K965140 · Cardio Metrics, Inc. · DQX · Aug 18, 1997 · Cardiovascular
Device Facts
Record ID
K965140
Device Name
CARDIOMETRICS WAVEWIRE/WAVEMAP PRESSURE SYSTEM
Applicant
Cardio Metrics, Inc.
Product Code
DQX · Cardiovascular
Decision Date
Aug 18, 1997
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 870.1330
Device Class
Class 2
Indications for Use
The Cardiometrics WaveWire/WaveMap Pressure System is intended for use in coronary and peripheral blood vessels to measure blood pressure during diagnostic and/or interventional procedures. The WaveWire may be used to guide the positioning of balloon dilatation catheters, as well as other interventional devices such as atherectomy devices, lasers and stents. Blood pressure measurements are obtained to provide hemodynamic information for the diagnosis and treatment of coronary and/or peripheral artery disease.
Device Story
System comprises steerable pressure-sensing guide wire (WaveWire) and microcomputer-based instrument (WaveMap). Wire features miniature pressure transducer at distal tip; available in .014" or .018" diameters. Wire connects to instrument via rotary cable containing calibration memory chip. Instrument processes transducer signals to provide real-time blood pressure readouts, including mean aortic pressure, mean wire pressure, and calculated parameters like fractional flow reserve (FFR). Used in cath lab by physicians during coronary/peripheral interventions. Output displayed on instrument or external physiologic monitors. Provides hemodynamic data to guide diagnosis and treatment; assists in positioning interventional devices like balloons, stents, and lasers.
Clinical Evidence
No clinical data. Evidence consists of bench testing, including tensile strength, torque response, and functional accuracy testing, alongside electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility testing.
Technological Characteristics
Steerable guide wire with miniature pressure transducer; .014" or .018" diameter; 175 cm length. Materials meet ISO-10993 standards. Microcomputer-controlled instrument processes analog transducer signals. Connectivity via rotary connector cable with calibration memory chip. Analog output provided for external monitoring. Electrical safety per IEC-601-1, UL2601, CSA 22.2/601-1; EMC per IEC 601-1-2.
Indications for Use
Indicated for patients undergoing diagnostic or interventional procedures in coronary and peripheral arteries requiring hemodynamic pressure monitoring and guide wire support for interventional devices.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A catheter guide wire is a coiled wire that is designed to fit inside a percutaneous catheter for the purpose of directing the catheter through a blood vessel.
Special Controls
*Classification.* Class II (special controls). The device, when it is a torque device that is manually operated, non-patient contacting, and intended to manipulate non-cerebral vascular guide wires, is exempt from the premarket notification procedures in subpart E of part 807 of this chapter subject to the limitations in § 870.9.
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K965140
519(k) Premarket Notification Submission
Cardiometrics WaveWire/WaveMap Pressure System
AUG 18 1997
# SECTION 2.0
## SUMMARY OF SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS
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510(k) Premarket Notification Submission
Cardiometrics WaveWire/WaveMap Pressure System
# 510(k) Summary of Safety and Effectiveness
## WaveWire™/WaveMap™ Pressure System
This 510(k) safety and effectiveness summary is being submitted in accordance with the requirements of Safe Medical Devices Act 1990 and 21 CFR §807.92.
## General Information
| Manufacturer: | Cardiometrics, Inc.
645 Clyde Avenue
Mountain View, California 94043
(415) 961-6993 |
| --- | --- |
| Contact Person: | Claire Andrews
Vice President, Regulatory, Quality and Clinical Affairs |
| Date Prepared: | May 31, 1997 |
## Device Information
| Classification: | Class II |
| --- | --- |
| Trade Names: | WaveWire/WaveMap Pressure System
WaveWire Pressure Wire
WaveWire XT Pressure Wire
WaveMap Pressure Instrument |
| Common/Classification Names: | Guide, Wire, Catheter (870.1330)
Cardiovascular Blood Flow Meter (870.2100)
Catheter Tip Pressure Transducer (870.2870)
Vessel Occlusion Transducer (870.2890)
Patient Transducer and Electrical Cable (870.2900) |
| Predicate Devices: | FloWire®/FloMap® Doppler Ultrasound Instrument
AccuTrac™ Intravascular Guide Wire
Medtronic Floscan® Doppler Diagnostic Catheter
Millar Mikro-Tip® Catheter Pressure Transducer |
## Intended Use
The Cardiometrics WaveWire/WaveMap Pressure System is intended for use in the coronary and peripheral arteries to measure blood pressure during diagnostic and/or interventional procedures. The WaveWire may be used to guide the positioning of balloon dilatation catheters, as well as other interventional devices such as atherectomy devices, lasers and stents. Blood pressure measurements are obtained to provide hemodynamic information for the diagnosis and treatment of coronary and/or peripheral artery disease.
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510(k) Premarket Notification Submission
Cardiometrics WaveWire/WaveMap Pressure System
# Product Description
The Cardiometrics WaveWire Pressure Wire is a steerable guide wire designed to perform real-time invasive pressure measurements in the vasculature. The WaveWire has a nominal outer diameter of either .014" or .018" and is 175 cm in length. It has a 3 cm shapeable radiopaque tip coil that is available in three different stiffnesses: floppy, flex and firm. The WaveWire XT Pressure Wire design provides increased column strength in the distal segment of the wire just proximal to the tip of the guide wire while retaining the floppy characteristics of the tip itself; the increased column strength supports certain interventional devices (Note: All other characteristics of the WaveWire XT Pressure Wire are the same as the non-XT WaveWire). A miniature pressure transducer is mounted at the junction of the radiopaque tip coil and the radiolucent proximal coil. The WaveWire Pressure Wire is connected to the WaveMap Pressure Instrument via a rotary connector cable and patient cable. Each rotary connector cable includes an identification memory chip containing the calibration constants for the pressure transducer. In addition, the WaveWire Pressure Guide Wire is designed to be compatible with the Cordis CINCH® extension system.
