K974237 · Grason-Stadler, Inc. · EWO · Feb 10, 1998 · Ear, Nose, Throat
Device Facts
Record ID
K974237
Device Name
GSI 70 AUDIOPATH SCREENER
Applicant
Grason-Stadler, Inc.
Product Code
EWO · Ear, Nose, Throat
Decision Date
Feb 10, 1998
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 874.1050
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Pediatric
Indications for Use
The Grason-Stadler Inc. model GSI 70 AudioPath™ Hearing Screener is similar to and predicated upon the Grason-Stadler Inc. model GSI 60 Otoacoustic Emissions/Screening Audiometer, the GSI 37 Auto Tymp Middle Ear Analyzer, and the GSI 17 Pure Tone Screening Audiometer. The purpose of this device is to detect as well as track hearing loss and abnormal middle ear conditions in all ages of patients (from premature infants through adults). The instrument has combined a battery of testing capabilities such as Otoacoustic Emission Screening, Tympanometry, and Pure Tone Audiometry within one hand held instrument. The device is intended to be used by trained personnel within a medical or school environment. This device is not intended for use in prescribing or fitting assistive listening devices such as hearing aids, cochlear implants or wireless microphones, or to diagnose the causes of detected hearing losses.
Device Story
Handheld screening device; integrates Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) screening, tympanometry, and pure tone audiometry. Inputs: patient response via switch (audiometry), microphone response (tympanometry/OAE), and pressure changes (tympanometry). Operation: trained personnel in medical/school settings perform tests; device uses internal DSP to process signals. Outputs: test results displayed on device; data exportable via IRDA to Windows-based software for graphing and patient ID management. Benefits: consolidates three diagnostic functions into one portable unit; enables efficient hearing loss tracking across all ages. Safety: includes watchdog timers for tone generation; pressure-limited pump; battery-powered.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Device performance verified against established ANSI standards (S3.6 for audiometry, S3.39 for tympanometry) and electrical safety standards (IEC 601-1, UL2601-1). No clinical data provided.
Technological Characteristics
Portable handheld device; rechargeable battery powered. Features miniature probe speakers and microphone. Connectivity: IRDA. Software: Windows-based for data management. Safety: Watchdog timers for tone monitoring; pressure-limited pump. Standards: ANSI S3.6 (audiometry), ANSI S3.39 (tympanometry), IEC 601-1, UL2601-1, CSA 601-1-M90, EN55011, IEC801-2/3/4.
Indications for Use
Indicated for detection and tracking of hearing loss and abnormal middle ear conditions in all patients, from premature infants through adults. Intended for use by trained personnel in medical or school settings. Not for prescribing/fitting assistive listening devices or diagnosing causes of hearing loss.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
An audiometer or automated audiometer is an electroacoustic device that produces controlled levels of test tones and signals intended for use in conducting diagnostic hearing evaluations and assisting in the diagnosis of possible otologic disorders.
Predicate Devices
Grason-Stadler Inc. model GSI 60 DPOAE system (K934658S1)
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### "510(k) SUMMARY" Summary of Safety and Effectiveness
| Submitter's Name & Address: | Grason-Stadler Inc.<br>1 Westchester Drive<br>Milford, N.H. 03055-3056 | | | FEB 10 1998 |
|-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--|--|-------------|
| Contact Person & Telephone: | Norman L. Schultz<br>(603) 672-7303 | | | |
| Date Summary Prepared: | September 12, 1997 | | | |
| Device Name: | Classification Name - Audiometer<br>Common/Usual Name - Screening Audiometer<br>Proprietary Name - GSI 70 AudioPath™ Screener | | | |
| Predicate Device: | Grason-Stadler Inc. model GSI 60 DPOAE system (ref. 510(k) #K934658S1) GSI 37 Auto Tymp (ref. 510(k) #K911095 ), and the<br>GSI 17 Screening Audiometer (ref. 510(k) #K902540). | | | |
# Device Description, intended Use & Effectiveness:
The Grason-Stadler Inc. model GSI 70 AudioPath™ Screener is similar to and predicated upon the Grason-Stadler Inc. model GSI 60 Otoacoustic Emissions/Screening Audiometer, the GSI 37 Auto Tymp Middle Ear Analyzer, and the GSI 17 Pure Tone Screening Audiometer. The purpose of this device is to detect as well as track hearing loss and abnormal middle ear conditions in all ages of patients (From premature infants through adults age). The instrument has a battery of testing capabilities such as Otoacoustic Emission Screening, Tympanometry, and Pure Tone Audiometry. The device is intended to be used by trained personnel in a medical or school environment. This device is not intended for use in prescribing or fitting assisstive listening devices such as hearing aids, cochlea implants or wireless microphones.
### Technological Characteristics:
See attachment "A" for a comparison of the GSI 70 AudioPath™ Screener to the predicate device.
### Safety:
The GSI 70 AudioPath™ Screener is designed to provide electrical safety to the patient as well as the user. The system is designed to meet the following standards related to electrical safety: IEC 601-1, UL2601, and CSA 601-1-M90. To prevent excessive tone levels within the ear the system is designed with watchdog timers that monitor the system and disable the tone generation when disparity is detected. Also, the speakers that are used within the probes are
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incapable of producing enough decibels to permanently damage the ear. The pump for the tympanometry function has been designed such that the volume of the pump is incapable of producing a pressure that would exceed the safe level as specified within ANSI S3.39.
