K983360 · Pacific Materials and Interfaces · JEY · Mar 19, 1999 · Dental
Device Facts
Record ID
K983360
Device Name
MACROPORE PROTECTIVE SHEET
Applicant
Pacific Materials and Interfaces
Product Code
JEY · Dental
Decision Date
Mar 19, 1999
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 872.4760
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Therapeutic
Indications for Use
MacroPore Protective Sheet is intended for use in trauma and reconstructive procedures in the oral cavity in conjunction with rigid internal fixation. The following specific indications are included: 1. to maintain the position of bony fragments in bone graft procedures of the mandible or maxilla, 2. for regeneration of bone tissue of the mandible or maxilla. The system is not intended for full load bearing procedures unless supplemental fixation intended for such procedures is used. In addition to its function of providing fixation of non-load bearing areas, MPS serves as a protective sheathing to prevent soft tissue prolapse into defects that remain, or to prevent dislocation of autograft, allograft and/or bone graft substitutes that may be necessary in the reconstructive procedures. The macroporosity of the system permits mesenchymal stem cells from surrounding tissues to populate the defect and allows the ingrowth of blood vessels. This, combined with the inherent strength of MPS, facilitates osteogenesis by allowing the natural healing processes of the body to proceed in a protected environment without interference due to undesired interposition of soft tissue.
Device Story
MacroPore Protective Sheet (MPS) is an absorbable, macroporous implant made of poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) 70:30. Used in oral cavity trauma and reconstructive surgery, the sheet acts as a protective barrier to prevent soft tissue prolapse into bone defects and to contain bone graft materials. The device is thermoplastic; surgeons heat it to 55°C to conform it to anatomical structures. It is used in conjunction with rigid internal fixation (plates/screws) for non-load or low-load bearing defects. The macroporous design allows mesenchymal stem cell migration and vascular ingrowth to facilitate osteogenesis. The device is provided in various sheet sizes and thicknesses (250-1000 microns). It is intended to be metabolized by the body over 12-36 months, eliminating the need for surgical removal required by permanent titanium meshes.
Clinical Evidence
No clinical data provided. Evidence consists of bench testing (degradation rates, mechanical stiffness, thermal shaping effects) and animal studies (canine radius segmental defect model) demonstrating bone regeneration and graft containment.
Indicated for patients undergoing trauma, reconstructive, or bone augmentation procedures of the mandible or maxilla requiring maintenance of bony fragment position or bone tissue regeneration. Not for full load-bearing procedures without supplemental fixation.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A bone plate is a metal device intended to stabilize fractured bone structures in the oral cavity. The bone segments are attached to the plate with screws to prevent movement of the segments.
Titanium Ridge Augmentation Material (TRAM) (K963394)
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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510(k) Summarv
K983360
## ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
| Manufacturer Name: | MacroPore, Inc.<br>6740 Top Gun Street<br>San Diego, CA 92121 |
|----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Official Contact: | Christopher J. Calhoun<br>Telephone (619) 458-0900<br>Fax (619) 458-0994 |
| Representative/Consultant: | Floyd G. Larson<br>Pacific Materials and Interfaces |
4329 Graydon Road San Diego, CA 92130 Telephone (619) 792-1235 FAX (619) 792-1236
### DEVICE NAME
| Classification Name: | Plate, bone |
|-------------------------|----------------------------|
| Trade/Proprietary Name: | MacroPore Protective Sheet |
| Common Name: | Bone Plate |
### ESTABLISHMENT REGISTRATION NUMBER
MacroPore, Inc. has not yet obtained an Establishment Registration Number.
### DEVICE CLASSIFICATION AND PRODUCT CODE
As shown in 21 CFR 872.4760, bone plates intended for the oral cavity are classified as Class II. They have been assigned Product Code 76 JEY.
#### CONFORMANCE WITH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
No performance standards have been established under Section 514. Voluntary standards with which the MacroPore Protective Sheet (MPS) complies include American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI)/ISO 11137-1994; Sterilization of Health Care Products - Requirements for Validation and Routine Control - Radiation Sterilization.
