensors to improve pressure with Impedance signal measurement coverage and resolution.
The ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System device supports video data capture and analysis with similar technological characteristics as the predicate Solar GI device.
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Finally, the ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System is designed and certified to be in accordance with the same applicable standards and non-clinical tests as the predicate Motility Visualization System; ManoScan pressure measurement device, and the Insight and Solar GI pressure with Impedance devices. Additionally, the ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System is designed with a target customer base similar to the predicate ManoScan, Insight and Solar GI devices.
#### Summary of Hardware / Software Components
Acquisition Hardware – This subsystem, manufactured by Sierra Scientific Instruments, Inc., includes data acquisition modules that are used for power control, calibration control and processing the electrical, video, pressure with Impedance and auxiliary data signals while providing the necessary electrical isolation for safety.
Catheter Assembly including Sensors and Electrodes – the sensors and electrodes included in the catheter assembly are used for generating data signals in response to physiological events to which they are exposed. They are manufactured by Sierra Scientific Instruments, Inc. The catheter, sensors and electrodes are assembled and tested in such a manner as to meet or exceed the necessary patient safety requirements and meet or exceed the performance characteristics of the predicate devices.
Acquisition and Analysis Software - the software controls the calibration procedure, clinical procedure protocol, and provides analysis tools while providing visualization tools that can be used during the procedure, analysis or in generating reports. The software includes warnings and visual indicators that alert users if product performance or operating conditions are not meeting performance requirements. The software is developed by Sierra Scientific Instruments, Inc. and is verified and validated to ensure the product meets or exceeds the performance characteristics of the predicate devices.
#### Applicable Standards and Non-Clinical Testing
In accordance with Sierra Scientifics Instruments' Product Realization procedures, the ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System has been designed and verified to meet the appropriate elements of the following standards:
IEC 60601-1:1988 + A1:1991 + A2:1995 EN 60601-1-2 AND IEC 60601-1-2 ISO 10993
Certification to the above standards is achieved through a combination of internal design documentation and external lab testing against approved protocols. Specifically, the above confirm adherence to the appropriate levels of product safety, emissions, voltage immunization and biocompatibility.
Bench-top Verification Tests have been performed to verify product performance meets or exceeds performance of the predicate devices. This has included pressure with Impedance accuracy, noise and repeatability measurement tests performed as part of the Design Verification and Validation process.
No formal clinical testing has been performed, nor is any believed to be necessary.
#### Safety and Potential Adverse Health Effects
The ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System has been designed to completely eliminate or mitigate all known health hazards associated with use of the device. Health hazard risk reduction has been achieved through application of a rigorous risk management program that is included as part of the Sierra Scientific Instruments, Inc. design process and documents as part of the device Safety Risk Analysis. One or more of the following was used to mitigate the health hazards identified by the risk management program:
- Design Verification and Validation Testing and Certification to Applicable Standards 1.
- Material / Product Conformance Inspection and Acceptance Testing Criteria 2.
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Innovadons in diugnostic technology."
- Detection of hazardous or non-conforming conditions via software and alerting the user through alarms and visual indicators.
- Identification of health hazard conditions and related cautions in the instruction manual and other device 4. labeling
- Training of qualified personnel to perform procedures and interpret results. న్.
3.
Sierra Scientific Instruments, Inc believes that the ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System is a safe and effective device and has been proven to meet or exceed the performance and safety levels of the legally marketed Motility Visualization System; ManoScan, Insight and Solar GI predicate devices.
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## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Image /page/5/Picture/1 description: The image shows the seal of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The seal features a stylized eagle with three tail feathers, representing the department's commitment to health, human services, and well-being. The eagle is encircled by the words "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES - USA" in a circular arrangement.
