K181325 · Inari Medical, Inc. · QEW · Jun 17, 2018 · Cardiovascular
Device Facts
Record ID
K181325
Device Name
FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System
Applicant
Inari Medical, Inc.
Product Code
QEW · Cardiovascular
Decision Date
Jun 17, 2018
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Special
Regulation
21 CFR 870.5150
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Therapeutic
Indications for Use
The FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System consists of the FlowTriever Catheter, Aspiration Guide Catheter, and Retraction Aspirator. The FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System is indicated for: · The non-surgical removal of emboli and thrombi from blood vessels. - · Injection, infusion, and/or aspiration of contrast media and other fluids into or from a blood vessel. The Flow Triever Retrieval/Aspiration System is intended for use in the peripheral vasculature and for the treatment of pulmonary embolism.
Device Story
FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System is a single-use, over-the-wire, catheter-based system for minimally invasive thromboemboli removal in peripheral vasculature. System components: Aspiration Guide Catheter, FlowTriever Catheter (available in 6-10mm, 11-14mm, 15-18mm sizes), and hand-lever operated Retraction Aspirator. Operation: FlowTriever Catheter advanced through Aspiration Guide Catheter to thrombus; self-expanding wireform disks deployed to engage thrombus; Retraction Aspirator simultaneously aspirates fluids and retracts catheter with thrombus into Aspiration Guide Catheter for capture. Modifications allow removal of FlowTriever Catheter without removing Aspiration Guide Catheter, facilitating repeat embolectomy passes without re-crossing right heart. Used by physicians in clinical settings. Benefits include efficient clot removal and restored blood flow.
Clinical Evidence
No clinical data. Substantial equivalence supported by non-clinical verification testing leveraged from predicate K173672.
Indicated for non-surgical removal of emboli and thrombi from blood vessels and injection/infusion/aspiration of fluids/contrast media. Intended for use in peripheral vasculature and treatment of pulmonary embolism.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
An embolectomy catheter is a balloon-tipped catheter that is used to remove thromboemboli, i.e., blood clots which have migrated in blood vessels from one site in the vascular tree to another.
Predicate Devices
Inari FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System (K180466)
Inari FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System (K173672)
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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June 17, 2018
Inari Medical, Inc. Eben Gordon Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & Quality Assurance 9272 Jeronimo Rd Suite 124 Irvine, California 92618
Re: K181325
Trade/Device Name: FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System Regulation Number: 21 CFR 870.5150 Regulation Name: Embolectomy Catheter Regulatory Class: Class II Product Code: DXE Dated: May 17, 2018 Received: May 18, 2018
Dear Eben Gordon:
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.
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); good manufacturing practice requirements as set forth in the quality systems (QS) regulation (21 CFR Part 820);
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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.
# Brian D. Pullin -S
for Bram D. Zuckerman, M.D. Director Division of Cardiovascular Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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# Indications for Use
510(k) Number (if known) K181325
#### Device Name
FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System
Indications for Use (Describe)
The Flow Triever Retrieval/Aspiration System consists of the FlowTriever Catheter, Aspiration Guide Catheter, and Retraction Aspirator. The FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System is indicated for:
· The non-surgical removal of emboli and thrombi from blood vessels.
- · Injection, infusion, and/or aspiration of contrast media and other fluids into or from a blood vessel.
The Flow Triever Retrieval/Aspiration System is intended for use in the peripheral vasculature and for the treatment of pulmonary embolism.
X Prescription Use (Part 21 CFR 801 Subpart D)
Over-The-Counter Use (21 CFR 801 Subpart C)
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# 510(K) SUMMARY
| Date prepared | June 13, 2018 |
|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Name | Inari Medical, Inc.<br>9272 Jeronimo Road, Suite 124<br>Irvine, CA 92618<br>949.600.8433 x114 |
| Contact person | Eben Gordon<br>Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & Quality Assurance |
| Trade name | FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System |
| Common name | Embolectomy catheter |
| Regulation name | Embolectomy catheter |
| Classification number | 21 CFR 870.5150 |
| Product code | DXE |
| Regulatory class | II |
| Predicate devices | Inari FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System (K180466) (Primary Predicate)<br>Inari FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System (K173672) |
| Description | The FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System is a single-use over-the-wire<br>catheter-based system for the minimally invasive treatment of thromboemboli in<br>the peripheral vasculature. The system is comprised of three main components<br>packaged separately:<br>Aspiration Guide Catheter FlowTriever Catheter (available in 3 sizes: 6-10 mm, 11-14 mm, and 15-18 mm) Retraction Aspirator The FlowTriever Catheter is inserted through the Aspiration Guide Catheter and advanced to the thrombus. Self-expanding wireform disks are deployed to engage thrombus by retracting the outer delivery catheter. The hand-lever operated Retraction Aspirator simultaneously aspirates fluids and retracts the FlowTriever Catheter with thrombus into the Aspiration Guide Catheter to capture clot and restore blood flow. |
| Indications for Use | The FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System consists of the FlowTriever<br>Catheter, Aspiration Guide Catheter, and Retraction Aspirator. The FlowTriever<br>Retrieval/Aspiration System is indicated for: |
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- The non-surgical removal of emboli and thrombi from blood vessels.
- . Injection, infusion, and/or aspiration of contrast media and other fluids into or from a blood vessel.
The FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System is intended for use in the peripheral vasculature and for the treatment of pulmonary embolism.
The Aspiration Guide Catheter and Retraction Aspirator Tubing Set were Device modifications modified from the versions cleared under K180466 to allow the removal of the FlowTriever Catheter from the patient without the simultaneous removal of the Aspiration Guide Catheter. In doing so, if another embolectomy pass is attempted, the step of re-introducing the Aspiration Guide Catheter and crossing the right heart is eliminated. All other components of the FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System are identical to those cleared under K180466. The modifications to the Aspiration Guide Catheter and Retraction Aspirator
included the following:
- . Replacing the hemostasis valve with a user-actuated hemostasis valve in the Aspiration Guide Catheter's proximal hub.
- . Replacing the off-the-shelf stopcock with a large bore stopcock in the side port tubing.
- Increasing the lumen diameters of the tubing and connector in the fluid ● path between the Aspiration Guide Catheter to the collection bag.
- Replacing the checkvalve component in the Tubing Set with a clot reservoir to prevent clot from plugging distal checkvalve as it is transported to the collection bag.
These modifications made the Aspiration Guide Catheter and Retraction Aspirator Tubing Set identical to the Aspiration Guide Catheter and Retraction Aspirator Tubing Set cleared under K173672. As all of the other components of the FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System were already identical to those cleared under K173672, the modifications make the proposed FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System identical to the one cleared under K173672.
Summary of There is no change of intended use or fundamental scientific technology between substantial equivalence the proposed and predicate devices.
> The FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System has the same indication for use as the primary predicate, K180466. The indication for use for the additional predicate, K173672, only differs in that it does not include treatment of pulmonary embolism.
> The FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System has been modified from the version cleared under K180466 to be identical the version cleared under K173672.
# Non-Clinical Testing
The FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System is identical to the version cleared under K173672. Appropriate rationales were provided to support that the testing
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provided under K173672 may be appropriately leveraged to support clearance of this device for the proposed intended use. Therefore, additional verification testing is not necessary to establish compliance to design specifications.
## Conclusion
The proposed device modifications to the FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System do not change its intended use or raise different questions of safety and effectiveness. With consideration of the results of the testing leveraged from K173672, it can be concluded that the proposed FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System is substantially equivalent to the predicate 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.