MEDELA VARIO 8/18/CI SECRETION & SURGICAL ASPIRATOR
K061205 · Medela AG · BTA · Jun 21, 2006 · General, Plastic Surgery
Device Facts
Record ID
K061205
Device Name
MEDELA VARIO 8/18/CI SECRETION & SURGICAL ASPIRATOR
Applicant
Medela AG
Product Code
BTA · General, Plastic Surgery
Decision Date
Jun 21, 2006
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 878.4780
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Therapeutic
Indications for Use
The Medela® Vario 8/18/ci Suction Pumps are indicated for aspiration and removal of surgical fluids, tissue (including bone), gases, bodily fluids (including vomit) or infectious materials from a patient's airway or respiratory support system, either during surgery or at the patient's bedside. Generally the Medela® Vario 8/18/ci is intended to be used for a variety of suctioning procedures including nasopharyngeal, tracheal, surgical, gastrointestinal and thoracic drainage (in combination with a water seal or dry seal chest drain) in either "constant" or "intermittent" mode. Especially for thoracic drainage the Medela® Vario 8 is indicated in situations such as pneumothorax, after surgery (post operative), thorax injury, pleura effusion, pleuryempyem or other related conditions.
Device Story
Portable AC or AC/DC-powered aspirator; utilizes QuatroFlex™ piston/cylinder technology with flexible thin-film hinges to generate vacuum. Inputs: electrical power; manual user settings for vacuum level. Outputs: controlled suction via tubing. Used in clinical settings (OR, bedside) by healthcare professionals. Features vacuum gauge, self-bleeding membrane regulator, and hydrophobic filter for overflow protection. Assists in fluid/tissue removal and thoracic drainage; aids clinical management of respiratory and surgical conditions.
Clinical Evidence
No clinical data provided. Substantial equivalence is based on design, performance, and technological similarity to legally marketed predicate devices.
Technological Characteristics
Powered suction pump; QuatroFlex™ piston/cylinder system with thin-film hinges; AC or AC/DC motor; flat belt power transmission; self-bleeding membrane vacuum regulator; hydrophobic filter; vacuum gauge (kPa/mmHg). NiMH battery. No software/algorithm.
Indications for Use
Indicated for aspiration/removal of surgical fluids, tissue, gases, bodily fluids, or infectious materials from airway or respiratory support systems. Used for nasopharyngeal, tracheal, surgical, gastrointestinal, and thoracic drainage procedures in constant or intermittent modes. Specifically indicated for thoracic drainage in patients with pneumothorax, post-operative conditions, thorax injury, pleural effusion, or empyema.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A powered suction pump is a portable, AC-powered or compressed air-powered device intended to be used to remove infectious materials from wounds or fluids from a patient's airway or respiratory support system. The device may be used during surgery in the operating room or at the patient's bedside. The device may include a microbial filter.
Predicate Devices
Medela® Basic, Median, Dominant, Vario Suction Pumps (K983552)
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Medela AG, Laettichstrasse 4b, CH-6341 Baar, Switzerland Applicant: Werner Frei, Tel +41 (41) 769 51 51 ext. 228; Fax +41 (41) 769 51 00 Contact Person: werner frei@medela.ch Traditional 510(k) Submission for Medela® Vario Suction Pump
JUN 2 1 2006
KO61205
# Section E - 510(k) Summary
This 510(k) summary for the Medela® Vario 8/18/ci Powered Suction Pumps meets the requirements of 21 CFR 807.92.
# Sponsor's Name, Address and Contact Person 1
Sponsor: Medela AG Medical Equipment Laettichstrasse 4b 6341 Baar Switzerland +41 41 769 5151 ext. 228 Ph: +41 41 769 5100 Fax:
Contact Person Werner Frei Manager Regulatory Affairs
Date Summary Prepared: April 18, 2006
#### 2 Name of Device
| Trade Name: | Medela® Vario 8/18/ci<br>Secretion & Surgical Aspirator |
|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Common Name: | Powered Suction Pump |
| Classification Name: | PUMP, PORTABLE, ASPIRATION (MANUAL OR POWERED)<br>Classified Class II, per 21 CFR 878.4780 |
| Product Code: | BTA |
#### 3 Name of the predicate Device(s)
- Medela® Basic, Median, Dominant, Vario Suction Pumps, by Medela Inc. ● K983552
- Medela® Dominant 35 c/i, by Medela AG . K043544
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Medela AG. Laettichstrasse 4b. CH-6341 Baar. Switzerland Apolicant: Contact Person: Werner Frei, Tel +41 (41) 769 51 51 ext. 228; Fax +41 (41) 769 51 00 werner.frei@medela.ch Traditional 510(k) Submission for Medela® Vario Suction Pump
### Device Description 4
This notification for the Medela® Vario 8/18/ci Suction Pumps is for labeling change and to include additional indications. There have been no significant modifications or design changes to the currently cleared and marketed Medela® Vario, 510(k) No. K983552.
The Medela® Vario 8/18/ci Suction Pumps is a further innovative development of Medela's well-proven piston/cylinder system. With its QuatroFlex™ technology, the drive power is transferred to the four piston/cylinder modules by means of high-grade, flexible thin-films hinges. The required suction value is rapidly built-up. High suction performance and low weight are positive features of the Vario pump.
