510(k) Report

510(k) · Cleared

Cleared

Asc Balance Middleweight Guide Wire

K971815510(k) TraditionalCleared Jul 9, 199754-day reviewClass II21 CFR 870.1330

Data to Oct 25, 2026 (FDA decisions) Oct 12, 2026 (recalls) Sep 30, 2026 (MAUDE) refreshed weekly, last Nov 3, 2026

Guidant Corp. · DQX Wire, Guide, Catheter

Cleared on Jul 9, 1997 as substantially equivalent to K925381 (Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., 1993) and 1 other predicate after a 54-day review. Its family tree reaches back 1 generation to 1991. 2 of the 56 devices in its family, counting itself, have a Class I recall. 53 later devices descend from it.

Decided
Jul 9, 1997
Review
54 days
Class
Class II
Product code
DQX
Recalls
None
Predicates
2

Its longest line of descent runs back 1 generation to K913353 (1991). 2 ancestors in all. 53 later devices descend from it, 5 citing it directly. 2 of the 56 devices in this family, counting this one, have a Class I recall.

Other ancestors, by year clearedDescendants, by year cleared 1993: 1 other ancestor2015: 4 descendants cleared2003: 3 descendants cleared2002: 2 descendants cleared1997: 1 descendant cleared2011: 2 descendants cleared2005: 5 descendants cleared2018: 3 descendants cleared2014: 2 descendants cleared2012: 2 descendants cleared, 1 with a Class I recall12017: 3 descendants cleared2019: 4 descendants cleared1998: 1 descendant cleared1999: 1 descendant cleared2010: 4 descendants cleared2008: 6 descendants cleared, 1 with a Class I recall12004: 1 descendant cleared2006: 2 descendants cleared2024: 1 descendant cleared2016: 1 descendant cleared2009: 2 descendants cleared2025: 1 descendant cleared2013: 1 descendant cleared2020: 1 descendant clearedK913353 · Vascular Guide Wire · Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. · 19911990200020102020
Other ancestors, by generationDescendants, by generation 1 generation back: 1 other ancestor 1 generation forward: 5 descendants2 generations forward: 14 descendants3 generations forward: 20 descendants, 1 with a Class I recall14 generations forward: 9 descendants, 1 with a Class I recall15 generations forward: 3 descendants6 generations forward: 1 descendant7 generations forward: 1 descendant K913353 · Vascular Guide Wire · Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. · 19910+5
  1. Root · 1 generation backK913353 Vascular Guide WireAdvanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. · 1991
  2. This deviceK971815 Asc Balance Middleweight Guide WireGuidant Corp. · 1997
  3. Descendant · cites it directly · 43 of its ownK973494 HI-Torque Balance Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic Coating, Acs…Guidant Corp. · 1997
  4. Descendant · 2 generations on · 26 of its ownK013833 HI-Toque Balance Middleweight Universal Guide Wire with Hydrocoat…Guidant Corp. · 2002
  5. Descendant · 3 generations on · 21 of its ownK072460 HI-Torque Balance Middleweight Universal II Guide WireAbbott Vascular, Inc. · 2008
  6. Descendant · cites it directly · 13 of its ownK103101 HI-Torque Balance Middleweight EliteAbbott Vascular-Cardiac Therapies · 2011
  7. Descendant · cites it directly · 11 of its ownK030617 PT2 Guide Wire and Addwire Extension WireBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc. · 2003 · Recalled

Showing 5 of 53 descendants. See all descendants

Descendants cleared per year

1997: 11998: 11999: 12002: 22003: 32004: 12005: 52006: 22008: 62009: 22010: 42011: 22012: 22013: 12014: 22015: 42016: 12017: 32018: 32019: 42020: 12024: 12025: 1
1997high 6 (2008) · low 0 (2000)2026

