The ApneaLink™ Air device is indicated for use by Health Care Professionals (HCP), where it may aid in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing for adult patients. ApneaLink Air records the following data: patient respiratory nasal airflow, snoring, blood oxygen saturation, pulse, respiratory effort and body position during sleep. The device uses these recordings to produce a report for the HCP that may aid in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing or for further clinical investigation. The device is intended for home and hospital use under the direction of a HCP.
Device Story
ApneaLink Air is a 5-channel battery-powered respiratory pressure sensor and oximetry system. Inputs: nasal airflow (via cannula), snoring, blood oxygen saturation (via finger oximeter), pulse, respiratory effort (via chest belt), and body position (via actigraphy sensor). Device transforms inputs into digital recordings stored as EDF+ files. Operated by patients at home or in hospital under HCP direction. HCPs use ApneaLink PC software to generate diagnostic reports (respiratory pressure, effort, pulse, SpO2). Body position data is stored separately and viewed via EDF viewer; it does not influence AHI or other diagnostic indices. Output aids HCPs in diagnosing sleep-related respiratory disorders. Benefits include home-based screening for sleep disordered breathing.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Verification included mechanical, environmental (IEC 60601-1-11), electrical safety (IEC 60601-1), and EMC (IEC 60601-1-2) testing. Respiratory event detection and index calculation algorithms were previously cleared under K083575 and K131932 and remain unchanged. Side-by-side testing confirmed body position accuracy against the Nox T3 predicate.
Technological Characteristics
Battery-powered (2x AAA) respiratory pressure and oximetry recorder. Sensors: nasal cannula (pressure), chest belt (respiratory effort), finger oximeter (Xpod 3012 LP). Connectivity: USB 2.0 for data transfer to PC. Software: ApneaLink PC software for report generation; EDF+ format for data storage. Actigraphy sensor for body position. Biocompatibility per ISO 10993-1. Electrical safety per IEC 60601-1; EMC per IEC 60601-1-2.
Indications for Use
Indicated for adult patients suspected of sleep disordered breathing. Used by healthcare professionals in home or hospital settings to aid in diagnosis.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A breathing (ventilatory) frequency monitor is a device intended to measure or monitor a patient's respiratory rate. The device may provide an audible or visible alarm when the respiratory rate, averaged over time, is outside operator settable alarm limits. This device does not include the apnea monitor classified in § 868.2377.
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Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Document Control Center - WO66-G609 Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002
April 30, 2015
ResMed Germany Inc. Ms. Sandra Grunwald Director Quality Management & Regulatory Affairs Fraunhoferstr.16 Martinsried, Bavaria 82152 GERMANY
Re: K143272
Trade/Device Name: ApneaLink Air Regulation Number: 21 CFR 868.2375 Regulation Name: Breathing Frequency Monitor Regulatory Class: II Product Code: MNR Dated: March 25, 2015 Received: March 30, 2015
Dear Ms. Grunwald:
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 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.
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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.
If you desire specific advice for your device on our labeling regulation (21 CFR Part 801), please contact the Division of Small Manufacturers, International and Consumer Assistance at its tollfree number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 796-7100 or at its Internet address http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Resourcesfor You/Industry/default.htm. 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 go to http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/ReportaProblem/default.htm for the CDRH's Office
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 (301) 796-7100 or at its Internet address http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ResourcesforYou/Industry/default.htm.
of Surveillance and Biometrics/Division of Postmarket Surveillance.
Sincerely yours,
Tejashri Purohit-Sheth, M.D.
Tejashri Purohit-Sheth, M.D. Clinical Deputy Director DAGRID/ODE/CDRH FOR
Erin I. Keith, M.S. Division Director Division of Anesthesiology, General Hospital, Respiratory, Infection Control and Dental Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
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ApneaLink Air Traditional 510(k) Premarket Notification
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| DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES<br>Food and Drug Administration | |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Indications for Use | |
| | Form Approved: OMB No. 0910-0120 |
| | Expiration Date: January 31, 2017<br>See PRA Statement below. |
| 510(k) Number (if known) | |
| Device Name | ApneaLink Air |
| | K143272 |
| Indications for Use (Describe) | The ApneaLink™ Air device is indicated for use by Health Care Professionals (HCP), where it may aid in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing for adult patients. ApneaLink Air records the following data: patient respiratory nasal airflow, snoring, blood oxygen saturation, pulse, respiratory effort and body position during sleep. The device uses these recordings to produce a report for the HCP that may aid in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing or for further clinical investigation. The device is intended for home and hospital use under the direction of a HCP. |
| Type of Use (Select one or both, as applicable) | |
| <label><input checked="" type="checkbox"/> Prescription Use (Part 21 CFR 801 Subpart D)</label> | <label><input type="checkbox"/> Over-The-Counter Use (21 CFR 801 Subpart C)</label> |
| CONTINUE ON A SEPARATE PAGE IF NEEDED. | |
| This section applies only to requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. | |
| *DO NOT SEND YOUR COMPLETED FORM TO THE PRA STAFF EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.* | |
| The burden time for this collection of information is estimated to average 79 hours per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data sources, gather and maintain the data needed and complete and review the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect | |
Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration Office of Chief Information Officer Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) Staff PRAStaff@fda.hhs.gov
of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:
"An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB number."