#### Public Health Service
MAY. 19 2009
Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
Sierra Scientific Instruments, Inc. c/o Mr. Jeffrey D. Rongero Senior Project Engineer UL Health Sciences Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. 12 Laboratory Drive RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK NC 27709
Re: K091070
Trade/Device Name: ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System Regulation Number: 21 CFR §876.1725 Regulation Name: Gastrointestinal motility monitoring system Regulatory Class: II Product Code: FFX Dated: May 1, 2009 Received: May 4, 2009
Dear Mr. Rongero:
We have reviewed your Section 510(k) premarket notification of intent to market the device referenced above and have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to legally marketed predicate devices marketed in interstate commerce prior to May 28, 1976, the enactment date of the Medical Device Amendments, or to devices that have been reclassified in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act) that do not require approval of a premarket approval application (PMA). You may, therefore, market the device, subject to the general controls provisions of the Act. The general controls provisions of the Act include requirements for annual registration, listing of devices, good manufacturing practice, labeling, and prohibitions against misbranding and adulteration.
Please be advised that FDA's issuance of a substantial equivalence determination does not mean that FDA has made a determination that your device complies with other requirements of the Act or any Federal statutes and regulations administered by other Federal agencies. You must comply with all the Act's requirements, including, but not limited to: registration and listing (21 CFR Part 807); labeling (21 CFR Part 801); medical device reporting (reporting of medical device-related adverse events) (21 CFR 803); good manufacturing practice requirements as set forth in the quality systems (QS) regulation (21 CFR Part 820); and if applicable, the electronic product radiation control provisions (Sections 531-542 of the Act); 21 CFR 1000-1050.
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Page 2
If you desire specific advice for your device on our labeling regulation (21 CFR Part 801), please contact the Center for Devices and Radiological Health's (CDRH's) Office of Compliance at one of the following numbers, based on the regulation number at the top of this letter.
| 21 CFR 876.xxx | (Gastroenterology/Renal/Urology) | (240) 276-0115 |
|----------------|----------------------------------|----------------|
| 21 CFR 884.xxx | (Obstetrics/Gynecology) | (240) 276-0115 |
| 21 CFR 892.xxx | (Radiology) | (240) 276-0120 |
| Other | | (240) 276-0100 |
Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21CFR Part 807.97). For questions regarding the reporting of adverse events under the MDR regulation (21 CFR Part 803), please contact the CDRH/Office of Surveillance and Biometrics/Division of Postmarket Surveillance at 240-276-3464. For more information regarding the reporting of adverse events, please go to http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/mdr/.
You may obtain other general information on your responsibilities under the Act from the Division of Small Manufacturers, International and Consumer Assistance at its toll-free number (800) 638-2041 or (240) 276-3150 or at its Internet address http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/industry/support/index.html.
Sincerely yours,
[signature]
Janine M. Morris Acting Director, Division of Reproductive, Abdominal, and Radiological Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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# Indications for Use
510(k) Number (if known):
Device Name: ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System
Indications For Use:
The ManoScan Motility with Impedance Visualization System obtains a high resolution mapping of pressures and impedance levels within organs of the human gastrointestinal tract. These include the pharynx, upper esophageal sphincter (UES), esophagus, lower esophageal sphincter (LES), stomach, sphincter of oddi, small bowel, colon, duodenum and anorectal organs. It is used in a medical clinical setting to acquire pressures, impedance levels and video and store the corresponding data. The system also provides visualization and analysis tools and information. The real time data as well as the analysis information can be viewed for diagnostic and analysis purposes with an intention of assisting in the diagnosis and evaluation of gastrointestinal and swallowing disorders. The device is intended for use by gastroenterologists, surgeons and medically trained personnel.
| Prescription Use | X |
|-----------------------------|---|
| (Part 21 CFR 801 Subpart.D) | |
AND/OR
Over-The-Counter Use (21 CFR 801 Subpart C)
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE-CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED) ..
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE
Ami M. Whitney
(Division Sign-Off)
lon of Reproductive, Abdominal and Radiological Devices 510(k) Number
Page 1
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.