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#### PACKAGING/LABELING/PRODUCT INFORMATION
MacroPore Protective Sheet and accompanying tacks and screws will be packaged in a heatsealed aluminum pouch (for moisture protection), which will be packaged in an outer heatsealed Tyvek pouch. Sterilization will be accomplished by electron beam irradiation. The sterility assurance level (SAL) that MacroPore intends to meet for the MacroPore Protective Sheet is 106. The device is not represented to be "pyrogen free."
#### INTENDED USE
MacroPore Protective Sheet is intended for use in trauma and reconstructive procedures in the oral cavity in conjunction with rigid internal fixation. The following specific indications are included:
- 1. to maintain the position of bony fragments in bone graft procedures of the mandible or maxilla,
- 2. for regeneration of bone tissue of the mandible or maxilla.
The system is not intended for full load bearing procedures unless supplemental fixation intended for such procedures is used.
In addition to its function of providing fixation of non-load bearing areas, MPS serves as a protective sheathing to prevent soft tissue prolapse into defects that remain, or to prevent dislocation of autograft, allograft and/or bone graft substitutes that may be necessary in the reconstructive procedures. The macroporosity of the system permits mesenchymal stem cells from surrounding tissues to populate the defect and allows the ingrowth of blood vessels. This, combined with the inherent strength of MPS, facilitates osteogenesis by allowing the natural healing processes of the body to proceed in a protected environment without interference due to undesired interposition of soft tissue.
### DEVICE DESCRIPTION
#### Design Characteristics
MacroPore Protective Sheet is an absorbable, macroporous implant in sheet form manufactured from polylactic acid (PLA). The purpose of the sheet is to provide fixation and to protect non-load and low-load bearing bone defects in the oral cavity from soft tissue interposition from adjacent soft and connective tissues (e.g. musculature) but allow, due to its porosity, for the proliferation of blood vessels and the migration of bone forming cells from such soft tissues into the bone defect. This facilitates bone regeneration.
MPS can be cut with scissors, is thermoplastic when heated to 55C (for example, by the use of sterile hot water) and thus can be conformed three dimensionally to any bone defect. It can be rolled into a tube or used as a flat sheet. It can be used either alone or in conjunction with internal bone fixation devices such as plates and screws, which also can serve to fixate the
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MPS and prevent dislocation. In the mandible or in any load bearing region, rigid internal fixation is essential. The system includes a selection of resorbable screws and tacks and associated manual instruments.
MPS is provided in sheets of 20 x 20 mm to 120 x 120 mm and will be provided in other sizes as needed for particular surgical procedures. Its thickness ranges from 250 microns to 1000 microns according to the defect to be treated.
#### Material Composition
MPS is fabricated from poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) 70:30.
In Vitro Testing
Accelerated degradation testing showed that the degradation rate of the subject device is very similar to that of the Polypin, which is made of the same material. While the comparison with Lactosorb was limited by the poor ability of the Lactosorb tensile specimens to survive exposure and the handling necessary to flatten them for testing, it appears that the rate of mechanical property degradation of the subject device is significantly lower than that of Lactosorb samples of similar configuration.
Because MPS is intended to be heated in the surgical suite to above the glass transition temperature to facilitate shaping to anatomic structures, testing was performed to determine the effect of prolonged heating in saline at 60C on inherent viscosity. Testing showed that viscosity stayed within an appropriate range even after 120 minutes exposure. Therefore, the relatively brief exposure anticipated during the surgical preparation of MPS is not expected to have a significant effect on its mechanical properties.
To determine the resistance of MPS to deformation under the pressure of soft tissue and muscle, a laboratory test was performed. A cylinder was formed from the material and the force necessary to deform it was determined using a standard indenter. MPS was compared with comercially available Micro Titanium Augmentation Mesh (M-TAM) and reinforced Prolastic Sheeting (a silicone material used for bone regeneration in the craniofacial skeleton, particularly in the orbital floor). The results demonstrate that the stiffness of MPS in this configuration is over nine times that of M-TAM and over two hundred times that of Prolastic Sheeting.
MacroPore has submitted data to FDA on related devices intended for use in craniofacial fixation under K972913. The device, termed MacroPore Protective Sheet or Protego™ System, was determined for this indication to be Substantially Equivalent to legally marketed devices. Significant portions of the data presented in the submission were developed for the craniofacial fixation indication, but are also relevant to the oral cavity indications. In particular, data on mechanical properties of Protego FX plates and screws show that the material has significant strength in tension and bending, and that screws have shear and pullout strength that make them appropriate for supplemental fixation in the configurations that are the subject of this submission. Primary fixation is not an intended use for the device as submitted herein.
