The MR system is an imaging device, and is intended to provide the physician with physiological and clinical information, obtained non-invasively and without the use of ionizing radiation. The MR system produces transverse, coronal, sagittal, oblique, and curved cross-sectional images that display the internal structure of the head, body, or extremities. The images produced by the MR system reflect the spatial distribution of protons (hydrogen nuclei) exhibiting magnetic resonance. The NMR properties that determine the image appearance are proton density, spin-lattice relaxation time (T1), spin-spin relaxation time (T2), and flow. When interpreted by a trained physician, these images provide information that can be useful in diagnosis determination.
Device Story
QD C-Spine Coil is an accessory for Hitachi MRP-7000 and AIRIS MR systems; designed to improve signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) for cervical spine imaging; may also image upper thoracic and lower cranial structures. Device uses multiple receiver quadrature coil design to capture RF emissions (echoes) from hydrogen nuclei; spatial localization achieved via magnetic field gradients. System operated by trained professionals in clinical settings; output consists of cross-sectional images (transverse, coronal, sagittal, oblique, curved). Physician interprets images to assist in diagnosis. Benefits include high-quality anatomical imaging without ionizing radiation.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. No clinical data provided.
Technological Characteristics
Multiple receiver quadrature RF coil design. Operates within MR systems using magnetic fields up to 1.5T and RF frequencies up to 65MHz. Supports various pulse sequences including SE, FSE, IR, FIR, GE, and SARGE. Connectivity is integrated with the host MR system. Software includes adaptive image post-processing.
Indications for Use
Indicated for patients requiring diagnostic imaging of the head, body, spine, and extremities. Used to obtain physiological and clinical information via proton density, T1, T2, and flow-based MR imaging. Contraindications not specified.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A magnetic resonance diagnostic device is intended for general diagnostic use to present images which reflect the spatial distribution and/or magnetic resonance spectra which reflect frequency and distribution of nuclei exhibiting nuclear magnetic resonance. Other physical parameters derived from the images and/or spectra may also be produced. The device includes hydrogen-1 (proton) imaging, sodium-23 imaging, hydrogen-1 spectroscopy, phosphorus-31 spectroscopy, and chemical shift imaging (preserving simultaneous frequency and spatial information).
Special Controls
*Classification.* Class II (special controls). A magnetic resonance imaging disposable kit intended for use with a magnetic resonance diagnostic device only is exempt from the premarket notification procedures in subpart E of part 807 of this chapter subject to the limitations in § 892.9.
Predicate Devices
Hitachi MRP-7000 with Neck/Joint Coil
Hitachi AIRIS with Neck/Extremity Coil
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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K971016
JUN - 6 1997
# Attachment 1
## 510(k) Summary of Safety and Effectiveness
Page 9
{1}
Page 10
# 1.0 SUBMITTER INFORMATION:
1.1 Submitter: Hitachi Medical Systems America
1963 Case Parkway
Twinsburg, OH 44087
PH: 216 425-1313
FX: 216 425-1410
1.2 Contact: James Jochen Rogers
1.3 Date: March 13, 1997
# 2.0 DEVICE NAME:
2.1 Magnetic Resonance Diagnostic Device
2.2 Classification Name: System, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging
2.3 Classification Number: 90LNH
2.4 Classification Panel: Radiology
2.5 Radiology Device: 892.1000 Magnetic Resonance Diagnostic Device
2.6 Trade/Proprietary Name: MRP-7000 with QD C-Spine Coil (P/N MR-QCSC-42)
AIRIS with QD C-Spine Coil (P/N MR-QCSC-52)
2.7 Predicate Device: Hitachi MRP-7000 with Neck/Joint Coil
Hitachi AIRIS with Neck/Extremity Coil
# 3.0 DEVICE DESCRIPTION:
## 3.1 FUNCTION
The QD C-Spine Coil is being added to increase the clinical utility of the MRP-7000 in the stationary and mobile configurations. The new coil is intended to provide high quality imaging of cervical spine anatomy; dependent upon patient anatomy, the coil sensitivity may additionally effectively image upper thoracic and lower cranial structures. The QD C-Spine utilizes a proprietary multiple receiver quadrature coil design for improved S/N Ratio.