The system will also be certified to the following standards:
| EMI EN55011 | Group 1 Class B requirements (medical equipment, conducted and radiated<br>emissions). |
|-------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| IEC801-2 | ESD Susceptibility. |
| IEC801-3 | Radiated Electromagnetic Field Susceptibility. |
| IEC801-4 | Conducted Susceptibility to Line Transients. |
| CE Mark | Conforms with provisions of European Council Directive 93/42/EEC concerning<br>medical devices. |
#### Summary of Effectiveness:
The GSI 70 AudioPath™ Screener is a consolidation of three current audiological products into one portable instrument making it equivalent or better in effectiveness for the detection and tracking of hearing loss and abnormal middle ear conditions in all ages of patients (from premature infants through adults).
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# Attachment A Chart of Predicate Device Comparison
| Technological<br>Specification | GSI 17 | GSI 37 | GSI 60 | GSI 70 |
|-----------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Power Source | Powered by a low<br>voltage DC wall<br>mounted power supply. | Powered by a low<br>voltage DC wall<br>mounted power supply. | Powered by battery or<br>a low voltage DC wall<br>mounted power<br>supply. | Powered by re-<br>chargeable battery. |
| Battery Low<br>Indication. | None | None | LED lights on front of<br>instrument. | Battery low indicator on<br>display. |
| Safety<br>Compliance. | IEC 601-1 and UL544 | IEC 601-1 and UL544 | IEC 601-1 and<br>UL2601-1 | IEC 601-1 and UL2601-<br>1 |
| Computer Interface | RS232 | None | DSP Board plugged<br>into printer interface. | IRDA communications |
| Audiometry | Technology used is<br>speaker headset that<br>present tones to patient<br>which if perceived is<br>indicated by a patient<br>response switch. Tone<br>quality and frequency<br>specified per ANSI S3.6. | N/A | N/A | Tones are presented by<br>a minature speaker<br>within the probe which if<br>perceived is indicated<br>by the patient using a<br>response switch. Tone<br>quality and frequency<br>specified per ANSI S3.6. |
| Tympanometry | N/A | Tones are presented<br>during a pressurization<br>of the ear by a<br>minature pump and<br>response is recorded<br>by a microphone. Tone<br>quality and frequency<br>controlled by ANSI<br>S3.39. | N/A | Same as GSI 37 |
| OAE Probe Design | N/A | N/A | Two speakers and a<br>microphone present<br>and record response<br>from cochlea of ear. | Same as GSI 60 |
| DSP Software for<br>OAE Function | | | GSI 60 DSP Software | Same |
| Supporting software<br>for OAE Function | | | Windows based<br>software that graphs<br>DP result, allows<br>changes to protocall,<br>export of data, and<br>changes to patient ID. | Windows based<br>software that shows<br>result, allows export of<br>data, and updating of<br>patient ID. |
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Image /page/3/Picture/0 description: The image shows the logo for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The logo features a stylized depiction of an eagle or bird-like figure with three curved lines representing its body and wings. The text "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN..." is arranged in a circular fashion around the left side of the emblem, partially obscured.
#### DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
FEB 1 0 1998
Norman L. Schultz Senior Quality Engineer Grason-Stadler, Inc. 1 Westchester Drive Milford, New Hampshire 03055-3056 Re:
K974237 GSI 70 AudioPath TM Hearing Screener Dated: November 7, 1997 Received: November 12, 1997 Regulatory class: II Procode: 77 EWO, 21 CFR 874.1050 77 ETY, 21 CFR 874.1090
Dear Mr. Schultz:
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 to devices marketed in interstate commerce prior to May 28, 1976, the ensement 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 III (Premarket Approval), it may be subject to such additional controls. Existing major regulations affecting your device can be found in the Code of Portugions, Title 21, Parts 800 to 895. A substantially equivalent determination assumes compliance with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirement, as set forth in the Onality System Regulation (OS) for Medical Devices: General regulation (21/CFR Part 820) and that, through periodic OS inspections, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will verify such assumply 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 not affect any obligation you might have under sections 531 through 542 of the Act for devices under 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 marked 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 80) and additionally 809.10 for in vity diagnostic devices), please contact the Office of Compliance at (301) 594-4613. Additionally, for question 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 premailed 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.
Lillian Yin, Ph.D.
Director, Division of Reproductive, Abdominal, Ear, Nose and Throat, and Radiological Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
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510(k) Number (if known): イタフ 4 237
Device Name: GSI 70 AudioPath™ Hearing Screener
# Indications For Use:
The Grason-Stadler Inc. model GSI 70 AudioPath™ Hearing Screener is similar to and predicated upon the Grason-Stadler Inc. model GSI 60 Otoacoustic Emissions/Screening Audiometer, the GSI 37 Auto Tymp Middle Ear Analyzer, and the GSI 17 Pure Tone Screening Audiometer. The purpose of this device is to detect as well as track hearing loss and abnormal middle ear conditions in all ages of patients (from premature infants through adults). The instrument has combined a battery of testing capabilities such as Otoacoustic Emission Screening, Tympanometry, and Pure Tone Audiometry within one hand held instrument. The device is intended to be used by trained personnel within a medical or school environment. This device is not intended for use in prescribing or fitting assistive listening devices such as hearing aids, cochlear implants or wireless microphones, or to diagnose the causes of detected hearing losses.
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE-CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED)
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
David L. Simpson
(Division Sign-Off) Division of Reproductive, Abdominal, ENT, and Radiological Devices 510(k) Number
Prescription Use
OR
Over-The-Counter Use__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Optional Format 1-2-96)
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.