The Medela® Vario 8/18/ci is an AC or an AC/DC-powered portable aspirator and incorporates in its medium sized housing an AC respectively DC-motor with a flat belt power transmission to the pistons and cylinders, an ON/OFF-switch, a vacuum gauge in kPa and mmHG, a self-bleeding membrane vacuum regulator, an overflow protection device (hydrophobic filter) and connection tubing, an electric cord and an instruction manual.
The Medela® Vario 18 "high vacuum" suction pump has a suction capacity of 18 liters per minute and a maximum vacuum up to -75 kPa (-563 mmHd). The pump is marked "low flow - high vacuum".
The Medela® Vario 18 "medium vacuum" suction pump has a suction capacity of 18 liters per minute and a maximum vacuum up to -50 kPa (-375 mmHq). The pump is marked "low flow - medium vacuum".
The Medela® Vario 8 "low vacuum" suction pump has a suction capacity of 8 liters per minute and a maximum vacuum up to -9 kPa (-68 mmHg). The pump is marked "low flow - low vacuum".
A variety of reusable and disposable accessories are available. A variety of disposables for thoracic drainage are also available.
#### 5 Indications for use
The Medela® Vario 8/18/ci Suction Pumps are indicated for aspiration and removal of surgical fluids, tissue (including bone), gases, bodily fluids (including vomit) or infectious materials from a patient's airway or respiratory support system, either during surgery or at the patient's bedside.
Generally the Medela® Vario 8/18/ci is intended to be used for a variety of suctioning procedures including nasopharyngeal, tracheal, surgical, gastrointestinal and thoracic drainage (in combination with a water seal or dry seal chest drain) in either "constant" or "intermittent" mode. Especially for thoracic drainage the Medela® Vario 8 is indicated in situations such as pneumothorax, after surgery (post operative), thorax injury, pleura effusion, pleuryempyem or other related conditions.
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Medela AG, Laettichstrasse 4b, CH-6341 Baar, Switzerland Applicant: Contact Person: Werner Frei, Tel +41 (41) 769 51 51 ext. 228; Fax +41 (41) 769 51 00 werner.frei@medela.ch Traditional 510(k) Submission for Medela® Vario Suction Pump
### Summary of Technological Characteristics 6
The Medela® Vario 8/18/ci suction pumps are identical in construction and performance to the legally marketed device as submitted under FDA File Number K983552 there are no technical differences which would raise new aspects regarding safety and effectiveness.
The only modifications relate to a change from lead acid to NiMH batteries and more differentiated trade names - Medela® Vario 8 or Medela® Vario 18 instead of Medela® Vario only (the number reflects the different flow rates - 8 I/min or 18 I/min).
## 7 Conclusion
According to the FDA Guidance "Deciding When to Submit a 510(k) for a Change to an Existing Device", the modification mentioned above does not significantly affect the safety or effectiveness of the device (e.g. a significant change or modification in design, material, chemical composition, energy source or manufacturing process). All conclusions are made by the decision making process according this guidance document.
Based upon the information presented above and in this 510(k) submission, it is concluded that the proposed Medela® Vario 8/18/ci powered suction pump is reliable, safe and effective for the intended use.
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Image /page/3/Picture/1 description: The image shows the logo for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The logo consists of a circular seal with the text "U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - USA" around the perimeter. Inside the circle is an abstract symbol resembling an eagle or bird with outstretched wings.
JUN 2 1 2006
Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
Medela AG c/o Werner Frei, Manager Regulatory Affairs Laettichstrasse 4b 6341 Baar Switzerland CH-6341
Re: K061205
Trade/Device Name: Medela Vario Regulation Number: 21 CFR 878.4780 Regulation Name: Powered suction pump Regulatory Class: II Product Code: BTA Dated: April 18, 2006 Received: May 8, 2006
Dear Werner Frei:
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 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.
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.
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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 (240) 276-0115. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21 CFR 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 (240) 276-3150 or at its Internet address http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/industry/support/index.html.
Sincerely yours,
Hulut Lemern
Mark N. Melkerson
Director Division of General, Restorative and Neurological Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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# Indications for Use
KOG1205 510(k) Number (if known):
Device Name:
Medela Vario
Indications For Use:
The Medela Vario 8/18/ci Suction Pumps are indicated for aspiration and removal of surgical fluids, tissue (including bone), gases, bodily fluids (including vomit) or infectious materials from a patient's airway or respiratory support system, either during surgery or at the patients bedside.
Generally the Medela Vario 8/18/ci is intended to be used for a variety of suctioning procedures including nasopharyngeal, tracheal, surgical, gastrointestinal and thoracic drainage (in combination with a water seal or dry seal chest drain) in either "constant" or "intermittent" mode. Especially for thoracic drainage the Medela Vario 8 is indicated in situations such as pneumothorax, after surgery (post operative), thorax injury, pleura effusion, pleuryempyem or other related conditions.
Prescription Use × (Part 21 CFR 801 Subpart D)
AND/OR
Over-The-Counter Use (21 CFR 801 Subpart C)
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE-CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED)
Huker
Division Sign Off
Division of General, Restorative, and Neurological Devices
Page 1 of 1 __
510(k) Number K061205
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.