K983068 · STERIS Corporation · LDS · May 31, 2000 · General Hospital
Device Facts
Record ID
K983068
Device Name
RELIANCE FAMILY OF WASHER-DISINFECTORS
Applicant
STERIS Corporation
Product Code
LDS · General Hospital
Decision Date
May 31, 2000
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 880.6991
Device Class
Class 2
Indications for Use
The Amsco Reliance Family of Washer/Disinfectors are indicated for use in the cleaning and low-level disinfection of soiled reusable utensils, trays, glassware, bedpans and urinals, rubber and plastic goods, simple hard-surfaced rigid surgical instruments such as forceps and clamps, and other similar and related articles found in healthcare facilities.
Device Story
Amsco Reliance Washer/Disinfectors are computer-controlled mechanical systems for decontaminating reusable medical items. Items are placed in a stainless steel chamber; pressurized fluids are delivered via a pump-driven circulation system. The device uses pre-programmed cycles—including pre-wash, enzymatic soak, detergent wash, sonic cleaning, hot water rinse, thermal disinfection, and optional lubrication/drying—to remove soil and disinfect loads. Configurations include steam or electrical heating. Accessories include loading racks and transfer carts; some models feature barcode-reading conveyor systems for automated cycle initiation. Operated by healthcare facility personnel, the device provides automated cleaning and thermal disinfection, reducing manual handling of contaminated items and ensuring items are safe for further processing or sterilization.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Studies included simulated-use type-tests assessing cleaning efficacy, residue removal, and thermal disinfection. Cleaning efficacy verified via side-by-side testing with predicate using blood-soil challenge. Residue testing measured ionic/non-ionic detergent and enzymatic levels against acceptance criteria. Thermal disinfection validated via challenge testing with microorganisms, achieving >8 log reduction. Equipment decontamination validated via 3-week biofilm growth study. Lubrication testing confirmed no interference with subsequent sterilization.
Technological Characteristics
Stainless steel construction; pump-driven fluid circulation with rotating spray arms; steam or electrical heating; microprocessor-based cycle control. Connectivity includes barcode reading for cycle automation. Sterilization method: thermal disinfection (hot water).
Indications for Use
Indicated for cleaning and low-level disinfection of soiled reusable medical items including utensils, trays, glassware, bedpans, urinals, rubber/plastic goods, and simple hard-surfaced rigid surgical instruments (e.g., forceps, clamps) in healthcare facilities.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A medical washer is a device that is intended for general medical purposes to clean and dry surgical instruments, anesthesia equipment, hollowware, and other medical devices.
Special Controls
*Classification.* Class II (special controls). The special control for this device is the FDA guidance document entitled “Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: Medical Washers and Medical Washer-Disinfectors.” The device is exempt from the premarket notification procedures in subpart E of part 807 of this chapter subject to § 880.9.
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## MAY 3 1 2000
#### XG83068 510(k) SUMMARY
This pre-market notification was submitted by the following individual:
Raymond Ursick. Vice-President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Systems STERIS Corporation 5960 Heisley Road Mentor, Ohio 44060 Tel: 440-354-2600
This 510(k) summary was prepared on May 12, 2000.
| Device identification | |
|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Trade name | Amsco® Reliance® Family of Washer/Disinfectors |
| Common name | Washer/Disinfector |
| Classification | II (As recommended by classification panel) |
| Predicate devices | |
|-------------------|-------------------------------|
| Name | Model 7550 Washer/Disinfector |
| | T-21 Decontaminating Machine |
| Manufacturer | MDT/Castle |
| | HAMO, USA, Inc. |
| Classification | NOT CLASSIFIED |
| | NOT CLASSIFIED |
| 510(k) number | K911087 |
| | K911120 |
#### DEVICE DESCRIPTION
The Amsco Reliance Family of Washer/Disinfectors are mechanical, computercontrolled Washer/Disinfectors. They are designed with pre-programmed cycles intended specifically for surgical instruments, delicate instrumentation (gentle cycle), utensils, glassware, plastic goods, anesthesia/respiratory goods and equipment decontamination. Additional cycles are available for customized programming to meet specific operating requirements.
