K172506 · Becton, Dickinson and Company · FOZ · Sep 17, 2017 · General Hospital
Device Facts
Record ID
K172506
Device Name
BD Cathena Safety IV Catheter
Applicant
Becton, Dickinson and Company
Product Code
FOZ · General Hospital
Decision Date
Sep 17, 2017
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 880.5200
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Therapeutic, 3rd-Party Reviewed
Indications for Use
BD Cathena Safety IV Catheters are intended to be inserted into a patient's peripheral vascular system for short term use to sample blood, monitor blood pressure, or administer fluids. These catheters may be used for any patient with consideration given to adequacy of vascular anatomy, procedure being performed, fluids being infused, and duration of therapy. The catheters are suitable for use with power injectors set to a maximum pressure of 325 psi (2240 kPa).
Device Story
BD Cathena Safety IV Catheter is an over-the-needle peripheral intravascular catheter; includes radiopaque polyurethane catheter, needle, grip, passive safety needle shield, and flash chamber with vent plug. Features BD Instaflash technology for immediate blood visualization; optional BD Multiguard technology stops blood flow from hub until Luer connection. Used by clinicians in clinical settings for vascular access; needle tip is passively protected upon removal to prevent needlestick injuries. Device allows fluid/blood administration or sampling; power injection compatible up to 325 psi. Color-coded hubs indicate gauge size (16G-24G).
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Verification testing included package integrity, needle cover retention, safety activation forces, system drag, blood escape time, and burst pressure. Standards compliance verified per ISO 594-1/2, ISO 10555-1/5, ISO 23908, and ISO 10993-1 (biocompatibility). Simulated clinical use testing performed per IEC 62366-1.
Technological Characteristics
Materials: Polyurethane (catheter), stainless steel (needle), polypropylene (grip/hub/adapter), polystyrene (safety shield). Passive safety mechanism; multi-use blood control septum. Dimensions: 16G-24G, 0.75-2.00 inch lengths. Power injection rated to 325 psi. Sterilization not specified. No software/algorithm.
Indications for Use
Indicated for patients requiring peripheral vascular access for short-term blood sampling, blood pressure monitoring, or fluid administration. Suitable for any patient population based on vascular anatomy, procedure, fluid type, and therapy duration. Compatible with power injectors up to 325 psi.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
An intravascular catheter is a device that consists of a slender tube and any necessary connecting fittings and that is inserted into the patient's vascular system for short term use (less than 30 days) to sample blood, monitor blood pressure, or administer fluids intravenously. The device may be constructed of metal, rubber, plastic, or a combination of these materials.
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July 30, 2018
Becton, Dickinson and Company % Mark Job Responsible Third Party Official Regulatory Technology Services, LLC 1394 25th Street, NW Buffalo, Minnesota 55313
Re: K172506
Trade/Device Name: BD Cathena™ Safety IV Catheter Regulation Number: 21 CFR 880.5200 Regulation Name: Intravascular Catheter Regulatory Class: Class II Product Code: FOZ Dated: July 19, 2017 Received: August 18, 2017
Dear Mark Job:
This letter corrects our substantially equivalent letter of September 17th, 2017
We have reviewed your Section 510(k) premarket notification of intent to market the device referenced above and have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to legally marketed predicate devices marketed in interstate commerce prior to May 28, 1976, the enactment date of the Medical Device Amendments, or to devices that have been reclassified in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Food. Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act) that do not require approval of a premarket approval application (PMA). You may, therefore, market the device, subject to the general controls provisions of the Act. Although this letter refers to your product as a device, please be aware that some cleared products may instead be combination products. The 510(k) Premarket Notification Database located at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm identifies combination product submissions. The general controls provisions of the Act include requirements for annual registration, listing of devices, good manufacturing practice, labeling, and prohibitions against misbranding and adulteration. Please note: CDRH does not evaluate information related to contract liability warranties. We remind you, however, that device labeling must be truthful and not misleading.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (PMA), it may be subject to additional controls. Existing major regulations affecting your device can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Parts 800 to 898. In addition, FDA may publish further announcements concerning your device in the Federal Register.
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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 of medical device-related adverse events) (21 CFR 803) for devices or postmarketing safety reporting (21 CFR 4, Subpart B) for combination products (see https://www.fda.gov/CombinationProducts/GuidanceRegulatoryInformation/ucm597488.htm); good manufacturing practice requirements as set forth in the quality systems (OS) regulation (21 CFR Part 820) for devices or current good manufacturing practices (21 CFR 4, Subpart A) for combination products; and, if applicable, the electronic product radiation control provisions (Sections 531-542 of the Act); 21 CFR 1000-1050.
Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21 CFR Part 807.97). For questions regarding the reporting of adverse events under the MDR regulation (21 CFR Part 803), please go to http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/ReportaProblem/default.htm.
For comprehensive regulatory information about medical devices and radiation-emitting products, including information about labeling regulations, please see Device Advice (https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/) and CDRH Learn (http://www.fda.gov/Training/CDRHLearn). Additionally, you may contact the Division of Industry and Consumer Education (DICE) to ask a question about a specific regulatory topic. See the DICE website (http://www.fda.gov/DICE) for more information or contact DICE by email (DICE@fda.hhs.gov) or phone (1-800-638-2041 or 301-796-7100).
Sincerely.
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for Tina Kiang, Ph.D. Acting Director Division of Anesthesiology. General Hospital, Respiratory, Infection Control, and Dental Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure:
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## Indications for Use
510(k) Number (if known)
K172506
Device Name BD Cathena Safety IV Catheter
#### Indications for Use (Describe)
BD Cathena Safety IV Catheters are intended to be inserted into a patient's peripheral vascular system for short term use to sample blood, monitor blood pressure, or administer fluids. These catheters may be used for any patient with consideration given to adequacy of vascular anatomy, procedure being performed, fluids being infused, and duration of therapy. The catheters are suitable for use with power injectors set to a maximum pressure of 325 psi (2240 kPa).
| Type of Use (Select one or both, as applicable) | |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| <div> <span> <span style="font-size: 20px;">☑</span> Prescription Use (Part 21 CFR 801 Subpart D) </span> </div> | <div> <span> <span style="font-size: 20px;">☐</span> Over-The-Counter Use (21 CFR 801 Subpart C) </span> </div> |
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# 510(k) Summary (21 CFR §807.92)
### BD Cathena™ Safety IV Catheter
| Submitter<br>Information | Submitter Name:<br>Submitter Address: | Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems Inc.<br>9450 South State Street<br>Sandy, UT 84070 |
|----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | Contact Person:<br>Email Address:<br>Phone Number:<br>Fax Number<br>Date of Preparation: | Henry Boland<br>Staff Regulatory Affairs Specialist<br>henry.boland@bd.com<br>(801) 565-2550<br>(801) 304-3963<br>September 14, 2017 |
| Subject Device | Trade Name:<br>Common Name:<br>Regulation Number:<br>Regulation Name:<br>Regulatory Class:<br>Product Code:<br>Classification Panel: | BD Cathena™ Safety IV Catheter<br>Peripheral Intravascular or IV Catheter<br>21 CFR §880.5200<br>Intravascular Catheter<br>II<br>FOZ<br>General Hospital |
| Predicate<br>Device<br>(BD Insyte<br>Autoguard BC) | Trade Name:<br>510(k) Reference:<br>Common Name:<br>Regulation Number:<br>Regulation Name:<br>Regulatory Class:<br>Product Code:<br>Classification Panel: | BD Insyte™ Autoguard™ BC<br>K110443<br>Peripheral Intravascular or IV Catheter<br>21 CFR §880.5200<br>Intravascular Catheter<br>II<br>FOZ<br>General Hospital |
| Predicate<br>Device<br>(Introcan Safety<br>3) | Trade Name:<br>510(k) Reference:<br>Common Name:<br>Regulation Number:<br>Regulation Name:<br>Regulatory Class:<br>Product Code:<br>Classification Panel: | Introcan Safety® 3 Closed IV Catheter<br>K111236<br>Peripheral Intravascular or IV Catheter<br>21 CFR §880.5200<br>Intravascular Catheter<br>II<br>FOZ<br>General Hospital |
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| Reason for<br>Submission | The purpose of this Traditional 510(k) premarket notification is to notify CDRH of<br>the introduction of the BD Cathena™ Safety IV Catheter device that has been<br>demonstrated to be substantially equivalent to the predicate devices listed above. |
