Search Results

Volpara Imaging Software is a software application intended for use with the raw data from digital breast x-ray systems, including tomosynthesis. Volpara Imaging Software calculates and quantifies a density map and from that determines volumetric breast density as a ratio of fibroglandular tissue and total breast volume estimates. Volpara Imaging Software provides these numerical values along with a BI-RADS breast density 4th or 5th Edition category and quality assurance metrics (i.e., dose and pressure) to aid healthcare professionals in the assessment of breast composition. Volpara Imaging Software is not a diagnostic aid and should be used only as adjunctive information when the final assessment of breast density category is made by an MQSA-qualified interpreting physician.

Volpara Imaging Software 3.2 analyzes raw ("For Processing") digital mammograms or raw DBT projections in a fully automated, volumetric fashion. It produces a quantitative assessment of breast composition in the form of a Volpara density map, wherein the value at each pixel represents the thickness of fibroglandular tissue between that pixel and the x-ray source.

From the density maps various quantitative density-map based metrics are computed as follows:

• volume of fibroglandular tissue in cm3
• volume of breast in cm³
• the volumetric breast density (the percentage of fibroglandular tissue in breast)
• average thickness of dense tissue in cm
• maximum thickness of dense tissue in cm
• maximum volume of dense tissue above any 1 cm² square region (and location)
• image quality assessment metrics

Volpara Imaging Software typically receives four standard views from the digital x-ray system following a mammographic or digital breast tomosynthesis screening examination (i.e., left CC, right CC, left MLO, right MLO). The generated results are then displayed via either of the following:

• A Volpara scorecard (a DICOM Secondary Capture Image)
• A DICOM Mammography CAD Structured Report

The device outputs those metrics along with the density maps themselves marked with the location of the various maxima. Using the volumetric breast density, a Bl-RADS 4th Edition and 5th Edition breast density category is generated by applying thresholds set by the software.

Volpara Imaging Software operates on a Microsoft Azure-connected, off-the-shelf virtual appliance, which provides a secure, pre-configured virtual host. Volpara Imaging Software does not contact the patient, nor does it control any life-sustaining devices.

The provided text describes a Special 510(k) submission for Volpara Imaging Software 3.2, which is an updated version of a previously cleared device. While it mentions verification and validation, it does not provide specific acceptance criteria or detailed results of a study (such as a clinical performance study with defined endpoints, sample sizes, and ground truth methodologies) that proves the device meets typical acceptance criteria for medical AI/software.

The document focuses on demonstrating substantial equivalence to a predicate device (Volpara Imaging Software 1.5.6) by highlighting minor changes and stating that "complete verification and validation data testing conducted for the predicate was repeated to ensure integration and backwards compatibility." This implies that the performance shown for the predicate device is considered sufficient for the updated device, given the minor nature of the changes.

Therefore, I cannot fulfill your request for a table of acceptance criteria and reported device performance based solely on the provided text, nor can I provide detailed information about a "study that proves the device meets the acceptance criteria" in the way you've outlined for clinical performance. The submission type (Special 510(k)) and the content provided indicate a focus on demonstrating that the changes do not alter the substantial equivalence to the predicate, rather than a de novo clinical performance study for this specific version.

However, I can extract information related to the device and the nature of its submission:

Based on the provided text, a detailed clinical study demonstrating the specific acceptance criteria and performance of Volpara Imaging Software 3.2 (as defined in your prompt) was not described. The submission focuses on demonstrating substantial equivalence to a predicate device through verification and validation of minor software changes.

Here's what can be inferred or stated from the text, addressing your points where possible, and stating "Not provided" where the information is absent:

1. A table of acceptance criteria and the reported device performance

• Not provided in this document. The document discusses "verification and validation" and "compliant to the following standards: ISO 14971:2012, ISO 62304:2006, DICOM 2016." These are general standards for medical device software development and risk management, not specific acceptance criteria or performance metrics for breast density assessment.

2. Sample sized used for the test set and the data provenance (e.g. country of origin of the data, retrospective or prospective)

• Not provided. The document states "complete verification and validation data testing conducted for the predicate was repeated," but does not mention specific test set sizes or data provenance.

3. Number of experts used to establish the ground truth for the test set and the qualifications of those experts (e.g. radiologist with 10 years of experience)

• Not provided. Given that the device calculates volumetric breast density and BI-RADS categories but is "not a diagnostic aid" and "should be used only as adjunctive information when the final assessment... is made by an MQSA-qualified interpreting physician," the ground truth for such a device would typically relate to the accuracy of its calculations against established physical models or potentially expert consensus on BI-RADS categories. However, no details on how "ground truth" for validation was established are given in this document.

4. Adjudication method (e.g. 2+1, 3+1, none) for the test set

• Not provided.

5. If a multi reader multi case (MRMC) comparative effectiveness study was done, If so, what was the effect size of how much human readers improve with AI vs without AI assistance

• Not provided. This type of study is not described. The device is a quantitative imaging software, not explicitly an AI-assisted diagnostic tool in the typical sense of MRMC studies (though it uses "automated" analysis). Its primary function is to provide numerical values and BI-RADS categories, which are then used by a physician.

6. If a standalone (i.e. algorithm only without human-in-the-loop performance) was done

• Implied, but details not provided. The description of the device's function ("calculates and quantifies a density map and from that determines volumetric breast density... provides these numerical values along with a BI-RADS breast density... category") describes a standalone algorithmic calculation. However, no performance metrics from such a standalone evaluation are presented in this document.

