K131932 · Resmed Germany, Inc. · MNR · Nov 8, 2013 · Anesthesiology
Device Facts
Record ID
K131932
Device Name
APNEALINK PRO
Applicant
Resmed Germany, Inc.
Product Code
MNR · Anesthesiology
Decision Date
Nov 8, 2013
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 868.2375
Device Class
Class 2
Indications for Use
The ApneaLink™ Pro device is indicated for use by Health Care Professionals (HCP), where it may aid in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing for adult patients. ApneaLink Pro records the following data: patient respiratory nasal airflow, snoring, blood oxygen saturation, pulse and respiratory effort during sleep. The device uses these recordings to produce a report for the HCP that may aid in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing or for further clinical investigation. The device is intended for home and hospital use under the direction of a HCP.
Device Story
ApneaLink Pro is a 4-channel, battery-powered ventilatory effort recorder for sleep-disordered breathing diagnosis. Inputs: nasal airflow (via cannula), pulse/oxygen saturation (via finger oximetry sensor), and respiratory effort (via chest belt). Device processes signals via internal microcontroller; stores data in EDF+ format on internal memory/SD card. Operated by patient at home or in hospital; physician reviews data via ApneaLink Software on PC to generate diagnostic reports. Features include LED indicators for sensor attachment and test completion. Replaces ApneaLink Plus; adds digital pressure transducer, USB 2.0 interface, and improved display. Benefits include automated data collection and analysis to assist clinicians in identifying respiratory disorders.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Side-by-side comparative testing against the predicate device (ApneaLink Plus) was performed to validate the detection of respiratory events, including pulse/saturation, apnea/hypopnea, snoring, Cheyne-Stokes breathing, and apnea classification (obstructive/mixed/central). Results confirmed that the ApneaLink Pro meets predetermined acceptance criteria and demonstrates substantial equivalence to the predicate.
Technological Characteristics
Battery-powered (AAA) 4-channel recorder. Sensors: nasal cannula, optical oximetry finger sensor, elastic chest effort belt. Digital pressure transducer with on-chip calibration. Connectivity: USB 2.0, SD card storage (EDF+ format). Software: embedded firmware for data acquisition; PC-based software for analysis and reporting. Complies with IEC 60601-1, IEC 60601-1-2, IEC 60601-1-11, and IEC 62304.
Indications for Use
Indicated for adult patients to aid in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing. Used by healthcare professionals in home or hospital settings.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A breathing (ventilatory) frequency monitor is a device intended to measure or monitor a patient's respiratory rate. The device may provide an audible or visible alarm when the respiratory rate, averaged over time, is outside operator settable alarm limits. This device does not include the apnea monitor classified in § 868.2377.
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## ApneaLink Pro Traditional 510(k) Premarket Notification (Response) RESMED 510(k) Summary 5 510(k) Summary 4" October 2013 Date prepared NOV 0 8 2013 Submitter Tobias Nagel Manager Regulatory Affairs Official Contact Jim Cassi Vice President - Quality Assurance Americas ResMed Corp. 9001 Spectrum Center Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92123 USA Tel: (858) 836 6081 Classification Reference 21 CFR 868.2375 Product Code MNR - Ventilatory Effort Recorder Common/Usual Name Ventilatory Effort Recorder Proprietary Name ApneaLink Pro Predicate Device ApneaLink Plus (K083575) Reason for submission New device
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#### Device Description
The ApneaLink Pro recorder is the successor model of the previously cleared ApneaLink Plus (KQ83575). The new development was required due to design changes and as various components of the ApneaLink Plus won't be available any longer.