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#### In Vivo Testing
The concept of protecting bone defects from soft tissue interposition to facilitate bone regeneration was demonstrated in a landmark study by Lemperle, Calhoun, Curran and Holmes. This study used macroporous titanium sheet to bridge 30 mm (critical size) segmental defects in the edentulated canine mandible and 15 mm x 20 mm full thickness window defects in the parietal bones. New bone formation in the mandibular defects united the cut ends at four months regardless of whether the defects were empty, were implanted with coralline hydroxyapatite blocks or were filled with iliac cancellous bone. This remarkable finding led to the concept of replacing the macroporous titanium sheet with a macroporous bioresorbable polymer to protect bone defects from soft tissue prolapse, contain graft material and facilitate bone regeneration.
An animal study that extends the findings of the Lemperle, et. al., study to the use of resorbable polymers was performed using a 30 mm (critical size) segmental defect in the canine radius. Results confirm the findings of the Lemperle, et. al., study and support the use of MPS for containment of graft material and for regeneration of bone in defects that would not be expected to heal without protection from soft tissue prolapse.
### EQUIVALENCE TO MARKETED PRODUCT
MacroPore submits the following information to demonstrate that MacroPore Protective Sheet shares indications and design principles with the following predicate devices, which have been determined by FDA to be substantially equivalent to pre-amendment devices: Micro Titanium Augmentation Mesh (M-TAMTM) (K862532) from Leibinger, Lactosorb Panels and Fasteners (K980927) from Biomet and Titanium Ridge Augmentation Material (TRAM) (K963394) from Osteomed.
#### Intended Use
The intended uses of MacroPore Protective Sheet (MPS) are not new in that they are the same as or are included in those for the predicate device. MPS is intended for use in the oral cavity for fracture fixation and fixation in surgical reconstruction. It also serves as a sheathing to protect skeletal defects from soft tissue prolapse or to stabilize bone grafts, permitting the natural bone healing processes of the body to take place without interference from interposed soft tissue. Specific uses are:
to maintain the position of bony fragments in bone graft procedures of the mandible or maxilla,
for regeneration of bone tissue of the mandible or maxilla.
<sup>1</sup> Lemperle SM, Calhoun CJ, Curran RW, Holmes RE. Bony healing of large cranial and mandibular defects protected from soft-tissue interpositive study of spontaneous bone regeneration, osteoconduction and cancellous autografiing in dogs. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 1998 March; 101(3): 660-72
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The system is not intended for full load bearing procedures unless supplemental fixation intended for such procedures is used.
The predicate devices share intended uses with MPS as follows: LactoSorb Panels and Fasteners are used to maintain the position of bony fragments in mandibular graft procedures and are used in conjunction with rigid internal fixation. M-TAM and TRAM are used for fixation as well as for reconstruction of bone defects and containment of grafting material.
#### Design and Materials
The design and functional characteristics of MacroPore Protective Sheet and the predicate devices are similar. The LactoSorb Panels and Fasteners are made from a copolymer of polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid and have low crystallinity. The composition and processing of LactoSorb devices are selected to permit 70% of its strength to be maintained in vivo for 6-8 weeks (sufficient time to facilitate fracture fixation), yet to degrade and be cleared from the body within 9 to 15 months. MPS is made from a more stable polymer than LactoSorb Panels and Fasteners. Mechanical stability of MPS is unchanged for nine months, and complete resorption occurs in 12 to 36 months. Both MPS and LactoSorb Panels and Fasteners are essentially amorphous, in contrast with polymers that have significant crystalline regions in an amorphous matrix. Mixed crystallinity polymers, such as PLLA, have been shown to cause late inflammatory reactions, believed to microscopic undegraded crystalline regions.