|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Device<br>Description | BD Cathena™ Safety IV Catheters are over-the-needle, intravascular catheters.<br>These devices include a radiopaque BD Vialon™ catheter, needle, grip, passive<br>safety needle shield, and flash chamber with removable vent plug. The needle and<br>catheter are protected by a needle cover. These devices have BD Instaflash™<br>Needle Technology, allowing for immediate visualization of blood along the<br>catheter. The flash chamber provides confirmation that the device has entered the<br>vessel. The needle tip is passively protected when the needle is removed, reducing<br>the risk of accidental needlestick injury. |
| | These devices are available with or without multi-access BD Multiguard technology,<br>which is designed to stop the flow of blood from the catheter hub until a Luer<br>connection is made. Once a connection is made, fluids or blood can flow through<br>the catheter hub in either direction. |
| | These devices are available with or without wings. The catheter hub and wings are<br>color coded to indicate the catheter gauge size (24GA (0.7 mm)=Yellow, 22GA (0.9<br>mm)=Blue, 20GA (1.1 mm)=Pink, 18GA (1.3 mm)=Green, 16GA (1.7 mm)=Grey).<br>These devices are not made with natural rubber latex. |
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| Indications for Use<br>(21 CFR §<br>807.92(a)(5)) | SUBJECT<br>BD Cathena™ Safety IV<br>Catheter | PREDICATE<br>(K110443)<br>BD Insyte™ Autoguard™<br>BC | PREDICATE<br>(K111236)<br>Introcan Safety® 3 Closed<br>IV Catheter |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | BD Cathena Safety IV<br>Catheters are intended to<br>be inserted into a patient's<br>peripheral vascular system<br>for short term use to sample<br>blood, monitor blood<br>pressure, or administer<br>fluids. These catheters may<br>be used for any patient<br>population with<br>consideration given to<br>adequacy of vascular<br>anatomy, procedure being<br>performed, fluids being<br>infused, and duration of<br>therapy. The catheters are<br>suitable for use with power<br>injectors set to a maximum<br>pressure of 325 psi (2240<br>kPa). | The BD Insyte Autoguard<br>BC catheter is inserted into<br>a patient's vascular system<br>to sample blood, monitor<br>blood pressure, or<br>administer fluids. | Introcan Safety 3 Closed<br>Intravascular Catheter is<br>inserted into a patient's<br>vascular system for short<br>term use (less than 30<br>days) to sample blood,<br>monitor blood pressure or<br>administer fluids and blood<br>intravascularly.<br>The 18-22 gauge catheter<br>may be used with power<br>injectors at a maximum<br>pressure of 300 psi with a<br>luer lock connection only. |
| The subject and predicate devices have the same intended use. Both the subject<br>and predicate devices are peripheral intravascular catheters intended to be inserted<br>into the vascular system for short term use to sample blood, monitor blood<br>pressure, or administer fluids intravenously. Patient population information was<br>added to the subject device indication for use to clarify the patient population for<br>which these devices can be used. The power injection pressure was also increased<br>to 325psi to align with current power injector capabilities. The differences between<br>the subject and predicate devices' indications for use do not change the intended<br>use and do not raise different questions of safety and effectiveness. | | | |
| Technological<br>Characteristics | | Technological characteristics of the subject and predicate devices are substantially<br>equivalent with respect to the device design and materials. The subject<br>BD Cathena™ Safety IV Catheter achieves its intended use based on the same<br>technology and principles of operation as the predicate BD Insyte™ Autoguard™<br>BC and Introcan Safety® 3 Closed IV Catheter, respectively. | |
| A comparison of the subject and predicate device technological characteristics is<br>provided in the table below. | | | |
| Attribute | SUBJECT<br>BD Cathena™ Safety IV<br>Catheter | PREDICATE<br>(K110443)<br>BD Insyte™ Autoguard™ BC | PREDICATE<br>(K111236)<br>Introcan Safety® 3 Closed IV<br>Catheter |
| | 21 CFR 8880-5200 | 21 CFR 8880.5200 | 21 CFR 8880.5200 |
| Technology | passive needlestick safety<br>mechanism and a multi-use<br>blood control septum.<br>Incorporates BD Instaflash™<br>technology to assist with<br>flashback visualization. | active needlestick safety<br>mechanism and a one-time<br>use blood control septum.<br>Incorporates BD Instaflash™<br>technology to assist with<br>flashback visualization. | passive needlestick safety<br>mechanism and a multi-use<br>blood control septum.<br>Incorporates catheter<br>flashback technology to assist<br>with flashback visualization. |