The QD C-Spine Coil is being added to increase the clinical utility of the AIRIS in the stationary configuration. The new coil is intended to provide high quality imaging of cervical spine anatomy, dependent upon patient anatomy, the coil sensitivity may additionally effectively image upper thoracic and lower cranial structures. The QD C-Spine utilizes a proprietary multiple receiver quadrature coil design for improved S/N Ratio.
## 3.2 SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS
Magnetic Resonance (MR) is based on the fact that certain atomic nuclei have electromagnetic properties which cause them to act as small spinning bar magnets. The most ubiquitous of these nuclei is hydrogen, which makes it the primary nucleus used in current imaging experiments in magnetic resonance. When placed in a
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vector. When the RF excitation is removed, the proton relaxes and returns to its original orientation. The rate of relaxation is exponential, and varies with the character of the proton and its adjacent molecular environment. This reorientation process is characterized by two exponential relaxation times called T1 and T2 which can be measured.
These relaxation events are accompanied by an RF emission or echo which can be measured and used to develop a representation of these emissions on a three dimensional matrix. Spatial localization is encoded into the echo by varying the RF excitation and by appropriately applying magnetic field gradients in x, y, and z directions, and changing the direction and strength of these gradients. Images depicting the spatial distribution of NMR characteristics of the nuclei under consideration can be constructed by using image processing techniques similar to those used in CT.
For magnetic fields up to 1.5T, the RF frequencies commonly used range up to 65MHz. The RF fields have pulse powers from several watts to greater than 10 kilowatts, and repeat at rates from once every few seconds to greater than fifty per second. The time-varying magnetic gradient fields have a typical duration of submillisecond to several milliseconds.
## 3.3 PHYSICAL AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
MR is currently of great interest because it is capable of producing high quality anatomical images without the associated risks of ionizing radiation. In addition, the biological properties that contribute to MR image contrast are different from those responsible for x-ray image contrast. In x-ray imaging, differences in x-ray attenuation, largely based on differences in electron density are responsible for the contrast observed in x-ray images. In MR imaging, differences in proton density, blood flow, and relaxation times T1 and T2 all may contribute to image contrast. In addition, by varying the duration and spacing of the RF pulses, images may be produced in which the contrast is primarily dependent on T1 relaxation, T2 relaxation, proton density, or a combination of all three.
## 4.0 DEVICE INTENDED USE:
The MR system is an imaging device, and is intended to provide the physician with physiological and clinical information, obtained non-invasively and without the use of ionizing radiation. The MR system produces transverse, coronal, sagittal, oblique, and curved cross-sectional images that display the internal structure of the head, body, or extremities. The images produced by the MR system reflect the spatial distribution of protons (hydrogen nuclei) exhibiting magnetic resonance. The NMR properties that determine the image appearance are proton density, spin-lattice relaxation time (T1), spin-spin relaxation time (T2), and flow. When interpreted by a trained physician, these images provide information that can be useful in diagnosis determination.
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- Anatomical Region: Head, Body, Spine, Extremities
- Nucleus excited: Proton
- Diagnostic uses:
- 2D T1- / T2-weighted imaging
- T1, T2, proton density measurements
- MR Angiography
- image processing
- Imaging capabilities:
- 2D, 3D Spin Echo (SE)
- 2D Inversion Recovery (IR)
- 2D, 3D Fast Spin Echo (FSE)
- 2D, 3D Fast Inversion Recovery (FIR)
- 2D,3D Gradient Field Echo (GE); also with rephasing (GR)
- 2D, 3D Steady state acquisition with rewinded GE (SARGE)
- 2D Dual Slice acquisition (DS)
- MR Angiography (2D TOF, 3D TOF, half echo, high resolution/high definition, sloped slab profile, magnetization transfer contrast)
