PORTEX BLUE LINE ULTRA TRACHEOSTOMY TUBE (CUFFED) WITH REUSABLE INNER CANNULA
Applicant
Portex , Ltd.
Product Code
BTO · Anesthesiology
Decision Date
Aug 27, 2003
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 868.5800
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Therapeutic
Indications for Use
Portex Blue Line Ultra Tracheostomy Tube is indicated for airway maintenance of tracheostomised patients.
Device Story
Tracheostomy tube provides airway access when upper respiratory routes are compromised. Device consists of outer tube (cuffed or uncuffed) and optional inner cannula; pre-loaded on obturator for insertion. Obturator features internal pathway for guide wire to assist stoma placement. Cuffed variants seal trachea to prevent gas leakage and aspiration. Inner cannula is removable/reusable for cleaning to maintain bore patency. Kits include tube holder, cleaning brush, disconnection wedge, and guide wire for tube changes. Used in clinical settings by healthcare providers for long-term ventilation or airway management. Benefits include secure airway maintenance, protection against aspiration, and facilitation of mechanical ventilation.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. No clinical data provided.
Technological Characteristics
Tracheostomy tube available in 6.0-9.0mm sizes. Cuffed and uncuffed variants. Components include outer tube, inner cannula, obturator, guide wire, and disconnection wedge. Sterile by ETO. No electronic or software components.
Indications for Use
Indicated for airway maintenance in tracheostomised patients requiring an airway due to upper airway, larynx, pharynx, or oral/nasal route compromise from trauma, illness, or surgery; suitable for long-term ventilated or spontaneously breathing patients.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A tracheostomy tube and tube cuff is a device intended to be placed into a surgical opening of the trachea to facilitate ventilation to the lungs. The cuff may be a separate or integral part of the tracheostomy tube and is, when inflated, intended to establish a seal between the tracheal wall and the tracheostomy tube. The cuff is used to prevent the patient's aspiration of substances, such as blood or vomit, or to provide a means for positive-pressure ventilation of the patient. This device is made of either stainless steel or plastic.
Portex Inc. Percutaneous Dilatory tracheostomy Kit with Speciality tracheostomy Tube (K980466)
Portex Inc Steri-Cath Closed Ventilation Suction System (K923559)
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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Image /page/0/Picture/0 description: The image shows a close-up of a handwritten code or identifier, "K030381", written in a bold, slightly tilted font. The characters are large and clearly legible, with a handwritten style that gives them a personal touch. The background is plain white, which helps the code stand out.
Portex Ltd. Blue Line Ultra Tracheostomy Kits. 510(K) Notification
AUG 2 7 2003
### SECTION 5.0 : 510K SUMMARY
DATE SUBMITTED: 22 August 2003
SUBMITTER: Portex Ltd Hythe Kent England, CT21 6JL
CONTACT PERSON: Mr Steve Ogilvie, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Director, Portex Ltd, Military Road, Hythe, Kent, England. CT21 6DB Phone 00 44 (0)1303 208011 Fax 00 44 (0)1303 262798
DEVICE NAME: Blue Line Ultra Tracheostomy Tube
COMMON NAME AND CLASSIFICATION: Tracheostomy tube. Class II BTO, 21 CFR 868.5800
#### PREDICATE DEVICES:
- Portex Inc Flexible D.I.C Tracheostomy tube, already marketed in the USA under K912124
- Shiley Low Pressure Cuffed Tracheostomy Tube with Reusable Inner Cannula, already marketed in the USA under K811033.
- Portex Inc. Percutaneous Dilatory tracheostomy Kit with Speciality tracheostomy Tube, already marketed in the USA under K980466
- . Portex Inc Steri-Cath Closed Ventilation Suction System already marketed in the USA under K923559
### DEVICE DESCRIPTION:
The Blue Line Ultra (BLU) tracheostomy tube provides an airway to the patients lungs when the upper airway / larynx / pharynx or oral & nasal routes are occluded or compromised due to traumatic injury, illness, or during surgery, and is elective for long term ventilated patients. The tube can be used for ventilated, or spontaneously breathing patients.
The BLU is available in sizes 6.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5 and 9.0mm only.
BLU is available in cuffed and uncuffed variants. The cuff provides a seal against the trachea, ensuring that inspiratory and expiatory gasses are routed through the tube and not allowed to escape to the patients upper airway, thus preventing loss of ventilation / anaesthetic and nebulised drugs, and reducing the likelihood of any aspirated stomach contents from entering the lungs. Uncuffed tubes are used when patients require less protection from loss of ventilation / anaesthetic and nebulised drugs and or stomach aspiration.
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## Portex Ltd. Blue Line Ultra Tracheostomy Kits. 510(K) Notification
## SECTION 5.0 : 510K SUMMARY
The outer tube can be used with or without an inner cannula lines the bore of the outer tube, and can be removed, cleaned and replaced to ensure that the bore of the tube is kept patent.