| | Safety Shield<br>Polystyrene | Barrel<br>Polypropylene or<br>Polycarbonate | |
| Primary | Grip / Needle Hub<br>Polypropylene | Needle Hub<br>Polycarbonate | |
| Device<br>Components<br>/ Materials | Needle<br>Stainless Steel | Needle<br>Stainless Steel | Unknown |
| | Catheter Adapter<br>Polypropylene | Catheter Adapter<br>Polypropylene | |
| | Catheter Tubing<br>Polyurethane with radiopaque<br>barium sulfate | Catheter Tubing<br>Polyurethane with radiopaque<br>barium sulfate | |
| | Catheter Diameters | Catheter Diameters | Catheter Diameters |
| Catheter | 16 G, 18 G, 20 G, 22 G, 24 G<br>Catheter Lengths | 16G, 18 G, 20 G, 22 G, 24 G<br>Catheter Lengths | 18 G, 20 G, 22 G, 24 G<br>Catheter Lengths |
| Dimensions | 0.75 IN, 1.00 IN, 1.25 IN, 1.75<br>IN, 2.00 IN | 0.75 IN, 1.00 IN, 1.16 IN, 1.77<br>IN, 1.88 IN | 0.75 IN, 1.00 IN, 1.25 IN, 1.75<br>IN |
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Summary of Performance tests completed on the subject device were those tests required to Performance support a determination of substantial equivalence to the predicate devices. Tests Design verification tests were performed based on the risk analysis. Results of these tests demonstrate that the BD Cathena™ Safety IV Catheter is substantially equivalent to the predicate devices. Design verification testing included the following:
- Package maintains integrity ●
- Needle cover does not fall off
- Force to remove needle cover
- Incremental force to decouple shielded needle from catheter adapter ● during safety activation
- System penetration force
- Needle to needle hub pull force
- Time to visualize flashback in flash chamber ●
- Catheter average drag force ●
- Force to break adhesion between catheter unit and needle (initial ● adhesion)
- Force to remove needle from catheter unit (average system drag)
- Force to prematurely decouple tip-shield from adapter ●
- Needle is not re-exposed upon application of compressive force .
- . Tensile force to defeat safety system
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- No air leakage from device in a connected state at low pressure less than ● 30 psi
- Device burst pressure ●
- Catheter separation force
- Blood escape time ●
- . Force to connect Luer to catheter adapter
- Time to visualize flashback in catheter adapter
#### Standards Compliance
- Gauging (ISO 594-1) ●
- Liquid leakage (ISO 594-1,-2, ISO 10555-1) ●
- Air leakage (ISO 594-1,-2) .
- Separation force (ISO 594-1.-2) ●
- Stress cracking (ISO 594-2)
- Unscrewing torque (ISO 594-2)
- Ease of assembly (ISO 594-2) ●
- Resistance to overriding (ISO 594-2) ●
- Radio detectability (ISO 10555-1)
- Surface (ISO 10555-1. -5) ●
- . Corrosion resistance (ISO 10555-1)
- Peak tensile force (ISO 10555-1) ●
- Flow rate (ISO 10555-1)
- Power injection (ISO 10555-1) ●
- Distal tip (ISO 105551-1) ●
- Needle point (ISO 10555-5)
- Strength of union between needle hub and needle tube (ISO 10555-5)
- Vent fitting (ISO 10555-1) ●
- Activation of the sharps injury protection feature (ISO 23908)
- Security of safe mode protection (ISO 23908) ●
In addition, biocompatibility testing was conducted on the BD Cathena™ Safety IV Catheters in accordance with ISO 10993-1:2009, Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices - Part 1: Evaluation and Testing Within a Risk Management Process. Testing included cytotoxicity, sensitization, intracutaneous reactivity, acute svstemic toxicity, subchronic toxicity (subacute toxicity), genotoxicity, implantation, and haemocompatibility. Additionally, material-mediated pyrogenicity was also performed.
Simulated clinical use testing was performed on the device, per FDA Guidance, Applying Human Factors and Usability Engineering to Medical Devices and IEC 62366-1:2015 Medical devices - Part 1:Application of usability engineering to medical devices.
Per design control requirements specified in 21 CFR 820.30, the subject device met all predetermined acceptance criteria for the above-listed performance tests, demonstrating substantial equivalence to the predicate devices.
Summary of Based on the indications for use, technological characteristics, and results of performance testing, the subject BD Cathena™ Safety IV Catheters have been Substantial Equivalence demonstrated to be substantially equivalent to the predicate devices.
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.