The ApneaLink Pro recorder is a 4-channel battery-powered respiratory pressure sensor and oximetry system. ApneaLink Pro provides recordings of respiratory pressure, respiratory effort, pulse rate and oxygen saturation during sleep. The physician prescribed device will help to recognize sleep-related respiratory disorders. The patient may perform the recording at home by himself. The Apnealink Pro recorder and the respiratory effort sensor must be fastened with the re-usable belt on the patient's chest. All relevant respiratory information during sleep will be collected via nasal cannula, pulse oximetry module and respiratory effort sensor. The disposable plastic nasal cannula is connected to the ApneaLink Pro recorder and fixed at the patient's nose. The oximetry sensor is connected to the Xpod and fixed at the patient's finger. The Xpod is connected to the ApneaLink Pro recorder. The respiratory effort sensor is connected to the ApneaLink Pro recorder and held in place by the belt. LED's indicate if the sensors are attached correctly. A Test complete light advises at the end of a recording if sufficient data for analysis was recorded during the night. After recording, the ApneaLink Pro recorder must be returned to the physician. With the ApneaLink Software installed on a personal computer the physician can generate a report with the recorded and analyzed data to aid in diagnosis. The recordings and the report can be sent via email to further clinical investigation.
Note: The ApneaLink Pro is prepared to support actigraphy in future versions of the device. In the current version which is object of this submission the feature is not activated and can't be activated by the user.
#### Intended Use
The ApneaLink™ Pro device is indicated for use by Health Care Professionals (HCP), where it may aid in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing for aduit patients. ApneaLink Pro records the following data: patient respiratory nasal airflow, snoring, blood oxygen saturation, pulse and respiratory effort during sleep. The device uses these recordings to produce a report for the HCP that may aid in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing or for further clinical investigation. The device is intended for home and hospital use under the direction of a HCP.
#### Technology
The ApneaLink Pro is different from the predicate device ApneaLink Plus (K083575) with respect to:
- ﻨﺰ Display operation
- 0 More user friendly display (Test Complete Indicator LED; Sensor LEDs , Start/Stop LED)
- ア Microprocessor
- New microcontroller with technology regarding interfaces and USB 0 driver
- ど Communication between embedded software and PC application
- 0 Data is stored in EDF+ files instead of proprietary data format file. Additionally device serves as mass storage device
#### Substantial Equivalence
The table below provides an abbreviated summary of the primary relevant characteristics of ApneaLink Pro compared to the predicate device.
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RESMED
spneaLink Pro Traditional 510(k) Premarket Notification (Response)
| CHARACTERISTIC | PREDICATE<br>ApneaLink Plus<br>(K083575) | NEW DEVICE<br>ApneaLink Pro | COMMENTS<br>ApneaLink Plus vs. ApneaLink Pro |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Intended Use | The ApneaLink™ Plus device<br>is indicated for use by Health Care<br>Professionals (HCP), where it may<br>aid in the diagnosis of sleep<br>disordered breathing for adult<br>patients. ApneaLink Plus records<br>the following data: patient<br>respiratory nasal airflow, snoring,<br>blood oxygen saturation, pulse and<br>respiratory effort during sleep. The<br>device uses these recordings to<br>produce a report for the HCP that<br>may aid in the diagnosis of sleep<br>disordered breathing or for further<br>clinical investigation. | The ApneaLink™ Pro device<br>is indicated for use by Health Care<br>Professionals (HCP), where it may<br>aid in the diagnosis of sleep<br>disordered breathing for adult<br>patients. ApneaLink Pro records<br>the following data: patient<br>respiratory nasal airflow, snoring,<br>blood oxygen saturation, pulse and<br>respiratory effort during sleep. The<br>device uses these recordings to<br>produce a report for the HCP that<br>may aid in the diagnosis of sleep<br>disordered breathing or for further<br>clinical investigation. The device is<br>intended for home and hospital use<br>under the direction of a HCP. | Substantially Equivalent<br><br>Intended use is identical except for last<br>sentence: clarification of use<br>environment only |