The BLU is supplied pre-loaded onto an obturator. The obturator reduces the risk of the distal end of the product from damaging the trachea upon insertion. The obturator has an internal pathway for a guide wire, so that a guide wire can be used to help position the tube through the stoma site for tube change insertion.
The BLU tracheostomy tube is packed in several kit variants to suit clinician preferences. Each kit contains a tracheostomy tube holder, an inner cannula cleaning brush, disconnection wedge and a patient notes label. The change kit includes a tube change i tip guide wire. This wire is used to help place a second tracheostomy tube in a pre-existing stoma when the first tube needs to be changed. Each kit is individually packed in a blister and shelf carton (tracheostomy tube holder and cleaning bush packed outside of the blister in a polyethylene bag), and the products are sterile by ETO.
Replacement Blue Line Ultra inner cannula are available in packs of 20 or 50. The cannula are individually packed in a blister to maintain sterility, and contained within a shelf carton. The inner cannula lines the bore of the outer tube, and can be removed, cleaned and replaced to ensure that the bore of the tube is kept patent.
### INTENDED USE:
Portex Blue Line Ultra Tracheostomy Tube is indicated for airway maintenance of tracheostomised patients.
#### TECHNOLOGICAL CHARICTUREISTICS OF PROPOSED VERSUS PREDICATE DEVICES:
- The proposed device is substantially equivalent to Predicate device 1 Portex Inc Flexible D.I.C . Tracheostomy tube (K912124), in all aspects except the following:
- Inner cannula. The basic design and materials of the inner cannula of Predicate 1 and the o proposed device are substantially equivalent. However, the inner cannula of Predicate I is disposable, where as the inner cannula of the proposed device can be removed from the tracheostomy tube, cleaned and replaced. The re-useable feature of the proposed device's inner cannulae is compared to Predicate 2.
- Tube change guide wire. The tube change guide wire is an additional component to Predicate o 1. This component will be compared to predicate device 3.
- Disconnection Wedge. The disconnection wedge is an additional component to Predicate 1. o This component will be compared to predicate device 4.
- . The re-useable feature of the proposed device's inner cannulae is substantially equivalent to Predicate 2 -Shiley Low Pressure Cuffed Tracheostomy Tube with Reusable Inner Cannula (K811033). Note, only the reusable nature of the inner cannula is compared.
- The tube change guide wire of the proposed device is substantially equivalent to Predicate 3 - Portex Inc. Percutaneous Dilatory tracheostomy Kit with Speciality tracheostomy Tube (K980466) Note, only the tube change guide wire is compared.
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# Portex Ltd. Blue Line Ultra Tracheostomy Kits. 510(K) Notification
### SECTION 5.0 : 510K SUMMARY
# PERFORMANCE / CLINICAL DATA:
Performance data for the proposed device is shown in section 8.0 Performance.
## CONCLUSION:
Comparison of the proposed device to the predicate devices supports the conclusion that the proposed device is substantially equivalent in safety and effectiveness in its intended use to existing legally marketed devices.
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Image /page/3/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" around the perimeter. In the center of the seal is an abstract image of a human figure.
Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
AUG 2 7 2003
Mr. Steve Ogilvie Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Director Portex Limited Military Road Hythe. Kent ENGLAND CT21 6DB United Kingdom
Re: K030381
Trade/Device Name: Blue Line Ultra Tracheostomy Tube Regulation Number: 868.5800 Regulation Name: Tracheostomy Tube and tube Cuff Regulatory Class: II Product Code: BTO Dated: May 30, 2003 Received: June 2, 2003
Dear Mr. Ogilvie:
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.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (PMA), it may be subject to such additional controls. Existing major regulations affecting vour 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. Ogilvie
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); 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.
This letter will allow you to begin marketing your device as described in your Section 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), please contact the Office of Compliance at (301) 594-4646. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21CFR Part 807.97). 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) 443-6597 or at its Internet address http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/dsma/dsmamain.html
Sincerely yours,
Susan Runner
Susan Runner, DDS, MA Interim Director Division of Anesthesiology, General Hospital, Infection Control and Dental Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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## Portex Ltd . Blue Line Ultra Tracheostomy Kits, 510(K) Notification
## Section 4.0: STATEMENT OF INDICATION FOR USE
510(K) Number (if known): K030381
Page 1 of 1
Device Name: Portex Blue Line Ultra Tracheostomy Tube
Indications for use:
'Portex Blue Line Ultra Tracheostomy Tube is indicated for airway maintenance of Tracheostomised patients'
signature
Division Sian-Off) ivision of Anesthesiology, General Hospital, Infection Control, Dental Devices
510(k) Number: K030381
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE-CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED)
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
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.