Class I recalls in this family

Most influential descendants

Showing 5 of 53 · See all
  • K973494HI-Torque Balance Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic Coating, Acs HI-Torque Balance…Guidant Corp. · 1997 · cites it directly43descendants
  • K013833HI-Toque Balance Middleweight Universal Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic Coating…Guidant Corp. · 2002 · 2 generations on26descendants
  • K072460HI-Torque Balance Middleweight Universal II Guide WireAbbott Vascular, Inc. · 2008 · 3 generations on21descendants
  • K103101HI-Torque Balance Middleweight EliteAbbott Vascular-Cardiac Therapies · 2011 · cites it directly13descendants
  • K030617PT2 Guide Wire and Addwire Extension WireBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc. · 2003 · cites it directly11descendants
View FIG. 1 as a table

Line of descent and top descendants

GenerationNumberDeviceApplicantDecidedRecalls
−1K913353Vascular Guide WireAdvanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.1991—
0 (this device)K971815Asc Balance Middleweight Guide WireGuidant Corp.1997—
+1K973494HI-Torque Balance Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic Coating, Acs HI-Torque…Guidant Corp.1997—
+2K013833HI-Toque Balance Middleweight Universal Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic…Guidant Corp.2002—
+3K072460HI-Torque Balance Middleweight Universal II Guide WireAbbott Vascular, Inc.2008—
+1K103101HI-Torque Balance Middleweight EliteAbbott Vascular-Cardiac Therapies2011—
+1K030617PT2 Guide Wire and Addwire Extension WireBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.20034

Other ancestors by year cleared

Year clearedDevicesWith a Class I recall
199310

Descendants by year cleared

Year clearedDevicesWith a Class I recall
199710
199810
199910
200220
200330
200410
200550
200620
200861
200920
201040
201120
201221
201310
201420
201540
201610
201730
201830
201940
202010
202410
202510
FIG. 1 — Lineage of K971815, 1991–2025Source: FDA 510(k) summaries, read by 510(k) Report · How lineage is built

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Notable FDA decisions, review times and new Class I recalls. See an issue.

Sources: FDA 510(k) database (decision fields), the FDA summary (predicates and indications), FDA recall and enforcement reports, and MAUDE; processed by 510(k) Report. Verify on FDA.gov · Methodology and accuracy.

2 devices in this family have a Class I recall. A 510(k) Report weighs predicate choices, recall history and review times for a new device like this one.

Top candidate predicates for a new DQX device

  1. #1 K213854 SavvyWirescore 15.7 · 10 generations · no Class I recall
  2. #2 Held for the reportin the report
  3. #3 Held for the reportin the report
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What was it cleared against? (2)

Devices the submitter claimed this one is substantially equivalent to (*), and reference devices cited for a specific test or feature (†), as written in the FDA summary.

TypeNumberDeviceApplicantDecidedRecalls
*K925381Acs HI-Torque Balance (TM) Guide Wire
Summary page 2
…catheter. 5. Summary of Substantial Equivalence: A comparison of the ACS HI-TORQUE BALANCE MIDDLEWEIGHT™ Guide Wire to the predicate ACS HI-TORQUE BALANCE® Guide Wire (K925381, approved February 12, 1993), indicates that the new guide wire is substantially equivalent to the predicate guide wire with reg…
Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.1993—
*K913353Vascular Guide Wire
Summary page 3
…or use in the cerebral vasculature. The ACS HI-TORQUE BALANCE MIDDLEWEIGHT™ Guide Wire is substantially equivalent to the ACS Hi- Torque Floppy Xtra Support® Guide Wire (K913353, approved October 23, 1991) with regard to its intended use. The design of the new ACS BALANCE MIDDLEWEIGHT™ Guide Wire is cons…
Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.1991—

Also cleared against K925381: 3 other devices →

What descends from it? (53)

See all 53

5 later devices cite it directly; ranked here by how many devices descend from each in turn.

NumberDeviceApplicantDecidedDescendants
K973494HI-Torque Balance Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic Coating, Acs HI-Torque Balance…Guidant Corp.199743
K103101HI-Torque Balance Middleweight EliteAbbott Vascular-Cardiac Therapies201113
K030617PT2 Guide Wire and Addwire Extension WireBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.200311
K021363Endovascular Guide WireStereotaxis, Inc.20028
K152709HI-Torque BalanceAbbott Vascular20152

Has anything in its family been recalled? (2 Class I)

No FDA recall names this device.

