K964784 · Quinton, Inc. · DPS · Aug 13, 1997 · Cardiovascular
Device Facts
Record ID
K964784
Device Name
SYNERGY CARDIOLOGY INFORMATION SYSTEM (00431)
Applicant
Quinton, Inc.
Product Code
DPS · Cardiovascular
Decision Date
Aug 13, 1997
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 870.2340
Device Class
Class 2
Indications for Use
The intended use of the Quinton Synergy Cardiology Information System (CIS) is the acquisition, storage, and display of electrical signals of biological origin, as ECG data, that are obtained from other devices connected directly to the patient. This display on the CIS would only occur at the cessation of data acquisition by the patient connected equipment. (Hence, the CIS would only operate as non-real time system.) Additionally, the CIS may acquire, store, and display administrative data, as patient demographic information. Acquired information may be reviewed, edited, abridged, or re-formatted and distributed electronically or printed.
Device Story
Cardiology data management system; integrates proprietary and third-party software on workstation or networked workstations. Inputs: ECG waveforms and textual data from external ECG devices (e.g., Q710, HP PageWriter XLi) via serial ports or floppy disk. Function: stores, reviews, edits, reformats, and prints cardiology patient records. Operational context: non-real-time; display occurs only after cessation of data acquisition by patient-connected equipment. Used in clinical settings by healthcare providers to manage patient records and interpretive reports. Output: printed or electronic patient reports containing ECG and demographic information. Benefits: centralized data management, review, and documentation of cardiology procedures.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Integrity of digital data transfer verified by transmitting randomized ECG waveforms and textual data from Q710 and HP PageWriter XLi to the CIS. Comparison performed via software analysis and cardiologist review of pre- and post-transmission printouts. No significant differences found in data integrity.
Technological Characteristics
Workstation-based system including computer, keyboard, monitor, and peripherals (e.g., laser printer). Connectivity via serial ports and floppy disk for data ingestion. Software-based management of ECG waveforms and patient records. Non-real-time operation.
Indications for Use
Indicated for the acquisition, storage, and display of ECG data and patient demographic information obtained from patient-connected equipment in a non-real-time environment.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
An electrocardiograph is a device used to process the electrical signal transmitted through two or more electrocardiograph electrodes and to produce a visual display of the electrical signal produced by the heart.
Predicate Devices
Model Q710 Exercise and Resting Electrocardiograph (K945626)
Reference Devices
HP PageWriter XLi
Submission Summary (Full Text)
{0}
Quinton Instrument Company
510k Notification - K964784
Synergy Cardiology Information System
K964784
AUG 13 1997
# 510(k) SUMMARY
Submitter's Name: Quinton Instrument Company
Submitter's Address: 3303 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, Washington 98021-8906
Submitter's Phone Number: (US) 206-402-2000
Submitter's Fax Number: (US) 206-402-2017
Contact Person: Matt Hedlund
Date Summary Prepared: May 14, 1997
A. Device Trade Name:
Quinton Synergy Cardiology Information System (CIS)
B. Device Common Name:
Electrocardiograph (Accessory)
C. Device Classification Names
870.2340 Electrocardiograph
870.2450 Medical Cathode-Ray Tube Display
870.1425 Programmable Diagnostic Computer
870.2800 Medical Magnetic Tape Recorder
D. Predicate Device
The legally marketed device to which we claim equivalence is the Model Q710 Exercise and Resting Electrocardiograph. The 510(k) number for this device is K945626.
000062
{1}
Quinton Instrument Company
510k Notification - K964784
Synergy Cardiology Information System
## C. Device Description
The CIS is a cardiology data management system that encompasses and integrates proprietary software and third party software on a single workstation or networked workstations. The workstation may include ancillary devices as a server, bar cod system, and printer.
The CIS provides a means to establish, maintain, access, review, and edit cardiology patient records that are typically generated from ECG procedures.
## D. Intended Use of Device
The intended use of the Quinton Synergy Cardiology Information System (CIS) is the acquisition, storage, and display of electrical signals of biological origin, as ECG data, that are obtained from other devices connected directly to the patient. This display on the CIS would only occur at the cessation of data acquisition by the patient connected equipment. Additionally, the CIS may acquire, store, and display data, as patient demographic information.
Acquired information may be reviewed, edited, abridged, or re-formatted and printed out.
## E. Summary of Technological Characteristics Compared with the Predicate Device
Both the Synergy Cardiology Information System and the Quinton Model Q710 record and display 12 lead ECG waveforms and ECG data. Both devices display and allow editing and print-out of patient reports which may include ECG information, demographic information, and interpretive reports. All information contained within the CIS patient reports come only from the ECG device, as the Q710, unless editing occurs. The hardware platform for the CIS is a computer, keyboard, monitor, and peripherals as a laser printer. The Q710, while computer based, is ergonomically designed as a ECG device containing inputs for ECG and a built-in keyboard and printer mounted on a cart.