FORM FDA 3881 (8/14) 6th November 2014 Page 1 of 1 C167417
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#### 510(k) Summary – ApneaLink Air 5
# 510(k) Summary – ApneaLink Air
| Date Prepared | 30th April 2015 |
|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Submitter | Tobias Nagel<br>Manager Regulatory Affairs |
| Official Contact | Larissa D'Andrea<br>Manager Regulatory Affairs<br>ResMed Corp.<br>9001 Spectrum Center Boulevard,<br>San Diego, CA 92123<br>USA<br>Tel: (858) 8366837 |
| Classification Reference | 21 CFR 868.2375 |
| Product Code | MNR |
| Common Name | Ventilatory Effort Recorder |
| Class Name | Breathing Frequency Monitor |
| Proprietary Name | ApneaLink Air |
| Predicate Devices | ApneaLink Pro (K131932) – primary predicate device<br>Nox T3, Noxturnal PC application (K082113) |
| Reason for submission | Expanded indications |
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### Device Description
ApneaLink Air is a further development of the previously cleared Apneal.ink Pro (K131932). ApneaLink Pro was already prepared to support actigraphy but the feature was not activated while ApneaLink Air now offers body position data. The report generated by the ApneaLink (PC) Software remains unchanged from the predicate device, it does neither display data relating body position nor does the body position data influence the calculations made as a result of testing using the ApneaLink Air device, including most importantly, the overall apnea hypopnea index (AHI). The body position data is stored on in the recorder as an EDF+ file and can be displayed using an EDF viewer.
The ApneaLink Air recorder is a 5-channel battery-powered respiratory pressure sensor and oximetry system. ApneaLink Air provides recordings of respiratory pressure, respiratory effort, pulse rate, oxygen saturation and body position during sleep. The physician prescribed device will help to recognize sleep-related respiratory disorders. The ApneaLink Air recorder and the respiratory effort sensor must be fastened with the re-usable belt on the patient's chest parallel to the spine. All relevant respiratory information during sleep will be collected via nasal cannula, pulse oximetry module and respiratory effort sensor. The disposable plastic nasal cannula is connected to the ApneaLink Air recorder and fixed at the patient's nose. The oximetry sensor is connected to the Xpod and fixed at the patient's finger. The Xpod is connected to the ApneaLink Air recorder. The respiratory effort sensor is connected to the ApneaLink Air recorder and held in place by the belt. LED's indicate if the sensors are attached correctly. A Test complete light advises at the end of a recording if sufficient data for analysis was recorded during the night. After recording, the ApneaLink Air recorder must be returned to the physician. With the ApneaLink Software the physician can generate a report with the recorded and analyzed data (respiratory pressure, respiratory effort, pulse rate, oxygen saturation) to aid in diagnosis. The body position data is stored as an EDF+ file on the recorder. It is accessible on a computer via USB connection using an EDF viewer.
The recordings and the report can be sent via email to further clinical investigation.
#### Intended Use
The ApneaLink™ Air device is indicated for use by Health Care Professionals (HCP), where it may aid in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing for adult patients. ApneaLink Air records the following data: patient respiratory nasal airflow, snoring, blood oxygen saturation, pulse, respiratory effort and body position during sleep. The device uses these recordings to produce a report for the HCP that may aid in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing or for further clinical investigation. The device is intended for home and hospital use under the direction of a HCP.
#### Technology
The ApneaLink Air is different from the predicate device ApneaLink Pro (K131932) with respect to:
- A Body position recording
- O Actigraphy sensor provides body position of patient during sleep. Data can be viewed via an EDF viewer. Data is neither part of the report generated by ApneaLink Software nor does it influence or alter any index of the report.