| Intended<br>Environment | Recording - in the home, hospital or other clinical setting<br>Analyzing - physician's practice, sleep laboratory | | Equivalent |
| Target<br>Population | | Adults | Equivalent |
| Channels | - respiratory nasal flow.<br>- oxygen saturation and<br>pulse rate.<br>- respiratory effort | - respiratory nasal flow.<br>- oxygen saturation and<br>pulse rate.<br>- respiratory effort | Equivalent |
| CHARACTERISTIC | PREDICATE<br>ApneaLink Plus<br>(K083575) | NEW DEVICE<br>ApneaLink Pro. | COMMENTS<br>ApneaLink Plus vs. ApneaLink Pro |
| Method of<br>connection to<br>the Patient | - Nasal cannula<br>- Optical oximetry finger sensor<br>- Elastic cloth effort belt | - Nasal cannula<br>- Optical oximetry finger sensor<br>- Elastic cloth effort belt | Equivalent |
| Display<br>operation | Signal LED:<br>1 LED on the front panel indicates<br>the correct function of patient<br>signals with a green light, and<br>incorrect function by a red light. | Signal LED:<br>3 LED's beside flow, effort and<br>oximeter connectors indicate<br>correct function of patient signals<br>with a green light, and incorrect<br>function by a red light.<br>Test complete light:<br>A Test complete LED is provided to<br>signal sufficient recording time. | Substantially Equivalent:<br>ApneaLink Pro: Additional signal LED's<br>introduced to inform user which signal<br>is incorrect. |
| Power Source<br>recorder | Internally powered<br>2 x batteries: LR6 / Mignon / AA /<br>1.5V/ at least 1.9 Ah<br>or<br>2 x NiMh accumulators: Mignon /<br>AA/1.2V/ at least 1.9 Ah | Internally powered<br>2 x batteries: LR03 / Micro / AAA /<br>1.5V/ at least 1.0 Ah<br>or<br>2 x NiMh accumulators: HR03 /<br>Micro / AAA / 1.2 V / at least 1.0 Ah | ApneaLink Pro: Test complete LED<br>informs user after recording if<br>recording needs to be repeated<br>because of insufficient data |
| Communication<br>Interface | USB 1.1 connector plugged into<br>the device | USB 2.0 connector plugged into the<br>device | Equivalent |
| CHARACTERISTIC | PREDICATE<br>ApneaLink Plus<br>(K083575) | NEW DEVICE<br>ApneaLink Pro | COMMENTS<br>ApneaLink Plus vs. ApneaLink Pro |
| Patient<br>isolation | Device has no galvanic<br>connections to mains as it is a<br>battery-operated device. Not<br>possible to connect auxiliary<br>devices to the device | Device has no galvanic<br>connections to mains as it is a<br>battery-operated device. Not<br>possible to connect auxiliary<br>devices to the device | Equivalent |
| Sensor<br>Technology | Analog pressure transducer and<br>AD converter | Digital pressure transducer with on-<br>chip calibration | Equivalent |
| Processor | The processor processes the<br>recorder patient's data | The micro processor system<br>processes the recorder patient's<br>data | Substantially equivalent:<br>Operating principle of collecting and<br>storing data is unchanged |
| Interface<br>between<br>embedded<br>software and<br>PC software | Recorded data is stored in<br>proprietary data format file. | Recorded data is stored in<br>European Data Format (EDF+) file<br>on SD card. When device is<br>connected to PC via USB the<br>device provides access to its<br>internal memory as mass storage<br>memory including the recorded<br>EDF+ files. | Substantially equivalent:<br>Data is stored in files. Additionally<br>recorder serves as mass storage<br>device. |
| Analyzing the<br>recorded data | The recorded data are downloaded<br>via USB cable. Data are analyzed<br>and a report can be generated<br>automatically | The recorded data are downloaded<br>via USB cable. Data are analyzed<br>and a report can be generated<br>automatically | Equivalent |
| CHARACTERISTIC | PREDICATE<br>ApneaLink Plus<br>(K083575) | NEW DEVICE<br>ApneaLink Pro | COMMENTS<br>ApneaLink Plus vs. ApneaLink Pro |
| Analysis result<br>(Indices) | The following indices are<br>generated from the ApneaLink<br>Software:<br>AHI, RI, Apnea Index (unclassified,<br>central, mixed, obstructive),<br>Hypopnea Index, Number of flow<br>limited breaths without snoring,<br>Number of flow limited breaths with<br>snoring, Cheyne-Stokes Breathing,<br>ODI, Average saturation, Minimum<br>saturation, Maximum saturation,<br>Basal saturation, Minimum Pulse<br>Rate, Maximum Pulse Rate,<br>Average Pulse Rate | The following indices are<br>generated from the ApneaLink<br>Software:<br>AHI, RI, Apnea Index (unclassified,<br>central, mixed, obstructive),<br>Hypopnea Index, Number of flow<br>limited breaths without snoring,<br>Number of flow limited breaths with<br>snoring, Cheyne-Stokes Breathing,<br>ODI, Average saturation, Minimum<br>saturation, Maximum saturation,<br>Basal saturation, Minimum Pulse<br>Rate, Maximum Pulse Rate,<br>Average Pulse Rate | Equivalent |