Essentially, the Amsco Reliance Family of Washer/Disinfectors operate as follows: the load items are placed in the chamber where they are exposed to pressurized fluids delivered through a circulation system driven by a pump and controlled by a programmable computer. Injection pumps allow the automatic delivery of the selected
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chemicals in the sump water. Available configurations include steam or electrical heating of the sump water; and the drying option (electrically heated on some models. steam heated on others). The cabinet, chamber, and circulation system (including the pump) are primarily constructed of stainless steel.
The available cycle phases can be summarized as follows:
- 1. cold tap water pre-wash for the removal of gross soil;
- soaking in an enzymatic solution to break down proteinaceous materials; 2.
- 3. detergent wash to complete the soil removal:
- sonic cleaning to remove fine debris in crevices: র্ব
- ട്. hot tap water rinse to remove detergent and soil residues:
- thermal rinse to disinfect the load items; റ.
- 7. pure water rinse and instrument lubrication:
- 8. drvina.
Note: Phases 2 and 4 are not offered on all models. Phases 2, 4, 7 and 8 are optional features.
The available accessories include a variety of single and multi-level loading racks, and transfer carts. Some models offer conveyor systems used to automate the loading of racks into the chamber, to initiate the proper cycle by reading a bar code tag located on the loading rack, and to provide queuing capacity.
### INTENDED USE
The Amsco Reliance Family of Washer/Disinfectors are indicated for use in the cleaning and low-level disinfection of soiled reusable utensils, trays, glassware, bedpans and urinals, rubber and plastic goods, simple hard-surfaced rigid surgical instruments such as forceps and clamps, and other similar and related articles found in healthcare facilities.
### SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCE - TECHNOLOGICAL COMPARISON
In most respects, including intended use, operating principle, energy sources, construction materials and control technology, the Amsco Reliance Family of Washer/Disinfectors are quite similar to both predicate devices. All use impingement and chemical means to remove soil, contaminants and residues from used medical devices and provide hot water thermal disinfection, in order to render them safe for handling and further processing by healthcare facility personnel. The devices are constructed primarily of stainless steel with rotating spray arms in a closed chamber. Hot water and detergents are circulated in varying cycles, in order to wash and disinfect a variety of medical devices approved for reuse. Microprocessors are used to provide cycle control.
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There is a notable difference in the cycle parameters structure, which is attibutable to There is a notable difference in the cycle paramoced screenshish the fact of accomplish the
the fact that the MDT/Castle predicate device uses the wash phase to accomplish th the fact that the MDT/Castle predicate Election Framily of Washer/
thermal disinfection whereas the HAMO and Alliance Family of Washer/ thermal disimection whereas the fixhe and Antionally, the MDT/Castle device has a Disinfectors uses the themial hise phase. A longer thermal disinfection phase time.
high-level disinfection claim which requires a formal disinfection also in the restricted high-level disintection claim which requires a leinfection claim is restricted to The Amsco Reliance Family of Wasileiner that this level is suitable for contact low-level disinfection, based on the understanding that the lover is one.
with intact skin, and therefore compatible with the safe handling of processed items by healthcare facility staff.
# PERFORMANCE TESTS - TEST SCHEME DESCRIPTION
In order to demonstrate the actual performance levels achieved by the Amsco Reliance In order to demonstrate the actual penomismes to simulated-use type-tests have been Family of Washer/Disimectors, a sches of of the cleaning, rinsing of residues and conducted. These included assessment of the clouns of the areas of the (thermal) disintection encles, in ropresentially be colonized by heterotrophic machine and accessones that occated potentially challenge test to prove that the microorganisms have been submitted to a whiles are effective to prevent any recommended equipment decomamination processor inmersion the twas conducted to bacterial growin inside the unit. I Thany, a instrument lubricant on hinged surgical demonstrate that the practice of applying interfere with subsequent sterilization.