- RF Coil Uniformity
- Adaptive Image post-processing
## 5.0 DEVICE TECHNOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Identical to the Predicate Devices.
Page 12
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
JUN - 6 1997
Food and Drug Administration
9200 Corporate Boulevard
Rockville MD 20850
James Jochen Rogers
Manager, Regulatory Affairs
Hitachi Medical Systems America
1963 Case Parkway
Twinsburg, Ohio 44087
Re: K971016
QD C-Spine Coil for MRP-7000 and AIRIS
Dated: March 13, 1997
Received: March 20, 1997
Regulatory class: II
21 CFR 892.1000/Procode: 90 MOS
Dear Mr. Rogers:
We have reviewed your Section 510(k) notification of intent to market the device referenced above and we have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to devices marketed in interstate commerce prior to May 28, 1976, the enactment date of the Medical Device Amendments, or to devices that have been reclassified in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act). You may, therefore, market the device, subject to the general controls provisions of the Act. The general controls provisions of the Act include requirements for annual registration, listing of devices, good manufacturing practice, labeling, and prohibitions against misbranding and adulteration.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (Premarket Approval), it may be subject to such additional controls. Existing major regulations affecting your device can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Parts 800 to 895. A substantially equivalent determination assumes compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practice for Medical Devices: General (GMP) regulation (21 CFR Part 820) and that, through periodic GMP inspections, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will verify such assumptions. Failure to comply with the GMP regulation may result in regulatory action. In addition, FDA may publish further announcements concerning your device in the Federal Register. Please note: this response to your premarket notification submission does not affect any obligation you might have under sections 531 through 542 of the Act for devices under the Electronic Product Radiation Control provisions, or other Federal laws or regulations.
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) 594-4591 for Radiology devices, or 594-4613 for Ear, Nose and Throat devices. Additionally, for questions on the promotion and advertising of your device, please contact the Office of Compliance at (301) 594-4639. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21 CFR 807.97). Other general information on your responsibilities under the Act may be obtained from the Division of Small Manufacturers Assistance at its toll-free number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 443-6597 or at its Internet address "http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/dsmamain.html".
Sincerely yours,
Lillian Yin, Ph.D.
Director, Division of Reproductive, Abdominal, Ear, Nose and Throat, and Radiological Devices
Office of Device Evaluation
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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510(k) Number (if known): _________________________
Device Name: QD C- Spine Coil (AIRIS, MRP-7000)
Indications for Use:
The MR system is an imaging device, and is intended to provide the physician with physiological and clinical information, obtained non-invasively and without the use of ionizing radiation. The MR system produces transverse, coronal, sagittal, oblique, and curved cross-sectional images that display the internal structure of the head, body, or extremities. The images produced by the MR system reflect the spatial distribution of protons (hydrogen nuclei) exhibiting magnetic resonance. The NMR properties that determine the image appearance are proton density, spin-lattice relaxation time (T1), spin-spin relaxation time (T2), and flow. When interpreted by a trained physician, these images provide information that can be useful in diagnosis determination.
- Anatomical Region: Head, Body, Spine, Extremities
- Nucleus excited: Proton
- Diagnostic uses:
- 2D T1- / T2-weighted imaging
- T1, T2, proton density measurements
- MR Angiography
- image processing
- Imaging capabilities:
- 2D, 3D Spin Echo (SE)
- 2D Inversion Recovery (IR)
- 2D, 3D Fast Spin Echo (FSE)
- 2D, 3D Fast Inversion Recovery (FIR)
- 2D, 3D Gradient Field Echo (GE); also with rephasing (GR)
- 2D, 3D Steady state acquisition with rewinded GE (SARGE)
- 2D Dual Slice acquisition (DS)
- MR Angiography (2D TOF, 3D TOF, half echo, high resolution/high definition, sloped slab profile, magnetization transfer contrast)
- RF Coil Uniformity
- Adaptive Image post-processing
(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)
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.