| Dimensions<br>Recorder<br>LxWxD<br>(inches) | 4.6" x 2.4" x 1.2" | 2.4" x 4" x 1.2" | Substantially Equivalent:<br>Orientation was changed from vertical<br>to horizontal |
| Dimensions<br>Pulse Oximeter<br>HxWxD<br>(inches) | 2.1" x 0.8" x 0.6" | 2.1" x 0.8" x 0.6" | Equivalent |
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pneaLink Pro Traditional 510(k) Premarket Notification (Response
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# RESMED
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oneaLink Pro Traditional 510(k) Premarket Notification (Response
RESMED
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RESMED
The table above shows that there are no significant differences between Apnealink Pro and the predicate on the product safety and
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## RESMED
#### Testing summary
Design and Verification activities have been performed on the ApneaLink Pro as a result of the risk analysis and product requirements. External tests have been conducted for electrical safety, EMC, mechanical and environments. Additionally, side-by-side testing of the detection of respiratory events and reported indices was used to demonstrate that the Anneal.ink Pro is Substantially Equivalent to the ApneaLink Plus (K083575). In the side-by-side testing, the detection of all respiratory events is compared. These include tests comparing pulse/saturation, apnealtypopnea according classic definition, snoring, Cheyne-Stokes breathing, hypopnea, apnea classification and central apnea determination according to threshold apnealeffort pause. The recorded, analyzed, displayed values and reported apnea classification of obstructive/mixed/central apneas of Apneal.ink Pro are compared to those of the ApneaLink Plus. All internal and external tests confirmed that the product meets the predetermined acceptance criteria and the requirements of the relevant standards. No additional biocompatibility testing was required as none of the components in contact with patients have changed from the predicate. ResMed has determined that the ApneaLink Pro is Substantially Equivalent to the predicate device.
#### Conformance to standards
The Apneal.ink Pro complies with the applicable standards referenced in the following:
- ﺮ ﺍ Reviewer Guidance for Premarket Notification Submissions, Anesthesiology and Respiratory Devices Branch (November 1993)
- ﺮ FDA Guidance for the Content of Premarket Submissions for Software Contained in Medical Devices (May 11, 2005)
- r FDA Guidance for Industry, FDA Reviewers and Compliance on Off-the-Shelf Software Use in Medical Devices (September 9, 1999)
- ﺰ FDA General Principles of Software Validation, Final Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff (January 11, 2002)
- , l Guidance for Industry and FDA Premarket and Design Control Reviewers Medical Device Use-Safety: Incorporating Human Factors Engineering into Risk Management, 2000
- , A FDA Draft Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff - Applying Human Factors and Usability Engineering to Optimize Medical Device Design, 2011
- ﯩﺰ IEC 60601-1 Medical electrical equipment - Part 1: General requirements for safety
- ﺰ IEC 60601-1-2 Medical electrical equipment - Part 1-2: General requirements for basic safety Collateral standard: Electromagnetic compatibility - Requirements and tests
- ﺮﻧ Medical electrical equipment – Part 1-6: General requirements for basic safety IEC 60601-1-6 and essential performance - Collateral standard: usability
- IEC 60601-1-11 Medical electrical equipment ~ Part 1-11; General requirements for basic ﯩﺰ safety and essential performance - Collateral standard: Requirements for medical electrical equipment and medical electrical systems used in the home healthcare environment
- ﺮ IEC 62304 Medical device software - Software life cycle processes
- Biological evaluation of medical devices Part 1: Evaluation and testing within 产 ISO 10993-1 a risk management process
- ﺮ ISO 14971 Medical Devices - Application of risk management to medical devices
Conclusion: Based on the results of the performance testing for the ApneaLink Pro and the substantial equivalence comparison to the predicate device no new concerns about safety and effectiveness were raised and we believe that the presented information is sufficient to determine that ApneaLink Pro is substantially equivalent to the predicate device ApneaLink Plus (K083575).