- A Pulse oximeter module
- O Low power Xpod replaces previous Xpod model. Same accuracy and performance as the existing Xpod, but considerably lower power draw.
#### Substantial Equivalence
The table below provides an abbreviated summary of the primary relevant characteristics of ApneaLink Air compared to the predicate devices.
ApneaLink Pro (K131932) is the predecessor model of ApneaLink Air and the principal predicate device. With respect to the active body position channel Nox T3 including Noxturnal PC application (K082113) was selected as predicate device.
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| | PREDICATES | | NEW DEVICE | COMMENTS |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| CHARACTERISTIC | Nox T3, Noxturnal (PC<br>Application) (K082113) | ApneaLink Pro<br>(K131932) | ApneaLink Air | Predicates vs. ApneaLink Air |
| Intended Use | The Nox T3 device is intended<br>for ambulatory recording of<br>physiological signals during<br>sleep.<br>The recorded signals are then<br>downloaded to a PC where the<br>signals can be viewed an<br>analyzed by use of the Nox T3<br>application (Noxturnal). The<br>Nox T3 system is indicated for<br>use in patients greater than 2<br>years of age.<br>The Nox T3 system is NOT<br>intended for any patient<br>monitoring or automatic<br>diagnosis.<br>The intended environments are<br>hospitals, institutions, sleep<br>centers, sleep clinics, or other<br>test environments, including<br>patient's home.<br>The Nox T3 system is used for<br>patients suspected of suffering<br>from Sleep Disordered<br>Breathing (SDB) or Periodic<br>Limb Movement Disorder | The ApneaLink™ Pro device<br>is indicated for use by Health<br>Care Professionals (HCP), where<br>it may aid in the diagnosis of<br>sleep disordered breathing for<br>adult patients. ApneaLink Pro<br>records the following data: patient<br>respiratory nasal airflow, snoring,<br>blood oxygen saturation, pulse<br>and respiratory effort during<br>sleep. The device uses these<br>recordings to produce a report for<br>the HCP that may aid in the<br>diagnosis of sleep disordered<br>breathing or for further clinical<br>investigation. The device is<br>intended for home and hospital<br>use under the direction of a HCP. | The ApneaLink™ Air device<br>is indicated for use by Health<br>Care Professionals (HCP), where<br>it may aid in the diagnosis of<br>sleep disordered breathing for<br>adult patients. ApneaLink Air<br>records<br>the following data: patient<br>respiratory nasal airflow, snoring,<br>blood oxygen saturation, pulse,<br>respiratory effort and body<br>position during sleep. The device<br>uses these recordings to produce<br>a report for the HCP that may aid<br>in the diagnosis of sleep<br>disordered breathing or for further<br>clinical investigation. The device<br>is intended for home and hospital<br>use under the direction of a HCP. | Substantially Equivalent<br>ApneaLink Air is a further<br>development of the previously<br>cleared ApneaLink Pro (K131932).<br>The modification of the intended<br>use only addresses the additional<br>recording of the body position of<br>the patient during sleep.<br>Body position recording offers<br>additional information to the<br>physician. It does not alter or<br>influence any of the indices (like e.<br>g. AHI or Apnea Index) or data<br>generated by the ApneaLink<br>Software report.<br>Nox T3 incl. Noxturnal PC<br>Application, K082113, has been<br>selected as predicate device for<br>the active body position channel.<br>ApneaLink Air as well as Nox T3<br>record physiological data during<br>sleep in the same intended<br>environment. This data can be<br>viewed and analyzed using PC<br>software and aid the physician in<br>the diagnosis of sleep disordered<br>breathing. |
| CHARACTERISTIC | PREDICATES<br>Nox T3, Noxturnal (PC Application) (K082113) | ApneaLink Pro (K131932) | NEW DEVICE<br>ApneaLink Air | COMMENTS<br>Predicates vs. ApneaLink Air |
| | (PLMD). | | | Verification and bench testing show that the ApneaLink Air is as safe and effective as the predicate devices and does not raise different questions of safety and effectiveness than the predicate devices. Clinical data with regard to body position recording are not required as the body position data do not alter or influence any of the indices or data generated by the testing and bench testing is sufficient to prove that body position recording results are as accurate as specified. |