000063
{2}
Quinton Instrument Company
510k Notification - K964784
Synergy Cardiology Information System
F. Performance Testing and Conclusions
1) Performance Testing
Performance testing was based on transmitting via serial ports randomized ECG waveforms and textual data from the Q710 and the HP PageWriter XLi to the CIS. Pre-transmitted information was compared with information received and stored at the CIS. In one set of tests the comparison was done using software to determine the integrity of the digital transfer. In another test the ECG and textual data was printed out before being transmitted from the Q710 and then printed out again after being received and stored at the CIS. Additionally, data from the HP PageWriter was printed out, transferred to the CIS by floppy disk, and then printed out again. A cardiologist compared the pre- and post transmissions for significant differences in both cases.
2) Conclusions
No differences were found in the digital comparison between pre and post transmitted data from the Q710 to the CIS. Only expected differences were found during the digital comparison of pre and post transmitted data from the HP PageWriter XLi to the CIS. These differences are due to the HP communication protocol not transmitting certain fields. Finally, no significant differences were found by the cardiologist when comparing the pre-transmission print-outs from the Q710 with the post-transmission print-outs at the CIS. Additionally, no significant differences were found in the PageWriter transfer test using a floppy disk.
Taken together the tests demonstrate that the CIS is substantially equivalent to the Q710 in certain limited areas of recording, displaying, and printing out ECG waveforms and textual information.
000064
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration
9200 Corporate Boulevard
Rockville MD 20856
Mr. Matt Hedlund
Quinton Instrument Company
3303 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, Washington 98021-8906
AUG 13 1997
Re: K964784
Synergy Cardiology Information System (CIS)
Regulatory Class: II (two)
Product Code: 74 DPS
Dated: May 15, 1997
Received: May 16, 1997
Dear Mr. Hedlund:
We have reviewed your Section 510(k) notification of intent to market the device referenced above and we have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to 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). 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.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (Premarket Approval), it may be subject to such additional controls. Existing major regulations affecting your device can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Parts 800 to 895. A substantially equivalent determination assumes compliance with the current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, as set forth in the Quality System Regulation (QS) for Medical Devices: General regulation (21 CFR Part 820) and that, through periodic (QS) inspections, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will verify such assumptions. Failure to comply with the GMP regulation may result in regulatory action. In addition, FDA may publish further announcements concerning your device in the Federal Register. Please note: this response to your premarket notification submission does not affect any obligation you might have under sections 531 through 542 of the Act for devices under the Electronic Product Radiation Control provisions, or other Federal laws or regulations.
{4}
Page 2 - Mr. Matt Hedlund
This letter will allow you to begin marketing your device as described in your 510(k) premarket notification. The FDA finding of substantial equivalence of your device to a legally marketed predicate device results in a classification for your device and thus, permits your device to proceed to the market.
If you desire specific advice for your device on our labeling regulation (21 CFR Part 801 and additionally 809.10 for *in vitro* diagnostic devices), please contact the Office of Compliance at (301) 594-4648. Additionally, for questions on the promotion and advertising of your device, please contact the Office of Compliance at (301) 594-4639. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21 CFR 807.97). Other general information on your responsibilities under the Act may be obtained from the Division of Small Manufacturers Assistance at its toll-free number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 443-6597 or at its internet address "http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/dsmamain.html".
Sincerely yours,

Thomas J. Callahan, Ph.D.
Director
Division of Cardiovascular,
Respiratory, and Neurological Devices
Office of Device Evaluation
Center for Devices and
Radiological Health
Enclosure
{5}
AUG-11-1997 12:42
QUINTON INSTRUMENT
2064022017 P.04/04
Number (if known): K964784
Vice Name: Synergy Cardiology Information System (CIS)
Jications For Use:
The intended use of the Quinton Synergy Cardiology Information System (CIS) is the acquisition, storage, and display of electrical signals of biological origin, as ECG data, that are obtained from other devices connected directly to the patient. This display on the CIS would only occur at the cessation of data acquisition by the patient connected equipment. (Hence, the CIS would only operate as non-real time system.) Additionally, the CIS may acquire, store, and display administrative data, as patient demographic information.
Acquired information may be reviewed, edited, abridged, or re-formatted and distributed electronically or printed.
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE - CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED)
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
cription Use ☑
(21 CFR 801.109)
OR
Over-The-Counter Use ☐
(Optional Format 1-7-96)
TOTAL P.04
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.