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Image /page/7/Picture/0 description: The image shows the logo for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The logo consists of a stylized depiction of an eagle or bird-like figure with three curved lines representing its wings or body. The text "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES USA" is arranged in a circular fashion around the emblem.
### DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Document Comrol Center - WO66-G609 Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002
November 8. 2013
ResMed Corporation Mr. Jim Cassi Vice President - Quality Assurance Americas 9001 Spectrum Center Boulevard SAN DIEGO, CA 92123
Re: K131932
Trade/Device Name: ApneaLink Pro Regulation Number: 21 CFR 868.2375 Regulation Name: Ventilatory Effort Recorder Regulatory Class: Class II Product Code: MNR Dated: October 4, 2013 Received: October 9, 2013
Dear Mr. Cassi:
We have reviewed your Section 510(k) premarket notification of intent to market the device referenced above and have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to legally marketed predicate 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) that do not require approval of a premarket approval application (PMA). 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. Please note: CDRH does not evaluate information related to contract liability warranties. We remind you, however, that device labeling must be truthful and not misleading.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (PMA). it may be subject to additional controls. Existing major regulations affecting your device can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Parts 800 to 898. In addition. FDA may publish further announcements concerning your device in the Federal Register.
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Page 2 - Mr. Cassi
Please be advised that FDA's issuance of a substantial equivalence determination does not mean that FDA has made a determination that your device complies with other requirements of the Act or any Federal statutes and regulations administered by other Federal agencies. You must comply with all the Act's requirements, including, but not limited to: registration and listing (21 CFR Part 807); labeling (21 CFR Part 801); medical device reporting (reporting of medical device-related adverse events) (21 CFR 803); good manufacturing practice requirements as set forth in the quality systems (QS) regulation (21 CFR Part 820); and if applicable, the electronic product radiation control provisions (Sections 531-542 of the Act); 21 CFR 1000-1050.
If you desire specific advice for your device on our labeling regulation (21 CFR Part 801), please contact the Division of Small Manufacturers, International and Consumer Assistance at its tollfree number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 796-7100 or at its Internet address
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Resourcesfor You/Industry/default.htm. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21CFR Part 807.97). For questions regarding the reporting of adverse events under the MDR regulation (21 CFR Part 803), please go to
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/ReportaProblem/default.htm for the CDRH's Office of Surveillance and Biometrics/Division of Postmarket Surveillance.
You may obtain other general information on your responsibilities under the Act from the Division of Small Manufacturers, International and Consumer Assistance at its toll-free number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 796-7100 or at its Internet address
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Resourcesfor You/Industry/default.htm.
Sincerely vours,
Image /page/8/Picture/8 description: The image contains a combination of text and graphic elements. The text includes "Teashri Purohit Sheth, M.D.", "Clinical Deputy Director", and "DAGRID". The graphic elements appear to be a signature or logo with stylized lines and shapes. The overall image seems to be a scan or photocopy of a document with some handwritten or stamped elements.
Kwame Ulmer M.S. Acting Division Director Division of Anesthesiology, General Hospital, Respiratory, Infection Control and Dental Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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#### 4 Indications For Use Statement
#### Indication for Use
#### 510(k) Number (if known): K131932
Device Name:
ApneaLink Pro
#### Indication for Use
The ApneaLink™ Pro device is indicated for use by Health Care Professionals (HCP), where it may aid in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing for adult patients. Apneal.ink Pro records the following data: patient respiratory nasal airflow, snoring, blood oxygen saturation, pulse and respiratory effort during sleep. The device uses these recordings to produce a report for the HCP that may aid in the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing or for further clinical investigation. The device is intended for home and hospital use under the direction of a HCP.
Prescription Use ....................
AND/OR
Over-The-Counter Use_
(Part 21 CFR 801 Subpart D)
(Part 21 CFR 807 Subpart C)
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE - CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED)
Concurrence of CDRH; Office of Device Evaluation (ODE) sioned by Anya C. Karry -S ·U.S. Government, ou=KHS, to anya C Harry 00.100.3.1=0011315590
Page 1 of_
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.