510(k) · Cleared
ClearedHI-Torque Balance Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic Coating, Acs HI-Torque Balance Middleweight Guide Wire with Hydg
Data to Oct 25, 2026 (FDA decisions) Oct 12, 2026 (recalls) Sep 30, 2026 (MAUDE) refreshed weekly
Guidant Corp. · DQX Wire, Guide, Catheter
Cleared on Dec 12, 1997 as substantially equivalent to K925381 (Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., 1993) and 2 other predicates after an 88-day review. Its family tree reaches back 2 generations to 1991. 1 of the 48 devices in its family, counting itself, has a Class I recall. 43 later devices descend from it.
- Decided
- Dec 12, 1997
- Review
- 88 days
- Class
- Class II
- Product code
- DQX
- Recalls
- None
- Predicates
- 3
Its longest line of descent runs back 2 generations to K913353 (1991). 4 ancestors in all. 43 later devices descend from it, 6 citing it directly. 1 of the 48 devices in this family, counting this one, has a Class I recall.
- Root · 2 generations backK913353 Vascular Guide WireAdvanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. · 1991
- 1 generation backK971815 Asc Balance Middleweight Guide WireGuidant Corp. · 1997
- This deviceK973494 HI-Torque Balance Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic Coating, Acs…Guidant Corp. · 1997
- Descendant · cites it directly · 26 of its ownK013833 HI-Toque Balance Middleweight Universal Guide Wire with Hydrocoat…Guidant Corp. · 2002
- Descendant · 2 generations on · 21 of its ownK072460 HI-Torque Balance Middleweight Universal II Guide WireAbbott Vascular, Inc. · 2008
- Descendant · cites it directly · 13 of its ownK103101 HI-Torque Balance Middleweight EliteAbbott Vascular-Cardiac Therapies · 2011
- Descendant · cites it directly · 11 of its ownK030617 PT2 Guide Wire and Addwire Extension WireBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc. · 2003 · Recalled
- Descendant · 3 generations on · 9 of its ownK091825 HI-Torque Progress Guide Wire FamilyAbbott Vascular, Inc. · 2009
Showing 5 of 43 descendants. See all descendants
Descendants cleared per year
Class I recalls in this family
- K121398 Charlie Guidewire (Regular), Charlie Guidewire…3 generations on · 2012
Most influential descendants
Showing 5 of 43 · See all- K013833HI-Toque Balance Middleweight Universal Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic Coating…Guidant Corp. · 2002 · cites it directly26descendants
- K072460HI-Torque Balance Middleweight Universal II Guide WireAbbott Vascular, Inc. · 2008 · 2 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
- K091825HI-Torque Progress Guide Wire FamilyAbbott Vascular, Inc. · 2009 · 3 generations on9descendants
View FIG. 1 as a table
Line of descent and top descendants
| Generation | Number | Device | Applicant | Decided | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| −2 | K913353 | Vascular Guide Wire | Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | 1991 | — |
| −1 | K971815 | Asc Balance Middleweight Guide Wire | Guidant Corp. | 1997 | — |
| 0 (this device) | K973494 | HI-Torque Balance Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic Coating, Acs HI-Torque… | Guidant Corp. | 1997 | — |
| +1 | K013833 | HI-Toque Balance Middleweight Universal Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic… | Guidant Corp. | 2002 | — |
| +2 | K072460 | HI-Torque Balance Middleweight Universal II Guide Wire | Abbott Vascular, Inc. | 2008 | — |
| +1 | K103101 | HI-Torque Balance Middleweight Elite | Abbott Vascular-Cardiac Therapies | 2011 | — |
| +1 | K030617 | PT2 Guide Wire and Addwire Extension Wire | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. | 2003 | 4 |
| +3 | K091825 | HI-Torque Progress Guide Wire Family | Abbott Vascular, Inc. | 2009 | — |
Other ancestors by year cleared
| Year cleared | Devices | With a Class I recall |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
Descendants by year cleared
| Year cleared | Devices | With a Class I recall |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 |
| 2012 | 2 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 |
| 2017 | 3 | 0 |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 |
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.
1 device in this family has 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 K213854 SavvyWirescore 15.7 · 10 generations · no Class I recall
- #2 Held for the reportin the report
- #3 Held for the reportin the report
What was it cleared against? (3)
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.