### TEST RESULTS - CLEANING
Side-by-side testing was performed with the HAMO device to verify the Amsco Reliance Side-by-side testing was penomiculum to clean a representative load. The test method Family of viasneriDisiniector's ability to clour a representative soil, and performing a consisted of covering test nems with blood of the presence of visible residual visual inspection of hems and probecaing to colling of Washer/Disinfectors provided soll. It was shown that the Amoso Rollance Parison and when used as directed.
### TEST RESULTS - RESIDUES
Testing was performed to establish the efficacy of the rinse phases to remove detergent Testing was performed to establish the emsels known to be non-toxic to patients and and enzymatic residues on load terns to technologictivity increase of test solution
users. The test method consisted of measuring the conductivity increase of test solution users. The test method consisted on measuring the son test tems to determine the caused by the elution of lonic detergent roomatic residue levels were measured by quantitles of residues. The non-lonic enzymatic roclase 10 relieve the following table shows
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# K98.3068
| Chemical | Items | Acceptance Criteria (mg/item) | Results (mg/item)1 |
|--------------------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------|
| STERIS Liqui Jet | Surgical Instruments | 0.79 | 0.023 |
| | Micro Surgery Instruments | 0.79 | 0.069 |
| | Suction Tips | 6.34 | 0.08 |
| | Respiratory Equipment | 12.66 | 4.1 |
| Enzy Care II<br>(detergent fraction) | Surgical Instruments | 4.8 | 0.11 |
| | Micro Surgery Instruments | 4.8 | 0.4 |
| | Suction Tips | 9.5 | 0.31 |
| Enzy Care II<br>(enzyme fraction) | Surgical Instruments | 14.5 | <0.8 |
| | Micro Surgery Instruments | 14.5 | <3.9 |
| | Suction Tips | 29 | <3.7 |
| Descaler | Surgical Instruments | 2.9 | 0.016 |
| | Micro Surgery Instruments | 2.9 | 0.016 |
| | Suction Tips | 5.8 | 0.016 |
| | Respiratory Equipment | 46.4 | 0.016 |
| NpH-Klenz® | Rigid MIS Instruments | 2.8 | 0.262 |
| Klenzyme®<br>(detergent Fraction) | Rigid MIS Instruments | 7.7 | 0.632 |
| Klenzyme®<br>(enzyme fraction) | Rigid MIS Instruments | 15.5 | <0.272 |
#### the acceptance criteria and results for each item family and chemical tested.
Note 1: Test results as obtained with the Amsco Reliance 444 Single-Chamber Washer/Disinfector, and are considered as representative of the results obtained for the Family of Washer/Disinfectors. Note 2: The MIS rack only applies to the Amsco Reliance 444 Single-Chamber Washer/Disinfector.
## TEST RESULTS - THERMAL LOW-LEVEL DISINFECTION
Challenge testing was performed to verify the ability of the Amsco Reliance Family of Washer/Disinfectors to achieve low-level disinfection of commonly processed items. The test method consisted of placing vials containing known concentrations of microorganisms in the coldest areas of the chamber and measuring logarithmic reductions after processing through the thermal rinse treatment.
A sample test conducted with the MIS rack on the Amsco Reliance 444 Single-Chamber Washer/Disinfector, using microorganisms recognized as suitable to test lowlevel disinfection, demonstrated that greater than 8 logarithmic reductions of the test organisms was achieved.
#### TEST RESULTS - EQUIPMENT DECONTAMINATION
Testing was performed to validate that the equipment decontamination procedures in the device labeling are effective to prevent the formation of biofilm or growth of heterotrophic microorganisms in critical areas of the device.
The test method consisted of operating the Washer/Disinfector with various loading racks for 3 consecutive weeks and, on a weekly basis, swabbing the surfaces of critical areas of the machine and loading racks, and culturing to detect the presence of biofilm
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KG83068
formation.