7. The type of ground truth used (expert concensus, pathology, outcomes data, etc)

• Not provided. For a volumetric density calculation, ground truth could be established via phantoms, physical measurements, or potentially a highly detailed, independently verified volumetric analysis of breast tissue. No specific method is mentioned.

8. The sample size for the training set

• Not provided. This document describes a Special 510(k) for software updates to an already cleared device, implying the original device's training (if any neural networks were involved, though the description sounds more rule-based/analytical) would have occurred for the predicate. Information for this submission focuses on verification/validation of changes, not a new development cycle.

9. How the ground truth for the training set was established

• Not provided. (See point 8).

Ask a specific question about this device

Volpara is a software application intended for use with the raw data from digital breast x-ray systems, including tomosynthesis. Volpara calculates and quantifies a density map and from that determines volumetric breast density as a ratio of fibroglandular tissue and total breast volume estimates. Volpara provides these numerical values along with a BI-RADS breast density 4th or 5th Edition category to aid health care professionals in the assessment of breast tissue composition. Volpara is not an interpretive or diagnostic aid and should be used only as adjunctive information when the final assessment of breast density category is made by an MQSA qualified interpreting physician.

The Volpara Imaging Software ("Volpara") 1.5.6 software provides volumetric assessment of digital x-ray images of the breast, including in that definition both raw digital mammograms and raw tomosynthesis projections (the central projections of which are just raw digital mammograms).

The assessment takes the form of generating and validating density maps wherein the value at each pixel represents the thickness of fibroglandular tissue between that pixel and the x-ray source.

From the density maps various quantitative density-map based statistics are computed as follows:

• . volume of fibroglandular tissue in cm³
• volume of breast in cm3, .
• the volumetric breast density (the percentage of fibroglandular tissue in breast) .
• average thickness of dense tissue in cm .
• maximum thickness of dense tissue in cm .
• maximum volume of dense tissue above any 1cm² square region (or "focal ● density")

From the volumetric breast density, a BI-RADS 4th Edition and 5th Edition breast density category can be attained by applying thresholds set by the software.

The device outputs those metrics along with the density maps themselves marked with the location of the various maxima.

Volpara Imaging Software 1.5.2 operates on a Windows server that meets Volpara data input and output requirements and generally is located outside the patient environment. The device does not contact the patient, nor does it control any life-sustaining devices.

The provided document is a 510(k) summary for the Volpara Imaging Software (Version 1.5.6), indicating its substantial equivalence to a previously cleared version (1.5.2). It does not contain specific acceptance criteria or a detailed study proving the device meets those criteria, as typically presented in a clinical trial report or a performance study summary with quantified metrics against defined thresholds. The document primarily focuses on demonstrating the new version's substantial equivalence to the predicate device due to minor software and labeling enhancements.

Therefore, I cannot directly extract and provide the requested information from the given text regarding the acceptance criteria and a study proving the device meets specific acceptance criteria. The document confirms software verification and validation, risk analysis, and compliance with standards, but does not present a performance study with defined criteria and results in the format requested.

However, based on what is available in the document, I can infer and state the following, and highlight what information is missing:

Inferred Acceptance Criteria and Reported Device Performance (Based on Substantial Equivalence Claim):

The document argues for substantial equivalence to its predicate device (Volpara Imaging Software 1.5.2). This implies that the 'acceptance criteria' for the new version (1.5.6) were primarily that its performance for its stated indications of use remained comparable or identical to the predicate, particularly regarding the accurate calculation of volumetric breast density and BI-RADS categories.

Missing Information/Answers to Specific Questions based on the provided text:

1. A table of acceptance criteria and the reported device performance: As explained above, the document argues for substantial equivalence, implying the enhanced features perform comparably to the predicate. No explicit table of quantified acceptance criteria (e.g., specific accuracy thresholds for density measurement) and corresponding performance metrics from a dedicated study are provided.
2. Sample size used for the test set and the data provenance: Not specified in the document. The document states "complete verification and validation data testing conducted for the predicate was repeated in order to ensure integration and backwards compatibility," but it doesn't mention the size or characteristics (country of origin, retrospective/prospective) of this test set.
3. Number of experts used to establish the ground truth for the test set and the qualifications of those experts: Not specified.
4. Adjudication method (e.g. 2+1, 3+1, none) for the test set: Not specified.
5. If a multi reader multi case (MRMC) comparative effectiveness study was done, If so, what was the effect size of how much human readers improve with AI vs without AI assistance: Not indicated. The device is explicitly stated as "not an interpretive or diagnostic aid" and "should be used only as adjunctive information," suggesting it's not designed for direct comparative effectiveness with human readers or AI assistance in diagnostic performance, but rather for providing quantitative measurements.
6. If a standalone (i.e. algorithm only without human-in-the-loop performance) was done: The document describes "verification and validation testing" and states the device "calculates and quantifies a density map and from that determines volumetric breast density," which implies standalone performance for its quantitative tasks. However, specific standalone performance metrics or a detailed study are not presented.
7. The type of ground truth used (expert consensus, pathology, outcomes data, etc.): Not specified.
8. The sample size for the training set: Not specified. (This particular submission is for software version 1.5.6, which builds on 1.5.2, so a 'training set' for this specific submission might be minimal if it's primarily a validation of enhancements, not a new algorithm development).
9. How the ground truth for the training set was established: Not specified.

Ask a specific question about this device