Relatives with a Class I recall

Class I is FDA’s most serious recall class. A recall in the family tree is context for this device, not evidence about it.

  • K080364Findrwirz Guide Wire SystemSentreheart, Inc. · 2008 · 3 generations on · ◆ in the 2008 descendants bar of FIG. 11 Class I recall
  • K121398Charlie Guidewire (Regular), Charlie Guidewire (Stiff)Guidepath Medical, Inc. · 2012 · 4 generations on · ◆ in the 2012 descendants bar of FIG. 112 Class I recalls

What does this lineage say?

  • None of the 2 ancestors has a recall.
  • Of its descendants, K973494 (Guidant Corp., 1997) has gone furthest, with 43 descendants of its own.
  • 3 other devices also cite its predicate K925381.

How does its category compare?

All DQX devices

DQX Wire, Guide, Catheter: FDA decisions, review times, recalls and adverse event reports over 20 years.

FDA decisions per year · DQX

10in 2025

2007: 142008: 192009: 182010: 212011: 182012: 202013: 182014: 182015: 152016: 142017: 192018: 192019: 132020: 142021: 62022: 152023: 102024: 112025: 102026 (partial year): 12
2007high 21 (2010) · low 6 (2021)2026

2026 to Oct 25, outlined.

Median 510(k) review, days · DQX

177in 2025

2007: 85 days median2008: 87 days median2009: 87 days median2010: 63 days median2011: 43 days median2012: 62 days median2013: 119 days median2014: 103 days median2015: 112 days median2016: 179 days median2017: 85 days median2018: 114 days median2019: 173 days median2020: 106 days median2021: 161 days median2022: 212 days median2023: 136 days median2024: 134 days median2025: 177 days median2026 (partial year): 145 days median
2007high 212 (2022) · low 43 (2011)2026

Receipt to decision; years with fewer than 3 clearances left blank.

Recalls per year · DQX

3in 2024

2007: 122008: 72009: 492010: 342011: 32012: 52013: 7, 4 Class I2015: 12016: 2, 2 Class I2017: 172018: 92019: 22020: 1, 1 Class I2024: 32026 (partial year): 4, 1 Class I
2007high 49 (2009) · low 0 (2014)2026

Class I (8 since 2007) Class II/III not classified

Adverse event reports per year · DQX

2,178in 2025

2007: 7602008: 7152009: 6872010: 9872011: 1,3112012: 1,3372013: 1,4742014: 1,3232015: 1,3232016: 1,4662017: 1,5242018: 1,7372019: 1,6792020: 1,5362021: 1,7132022: 1,6472023: 2,0682024: 2,2102025: 2,178
2007high 2,210 (2024) · low 687 (2009)2025

MAUDE reports naming product code DQX, not matched to any one device; reports are not rates.

View these four charts as a table
YearDecisionsMedian 510(k) review, daysRecalls (Class I)MAUDE reports
2007148512760
200819877715
2009188749687
2010216334987
2011184331,311
2012206251,337
2013181197 (4)1,474
20141810301,323
20151511211,323
2016141792 (2)1,466
20171985171,524
20181911491,737
20191317321,679
2020141061 (1)1,536
2021616101,713
20221521201,647
20231013602,068
20241113432,210
20251017702,178
2026121454 (1)—

What is it indicated for?

The ACS HI-TORQUE BALANCE MIDDLEWEIGHT™ Guide Wire is a steerable wire intended to facilitate the placement of balloon dilatation catheters during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). The wire is also intended to facilitate the placement of equipment such as atherectomy and compatible stent devices during other diagnostic and therapeutic intravascular procedures.

Indications for use read by OCR from a scanned FDA summary, so letters may be misread. Check the PDF before quoting it.

Cite this page

510(k) Report. “K971815: Asc Balance Middleweight Guide Wire.” Lineage record from FDA 510(k) data and the FDA summary. Updated Nov 3, 2026. Accessed Nov 4, 2026. https://510kreport.com/device/K971815

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Record history
  • FDA decision record loaded May 2, 2026
  • Summary read Oct 13, 2026 (extraction version 9eaa42aa01ed)
  • Lineage and recalls computed Nov 3, 2026
  • Page last updated Nov 3, 2026