The test reports conclude that in its current design, the Washer/Disinfector and its accessories, when submitted to the recommended decontamination procedure, are not likely to develop biofilm on identified critical areas.
### TEST RESULTS - INSTRUMENT LUBRICATION
Testing was performed to verify that the process of lubricating an item prior to terminal processing did not affect the item's ability to be sterilized.
The test method consisted of inoculating hinged instruments with bacterial spores, dipping them into full strength instrument lubricant before sterilization and testing them for sterility.
The test report shows that no growth could be detected on any of the lubricated as well as unlubricated instruments, demonstrating that the practice of lubricating instruments in the Washer/Disinfector at any concentration will not impede the ability to sterilize them subsequently.
#### CONCLUSIONS
Whereas, the test conditions were designed to be representative conditions within the intended use of the Washer/Disinfector;
Whereas, these tests have been conducted in keeping with applicable quality systems requlations (Good Laboratory Practice, 21CFR §58), whether conducted in STERIS facilities or subcontracted;
Whereas, per STERIS Corporation's intent, the above mentioned test conditions were designed to be adequate, complete and challenging to all aspects relating to the performance, safety and effectiveness of the device for its intended use;
STERIS Corporation considers the Amsco Reliance Family of Washer/Disinfectors to be safe, effective, and is substantially equivalent to the predicate devices.
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Image /page/5/Picture/2 description: The image shows the seal of the Department of Health & Human Services - USA. The seal is circular and contains the words "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES - USA" around the perimeter. In the center of the seal is an emblem that appears to be an abstract representation of an eagle or bird-like figure. The emblem is composed of three curved lines that form the shape of the bird's head and body.
### MAY 3 1 2000
Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
Mr. Raymond Ursick Vice-President, Requlatory Affairs and Quality Systems STERIS Corporation 5960 Heisley Road Mentor, Ohio 44060
Re : K983068 Trade Name: Amsco® Reliance Family of Washer-Disinfectors Regulatory Class: Unclassified Product Code: LDS Dated: March 20, 2000 Received: March 21, 2000
Dear Mr. Ursick:
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 The general controls provisions of the Act of the Act. include requirements for annual reqistration, listing of devices, qood manufacturing practice, labelinq, 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. ਬੇ 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 requlation may result in requlatory 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. Ursick
This letter will allow you to begin marketing your device as Inis lecter will arrow your market notification. The FDA described in four tial equivalence of your device to a legally Finding of subscancial equires. In a classification for your marketed predicate actro your device to proceed to the market.
If you desire specific advice for your device on our labeling II you debire bpoorle and additionally 809.10 for in regulacion (ir devices), please contact the Office of Villy diagnobere at (301) 594-4692. Additionally, for questions on Compilance at (301) 534 4022. Indias 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 premation on your responsibilities under the Act may be Information on your responsible suall Manufacturers Assistance obtained from cho bring (800) 638-2041 or (301) 443-6597 or at at feb corr rreo hamber to://www.fda.gov/cdrh/dsmamain.html".
Sincerely yours,
Susan Burn
Timothy A. Ulatowski Director Division of Dental, Infection Control, and General Hospital Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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### K983068 STERIS Amsco Reliance Family of Washer / Disinfectors
### INDICATIONS FOR USE STATEMENT
### DEVICE NAME: STERIS Amsco Reliance Family of Washer / Disinfectors
#### INDICATIONS FOR USE:
The STERIS Amsco Reliance Family of Washer / Disinfectors are indicated for use in the cleaning and low-level disinfection of soiled reusable utensils, trays, glassware, bedpans and urinals, rubber and plastic goods, simple hard-surfaced rigid instruments such as forceps and clamp, and other similar and related articles found in healthcare facilities.
(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) OR
Over-The-Counter Use (Optional Format 1-2-96)
Qun S. Lin
(Division Sign-Off) Division of Dental, Infection Control and General Hospital Devices 510(k) Number
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.