AUTOMATIC VACUUM SWITCH (AVS) MODEL NUMBER AVS 5000
K981754 · Porter Instrument Co., Inc. · CBN · Jun 16, 1998 · Anesthesiology
Device Facts
Record ID
K981754
Device Name
AUTOMATIC VACUUM SWITCH (AVS) MODEL NUMBER AVS 5000
Applicant
Porter Instrument Co., Inc.
Product Code
CBN · Anesthesiology
Decision Date
Jun 16, 1998
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Special
Regulation
21 CFR 868.5430
Device Class
Class 2
Indications for Use
For control of vacuum flow in a gas scavenging apparatus, used as an accessory in Porter Instrument Company's Nitrous Oxide Sedation Systems with Dental Analgesia Gas Machines (flowmeters).
Device Story
The Automatic Vacuum Switch (AVS) is an accessory for dental nitrous oxide sedation systems. It functions as an interlock mechanism to ensure that analgesic gas flow is only enabled when the vacuum-based gas scavenging system is active. The device monitors the status of the scavenging system and controls the vacuum flow accordingly. It is intended for use in dental clinical settings by dental professionals. By preventing gas delivery without active scavenging, the device reduces the risk of occupational exposure to waste anesthetic gases, thereby enhancing safety for the dental staff.
Clinical Evidence
No clinical data. Evidence consists of bench testing, including functional testing, visual inspection, backpressure testing, delivery and vacuum flow testing, internal and external leak testing, and simulated use testing. A detailed risk assessment, including Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Hazard Analysis, was performed.
Technological Characteristics
The AVS is a mechanical/pneumatic interlock switch designed for integration with dental gas flowmeters. It operates as a vacuum-controlled valve to regulate gas scavenging flow. The device is subject to internal manufacturing procedures and quality control standards (QSP 5-1). It is a non-electronic, accessory-level component.
Indications for Use
Indicated for use as an accessory to dental nitrous oxide sedation systems to control vacuum flow in gas scavenging apparatuses, ensuring analgesic gases cannot be activated unless the scavenging system is operational.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A gas-scavenging apparatus is a device intended to collect excess anesthetic, analgesic, or trace gases or vapors from a patient's breathing system, ventilator, or extracorporeal pump-oxygenator, and to conduct these gases out of the area by means of an exhaust system.
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## JUN 16 1998
## 510(k) Summary of Safety and Effectiveness In accordance with SMDA '90
May 15, 1998
Porter Instrument Co., Inc 245 Township Line Road PO Box 907 Hatfield PA 19440-0907
Stephen D. Loeffler, Manager of Engineering and Quality Contact: Telephone: 215-723-4000 Automatic Vacuum Switch, dental Common/Usual Product Name:
Porter Instrument Company, Inc., Trade/Proprietary Name: Automatic Vacuum Switch (AVS)
Classification Name:
Anesthesiology Non-classified* Accessory to § 868.5430 Gas scavenging apparatus. Class 2
Substantial Equivalence1 to:
| 510(k) # | Name | Applicant |
|----------|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
| K761140 | Double Mask | Fraser Sweatman |
| K802067 | Clean Air Pollution Reduction System | Porter Instrument Co., Inc. |
Device Description:
In accordance with section 510(k) for the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Porter Instrument Company, Inc. intends to introduce into interstate commerce the Automatic Vacuum Switch (AVS) device. The automatic interlock switch (AVS) is a device intended to assure that analgesic gases cannot be turned on unless an activated scavenging system is present.
Porter Instrument Company, Inc. 510(k) for the Automatic Vacuum Switch
Porter Instrument Company, Inc. - 510(k) Submission for the Automatic
Attachment # 11.01
<sup>1</sup> The term "substantially equivalent" as use herein is intended to be a determination of substantial equivalence from an FDA -regulatory point of view under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and relates to the fact that the product can be marketed without premarket approval or reclassification. These products may be considered distinct from a patient point of view. The term "substantially equivalent" is not applicable to and does not diminish any patient claims related to this product or the technology used to manufacture the product.
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#### Intended Use
For control of vacuum flow in a gas scavenging apparatus, used as an accessory in Porter Instrument Company's Nitrous Oxide Sedation Systems with Dental Analgesia Gas Machines (flowmeters).
### Substantial Equivalence
The Automatic Vacuum Switch (AVS) is substantially equivalent, in comparison to the legally marketed device, because it:
- . has the same intended use as the predicate device; and
- has different technological characteristics, and
- the information submitted to FDA; .
- does not raise new questions of safety and effectiveness, and ・
- demonstrates that the Automatic Vacuum Switch (AVS) is as safe and as effective as the legally marketed device
Different technological characteristics include, but are not limited to, changes in materials, design, energy sources, and principles of operation.
Porter Instrument Company's claim of substantial equivalence does not mean the compared devices are identical but that the substantial equivalence is established with respect to: intended use, design, energy used or delivered, materials, performance, safety, effectiveness, labeling, biocompatibility, standards, and other applicable characteristics.
#### Safety and Effectiveness
1. 3
All finished products are function tested and must meet all required specifications before release to distribution. A range of tests is required for release, which include, but are not limited to; a functional test and a visual inspection (both in process and finished product).
The function test and the visual inspection are defined in both Porter's manufacturing procedure and inspection procedure. These documents are established test procedures, which conform to the product design specifications.
All procedures and records for this product are approved, released, distributed and revised according to Porter Instrument Company's Document & Data Control procedure QSP 5-1.
Qualification of the Automatic Vacuum Switch (AVS) included a detailed risk assessment, which attended to a Failure Mode Effects Analysis and a Hazard Analysis. Additional testing covered: backpressure, delivery and vacuum flow, internal and external leak testing, complete system testing and simulated use testing.
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Image /page/2/Picture/1 description: The image shows the logo for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The logo features a stylized image of an eagle with three lines representing its wings. The text "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES - USA" is arranged around the eagle in a circular fashion.
Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
JUN 16 1998
Mr. Stephen D. Loeffler Porter Instrument Company, Inc. 245 Township Line Road P.O. Box 907 Hatfield, PA 19440-0907
K981754 Re: Trade Name: Automatic Vacuum Switch (AVS) Regulatory Class: Unclassified Product Code: 73 CBN May 15, 1998 Dated: Received: May 18, 1998
Dear Mr. Loeffler:
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 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.
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Page 2 - Mr. Stephen D. Loeffler
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. Callalon
Thomas J. Callahan, Ph.D. Director Division of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, and Neurological Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
11
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# Statement of Indications for Use
The intended use of the AVS accessory is to control the vacuum flow in a gas scavenging apparatus.
Special 510(k) statement: The intended use of the modified device, as described in our labeling, has not changed as a result of the modifications.
Wolf Sepulveda MD
(Division Sign-Off)
Division of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, and Neurological Devices 510(k) Number_ E
Page 7 of 61 Porter Instrument Company, Inc. - 510(k) Submission for the Automatic Vacuum Switch
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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.