| Type | Number | Device | Decided |
|---|---|---|---|
| * | K925381 | Acs HI-Torque Balance (TM) Guide WireSummary page 1…OCOAT™ Hydrophilic Coating Device Common Name: Guide Wire Device Classification Name: Catheter Guide Wire (74DQX) | 3. Predicate Device: HI-TORQUE BALANCE™ Guide Wire (K925381, approved February 12, 1993) ACS HI-TORQUE BALANCE MIDDLEWEIGHT™ Guide Wire (K971815, approved July 9, 1997) ChoICE™ PT Plus Gu… | 1993 |
| * | K971815 | Asc Balance Middleweight Guide WireSummary page 1…Catheter Guide Wire (74DQX) | 3. Predicate Device: HI-TORQUE BALANCE™ Guide Wire (K925381, approved February 12, 1993) ACS HI-TORQUE BALANCE MIDDLEWEIGHT™ Guide Wire (K971815, approved July 9, 1997) ChoICE™ PT Plus Guide Wire (K950216, approved June 22, 1995) 4, Device Description: The HI-TORQUE BALA… | 1997 |
| * | K950216 | Scimed Choice PT Plus (RM) Ptca Guide WireSummary page 1…BALANCE™ Guide Wire (K925381, approved February 12, 1993) ACS HI-TORQUE BALANCE MIDDLEWEIGHT™ Guide Wire (K971815, approved July 9, 1997) ChoICE™ PT Plus Guide Wire (K950216, approved June 22, 1995) 4, Device Description: The HI-TORQUE BALANCE® Guide Wire with HYDROCOAT™ Hydrophilic Coating and the AC… | 1995 |
What descends from it? (43)
See all 436 later devices cite it directly; ranked here by how many devices descend from each in turn.
| Number | Device | Decided | Descendants |
|---|---|---|---|
| K013833 | HI-Toque Balance Middleweight Universal Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic Coating… | 2002 | 26 |
| K103101 | HI-Torque Balance Middleweight Elite | 2011 | 13 |
| K030617 | PT2 Guide Wire and Addwire Extension Wire | 2003 | 11 |
| K152709 | HI-Torque Balance | 2015 | 2 |
| K982272 | Galeo HS 014 Model 117 130, Galeo S 014 Model 115 488, Galeao M 014 Model 114156, Galeo… | 1999 | 2 |
| K980294 | Acs HI-Torque Super Sport Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic Coating | 1998 | 0 |
Has anything in its family been recalled? (1 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.
- K121398Charlie Guidewire (Regular), Charlie Guidewire (Stiff)Guidepath Medical, Inc. · 2012 · 3 generations on · ◆ in the 2012 descendants bar of FIG. 112 Class I recalls
What does this lineage say?
- The line of descent spans 6 years and passes through 2 companies; a new generation was cleared every 5.7 years on median.
- None of the 4 ancestors has a recall.
- Of its descendants, K013833 (Guidant Corp., 2002) has gone furthest, with 26 descendants of its own.
- 3 other devices also cite its predicate K925381.
How does its category compare?
All DQX devicesDQX Wire, Guide, Catheter: FDA decisions, review times, recalls and adverse event reports over 20 years.
FDA decisions per year · DQX
10in 2025
2026 to Oct 25, outlined.
Median 510(k) review, days · DQX
177in 2025
Receipt to decision; years with fewer than 3 clearances left blank.
Recalls per year · DQX
3in 2024
Class I (8 since 2007) Class II/III not classified
Adverse event reports per year · DQX
2,178in 2025
MAUDE reports naming product code DQX, not matched to any one device; reports are not rates.
View these four charts as a table
| Year | Decisions | Median 510(k) review, days | Recalls (Class I) | MAUDE reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 14 | 85 | 12 | 760 |
| 2008 | 19 | 87 | 7 | 715 |
| 2009 | 18 | 87 | 49 | 687 |
| 2010 | 21 | 63 | 34 | 987 |
| 2011 | 18 | 43 | 3 | 1,311 |
| 2012 | 20 | 62 | 5 | 1,337 |
| 2013 | 18 | 119 | 7 (4) | 1,474 |
| 2014 | 18 | 103 | 0 | 1,323 |
| 2015 | 15 | 112 | 1 | 1,323 |
| 2016 | 14 | 179 | 2 (2) | 1,466 |
| 2017 | 19 | 85 | 17 | 1,524 |
| 2018 | 19 | 114 | 9 | 1,737 |
| 2019 | 13 | 173 | 2 | 1,679 |
| 2020 | 14 | 106 | 1 (1) | 1,536 |
| 2021 | 6 | 161 | 0 | 1,713 |
| 2022 | 15 | 212 | 0 | 1,647 |
| 2023 | 10 | 136 | 0 | 2,068 |
| 2024 | 11 | 134 | 3 | 2,210 |
| 2025 | 10 | 177 | 0 | 2,178 |
| 2026 | 12 | 145 | 4 (1) | — |
What is it indicated for?
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, IVUS 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.
https://510kreport.com/device/K973494 · printed Nov 6, 2026
Cite this page
510(k) Report. “K973494: HI-Torque Balance Guide Wire with Hydrocoat Hydrophilic Coating, Acs HI-Torque Balance Middleweight Guide Wire with Hydg.” Lineage record from FDA 510(k) data and the FDA summary. Updated Nov 3, 2026. Accessed Nov 6, 2026. https://510kreport.com/device/K973494
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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