| Intended Environment | The intended environments are hospitals, institutions, sleep centers, sleep clinics, or other test environments, including patient's home | Recording - in the home, hospital or other clinical setting<br>Analyzing – physician's practice, sleep laboratory | | Equivalent |
| Target Population | Patients greater than 2 years | Adults | | Substantially Equivalent<br>Equivalent with ApneaLink Pro.<br>Equivalent with Nox T3 regarding adult patients |
| | PREDICATES | | NEW DEVICE | COMMENTS |
| CHARACTERISTIC | Nox T3, Noxturnal (PC<br>Application) (K082113) | ApneaLink Pro<br>(K131932) | ApneaLink Air | Predicates vs. ApneaLink Air |
| Channels | - air flow<br>- nasal/mask pressure<br>- oxygen saturation<br>- pulse<br>- respiratory effort<br>(abdomen and thorax)<br>- <b>body position</b><br>- activity<br>- snore<br>- respiratory sound<br>- EEG, EOG, EMG,<br>ECG | - flow channel for<br>measurement of patient<br>respiratory nasal<br>pressure.<br>- oximeter input to<br>measure degree of<br>oxygen saturation of the<br>blood and pulse rate.<br>- effort channel to measure<br>the respiratory effort<br>using a pneumatic<br>principle. | - flow channel for<br>measurement of patient<br>respiratory nasal<br>pressure.<br>- oximeter input to measure<br>degree of oxygen<br>saturation of the blood<br>and pulse rate.<br>- effort channel to measure<br>the respiratory effort using<br>a pneumatic principle.<br>- <b>body position</b> channel to<br>determine body position<br>of the patient during sleep | Substantially Equivalent<br>The body position channel was<br>already implemented in the<br>predicate device ApneaLink Pro<br>but not activated. In the ApneaLink<br>Air the additional channel is<br>activated.<br>Body position recording offers<br>additional information to the<br>physician. It does not alter or<br>influence any of the indices (like e.<br>g. AHI) or Apnea Index or data<br>generated by the ApneaLink<br>Software report.<br>The ApneaLink Air device shows<br>similar to the Nox T3 body position<br>information according to the angle<br>the device is tilted or rotated.<br>Additional channels of Nox T3 not<br>relevant for body position. |
| Method of<br>connection to<br>the Patient | Plastic tubing and cannula for<br>pressure sensing; RIP belts for<br>respiratory effort; probes or<br>Flexi Wrap for oximetry; touch<br>proof electrode cables; RIP<br>belts for attaching of device<br>and clip straps to secure<br>position of device. | Plastic tubing and cannula for<br>pressure sensing; elastic cloth<br>material belt to support unit and<br>the respiratory effort sensor. The<br>device is to be attached to a<br>patient's chest. The Xpod is fixed<br>at the belt via clip. Flexi Wrap to<br>fix the oximeter sensor to the | Plastic tubing and cannula for<br>pressure sensing; elastic cloth<br>material belt to support unit and<br>the respiratory effort sensor. The<br>device is to be attached to a<br>patient's chest. The new low<br>power Xpod is fixed at the belt via<br>clip. Flexi Wrap to fix the oximeter | Equivalent |
| | PREDICATES | | NEW DEVICE | COMMENTS |
| CHARACTERISTIC | Nox T3, Noxturnal (PC<br>Application) (K082113) | ApneaLink Pro<br>(K131932) | ApneaLink Air | Predicates vs. ApneaLink Air |
| | The device is worn on the<br>patient's chest. | patient's finger. | sensor to the patient's finger. | |
| Display<br>operation | The device has a display to<br>view signal integrity and<br>operation of the device. | Signal LED:<br>3 LED's beside flow, effort and oximeter connectors indicate correct<br>function of patient signals with a green light, and incorrect function by<br>a red light.<br>Test complete light:<br>A Test complete LED is provided to signal sufficient recording time. | | Substantially equivalent |
| Power Source<br>recorder | Internally powered<br>1x battery LR6 / Mignon / AA/<br>1.5V<br>or<br>1x NiMh AA/1.5V | Internally powered<br>2 x batteries: LR03 / Micro / AAA / 1.5V / at least 1.0 Ah<br>or<br>2 x NiMh accumulators: HR03 / Micro / AAA / 1.2 V / at least 1.0 Ah | | Substantially equivalent |
| Communication<br>Interface | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 connector plugged into the device | | Equivalent |
| Patient isolation | Device has no galvanic connections to mains as it is a battery-operated device. Not possible to connect<br>auxiliary devices to the device…
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.