The WaveMap Pressure Instrument is intended for use only with the WaveWire Pressure Wire. The WaveMap is a microcomputer controlled instrument which processes the information from the transducer mounted in the WaveWire to produce real-time blood pressure measurements. The WaveMap provides digital readouts of mean aortic pressure from a guide catheter, mean WaveWire pressure, and a calculated parameter, such as gradient or fractional flow reserve (FFR). The WaveMap also supplies an analog output of the WaveWire pressure for display on a conventional physiologic monitoring system or strip chart recorder.
# Substantial Equivalence
The WaveWire/WaveMap Pressure System is substantially equivalent in design to two currently marketed Cardiometrics products, the FloWire®/FloMap® Doppler Ultrasound Instrument, accession numbers K905411, K912776, K921563, K932536, K941485, K943022, and K955551 and the AccuTrac™ Intravascular Guide Wire, accession numbers K952562 and K961777. In addition, the WaveWire/WaveMap Pressure System's intended use, to measure and monitor intravascular blood pressure, is substantially equivalent to the Medtronic Floscan® Doppler Diagnostic Catheter, accession number K862673, and the Millar Mikro-Tip® Catheter Pressure Transducer, accession number K823434.
# Biocompatibility Evaluations
The materials used in the WaveWire Pressure Wire are the same as those used in the FloWire Doppler Guide Wire and the AccuTrac Intravascular Guide Wire with the exception of two materials. The materials used in the FloWire and AccuTrac, along with the new materials, have been tested for biocompatibility and meet the requirements for "Externally Communicating Devices, Circulating Blood, Limited Contact" as described in the FDA BlueBook Memorandum #G95-1 entitled, "Use of International Standard ISO-10993".
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510(k) Premarket Notification Submission
Cardiometrics WaveWire/WaveMap Pressure System
## Bench Testing
Bench testing for the WaveWire Pressure Wire was conducted according to the FDA guidance document entitled, “Coronary and Cerebrovascular Guide Wire Guidance”, dated January 1995. Evaluations completed were:
- Screw Tip to Core Wire Joint Test
- Screw Tip to Tip Coil Tensile Strength
- Tip Coil to (Housing) Proximal Coil Tensile Strength
- Proximal Coil to Hypotube Tensile Strength
- Turns-to-Failure
- Torque Response
- Functional (Accuracy) Testing
Inadvertent disengagement (for the Cordis CINCH® Extension System), Coating and Particulate Testing, Radiopacity, Dome Integrity, Core Wire-to-Hypotube Joint Test, and Bending/Stiffness evaluations were not performed due to the similarity in design between the WaveWire Pressure Wire, the FloWire Doppler Guide Wire and AccuTrac Intravascular Guide Wire. The results from these tests equally apply to the WaveWire Pressure Wire.
Electrical safety testing was conducted to assure the WaveMap Pressure Instrument complies with the requirements of IEC-601-1, UL2601, CSA 22.2 and CSA601-1, Safety of Medical Electrical Equipment. Electromagnetic compatibility testing was conducted to assure the WaveMap Pressure Instrument complies with the requirements of IEC 601-1-2.
## Summary
Based upon the information described in this submission, the functional/mechanical evaluations, biocompatibility testing, electrical safety testing, and electromagnetic compatibility testing the Cardiometrics WaveWire/WaveMap Pressure System has been shown to be substantially equivalent to the FloWire/FloMap Doppler Ultrasound Instrument, the AccuTrac Intravascular Guide Wire, the Medtronic FloScan Doppler Diagnostic Catheter and the Millar Mikro-Tip Catheter Pressure Transducer.
Claire Andrews
Vice President, Regulatory, Quality and Clinical Affairs
Cardiometrics, Inc.
May 31, 1997
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration
9200 Corporate Boulevard
Rockville MD 20856
AUG 18 1997
Ms. Claire L. Andrews
Vice President, Regulatory,
Quality and Clinical Affairs
Cardiometrics, Inc.
645 Clyde Avenue
Mountain View, California 94043
AUG 18 1997
Re: K965140
Cardiometrics WaveWire™/WaveMap™ Pressure System
Regulatory Class: II (two)
Product Code: DQX
Dated: June 9, 1997
Received: June 9, 1997
Dear Ms. Andrews:
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 Good Manufacturing Practice for Medical Devices: General (GMP) regulation (21 CFR Part 820) and that, through periodic GMP inspections, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will verify such assumptions. Failure to comply with the GMP regulation may result in
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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.
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 at (301) 443-6597.
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
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Page 1 of 1
510(k) Number (if known): K965140
Device Name: Cardiometrics WaveWire/WaveMap Pressure System
Indications For Use:
The Cardiometrics WaveWire/WaveMap Pressure System is intended for use in coronary and peripheral blood vessels to measure blood pressure during diagnostic and/or interventional procedures. The WaveWire may be used to guide the positioning of balloon dilatation catheters, as well as other interventional devices such as atherectomy devices, lasers and stents. Blood pressure measurements are obtained to provide hemodynamic information for the diagnosis and treatment of coronary and/or peripheral artery disease.
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE-CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED)
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)

Prescription Use ☑ (Per 21 CFR 801.109)
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Over-The-Counter Use ☐
(Optional Format 1-2-96)
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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.