The physical designs of MPS and all of the predicate devices (Lactosorb and the titanium mesh devices) are similar, consisting of a thin sheet with macroporosity. The sheet serves to prevent the prolapse of soft tissue and to stabilize grafting material. The perforations permit the exchange of fluids and permit cells to migrate through the sheet, allowing the defect to be populated by mesenchymal stem cells. Furthermore, the macroporosity allows for the proliferation of blood vessels from the adjacent soft tissue into the bone defect. Claims made for M-TAM and TRAM include stability (based on materials and design), with sufficient strength against chewing and soft tissue pressure and sufficient rigidity to stabilize autogenous bone grafts. The titanium devices differ from MPS and the Lactosorb device in that they may be left in place permanently or must be removed surgically, whereas the polymer devices are intended to be metabolized by the body and do not require removal.
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# 510(k) Notification
# MacroPore Protective Sheet
# SUMMARY: TABLE OF SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCE
| | Subject Device | Predicate Devices | | |
|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | MacroPore Protective Sheet | Micro Titanium Augmentation<br>Mesh (M-TAM™)<br>(K862532)<br>Leibinger | LactoSorb Panels and Fasteners<br>(K980927)<br>Biomet | Titanium Ridge Augmentation<br>Material (TRAMTM)<br>(K963394)<br>Osteomed |
| INTENDED<br>USE | For use in trauma and reconstructive<br>procedures in the oral cavity in<br>conjunction with rigid internal<br>fixation:<br>1. To maintain the position of bony<br>fragments in bone graft procedures<br>of the mandible or maxilla<br>2. For regeneration of bone tissue of<br>the mandible or maxilla<br>For use as a protective sheathing to<br>facilitate osteogenesis and to stabilize<br>bone grafts | For use in lower jaw<br>reconstruction to restore bony<br>continuity, for reconstruction of<br>the extremely atrophic maxillary<br>alveolar ridge, for semirigid<br>fixation of fractures and<br>osteotomies, for stabilization of<br>autogenous bone grafts | For use in trauma and<br>reconstructive procedures in the<br>oral cavity in conjunction with<br>rigid internal fixation, to<br>maintain the position of bony<br>fragments in mandibular bone | To build a stable protective<br>space, tent the periosteum and<br>protect a graft site in the<br>mandible or maxilla, while<br>providing enhanced vascularity |
| DESIGN | Sheets of 250 to 1000 microns<br>thickness, size 20 x 20 mm to 120 x<br>120 mm or as required | Sheets of 100 and 200 microns<br>thickness, size 60 x 60 mm and<br>120 x 120 mm | Sheets of 500 and 1000 microns<br>thickness, sizes 25 x 25 mm to<br>50 x 50 mm | Sheets of titanium with<br>macroporosity |
| MATERIAL | poly (L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) 70:30,<br>amorphous | Titanium | poly (L-lactide-co-glycolide)<br>82:18, low crystallinity | Titanium |
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Image /page/6/Picture/1 description: The image is a black and white seal for the Department of Health & Human Services - USA. The seal is circular with the text "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES - USA" arranged around the perimeter. Inside the circle is a stylized image of three overlapping lines that resemble an eagle or bird in flight.
Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
MAR 1 9 1999
Mr. Floyd G. Larson Pacific Materials and Interfaces 4329 Graydon Road San Diego, California 92130
K983360 Re : MacroPore Protective Sheet Trade Name: Requlatory Class: II Product Code: JEY Dated: February 15, 1999 February 22, 1999 Received:
Dear Mr. Larson
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, 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 requlations affecting your device can be found in the Code of Federal Requlations, 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 FDA regulation may result in regulatory action. In addition, 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
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Page 2 — Mr. Larson
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) 594-4692. 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.fdaggov/cdrh/dsmamain.html".
Sincerely yours,
Clatohuls
Ulatowski thy A. Timo 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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Device Name: MacroPore Protective Sheet
Indications for Use:
MacroPore Protective Sheet is intended to facilitate healing in trauma, reconstruction and bone augmentation procedures of the mandible. The following specific indications are included:
- to maintain the relative position of bony fragments in trauma and bone graft procedures, and .
- to contain and prevent migration and shifting of autograft, allograft and/or bone graft . substitutes that may be necessary in reconstructive procedures.
The system is not intended for full load bearing procedures unless supplemental fixation intended for such procedures is used.
#### (PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE - CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NECESSARY)
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Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
Susan Runge
Division Sign-off
Division of Dental, Infection Control and General Hospital Devices
510(k) Number K983360
Prescription Use ir
Over-The-Counter Use_
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.