Vivace Cartridge Compatibility: Two Families, Two Manufacturers
What are Vivace cartridges?
Vivace cartridges are single-use disposable consumables that mount on a Vivace handpiece. Two distinct cartridge families exist under the Vivace brand name. The original Vivace device by ShenB Co. uses a 36-needle 6×6 array cartridge, cleared under FDA 510(k) K150409 and K193070. The separate Vivace Ultra device by Aesthetics Biomedical (FDA trade name LUDWIG, K221574) uses a 60-needle square-pattern cartridge with a distinct catalog of insulated and non-insulated SKUs. The two cartridge families are mechanically incompatible. Verifying which device a clinic owns is the first step before ordering replacement consumables.
The rest of this article maps the two cartridge families, explains how insulation options sit alongside cartridge family, places depth ranges in context, and walks through compatibility verification. For the underlying device profile, see the Vivace device profile, and for the broader catalog context, see RF microneedling consumables across brands.
Two Vivace cartridge families: SHEnB and Aesthetics Biomedical
The VIVACE Microneedle Cartridge associated with the ShenB Co. device family carries 36 needles in a 6×6 array, each needle with an outer diameter of 0.3 mm, fabricated in stainless steel. The cartridges are supplied sterile from ethylene oxide processing to a sterility assurance level of 10 to the minus six, under ISO 11135, and are prescription only. The AccessGUDID record (Primary DI 08800017100234, with packaging variants 08800017100340, 08800017100357, and 08800017100364) sits under SHEnB with the GS1 issuing agency. The catalog number field on the SHEnB GUDID records is not populated; only the Primary DI is available.
The Vivace Ultra cartridge family under Aesthetics Biomedical is structured differently. The 510(k) clearance K221574 (FDA trade name LUDWIG Electrosurgical System) carries 16 catalog SKUs in AccessGUDID, all registered under the HIBCC issuing agency with the G055 prefix. The catalog distinguishes the system-level SKU (ABMVIVS01), the RF applicator SKU (ABMVIVR01), the ultrasound visualization handpiece SKU (ABMVIVU01), and the cartridge series ABMVIVM01 through ABMVIVM10. Within the cartridge series, ABMVIVM05 and ABMVIVM09 are insulated, while ABMVIVM06 and ABMVIVM10 are non-insulated, with M09 and M10 carrying the 60-needle large-area pattern and M05 and M06 carrying the individual standard configuration. Custom small-area variants (M01 through M04) cover both insulation options for smaller treatment zones.
The two cartridge families are mechanically incompatible. The needle count differs (36 versus 60), the pattern differs (6×6 grid versus 60-pin square), and the mounting interface to the handpiece is not shared. A cartridge from one family does not physically fit the other device. The Vivace and Vivace Ultra products are not generations of the same line in the way that, for example, Sylfirm and Sylfirm X are within the VIOL family. They are separate pathway clearances from separate sponsors. The cartridge incompatibility between Vivace SHEnB and Vivace Ultra article covers the regulatory background in full.
| Spec | VIVACE Microneedle Cartridge (SHEnB) | VIVACE ULTRA cartridge family (Aesthetics Biomedical) |
|---|---|---|
| For device | VIVACE Electrosurgical Device (K150409 + K193070) | LUDWIG Electrosurgical System (K221574; GUDID brand "VIVACE ULTRA") |
| Manufacturer | ShenB Co., Ltd. (Seoul, Korea) | Aesthetics Biomedical, Inc. (Phoenix AZ) |
| Needle count | 36 | 60 |
| Pattern | 6×6 array | square pattern |
| Insulation options | described in manufacturer documentation; not specified in 510(k) Summary | explicit at the SKU level (ABMVIVM05 and M09 insulated; M06 and M10 non-insulated) |
| Catalog SKU prefix | not populated in GUDID Catalog Number field | ABMVIVS, ABMVIVR, ABMVIVU, ABMVIVM |
| Sterile, single-use | Yes (EO, SAL 10^-6, ISO 11135) | yes |
| Compatibility with the other family | no | no |
Insulation choice: insulated versus non-insulated cartridges per indication
The Vivace Ultra catalog makes the insulation choice visible at the SKU level. ABMVIVM05 and ABMVIVM09 ship insulated; ABMVIVM06 and ABMVIVM10 ship non-insulated. The Vivace SHEnB cartridge is described in manufacturer documentation as available in both configurations, with the 510(k) Summaries not specifying insulation type in their indications section. The practical effect for clinics is that both Vivace lines support switching insulation per session within the same device by selecting the appropriate cartridge SKU.
Compatibility is based on industry-standard usage and clinical experience; verify against your specific Vivace generation and handpiece before ordering. The per-indication selection logic between insulated and non-insulated cartridges, including the energy-delivery mechanism behind the choice, is covered in the cross-brand insulation choice per indication article. The short version is that insulated cartridges concentrate thermal effect at depth with minimal surface heating, while non-insulated cartridges deliver RF along the full needle shaft for a layered effect from epidermis through dermis in a single pass.
Depth ranges per cartridge family
The Vivace SHEnB cartridge supports needle depth from 0.5 to 3.5 mm in 0.1 mm increments, producing 31 discrete depth settings within the cleared range. The Vivace Ultra cartridge extends the range to 0.5 to 4.0 mm at the same 0.1 mm step, producing 36 settings. The 0.5 mm depth extension on the Vivace Ultra cartridge family is the principal per-family depth difference between the two lines.
Per-area protocol implications follow from the available range. Facial thin skin work typically sits in the 0.5 to 1.5 mm zone, mid-dermal scarring and deeper wrinkle protocols in the 1.5 to 2.5 mm zone, and body or subcutaneous work in the 2.5 to 3.5 mm zone on Vivace SHEnB or 2.5 to 4.0 mm zone on Vivace Ultra. The depth ranges per cartridge family article covers the per-indication depth selection logic and the 1 MHz versus 2 MHz protocol distinction from K193070.
How to verify which cartridge family fits a clinic's device
Because the cartridge families are mechanically incompatible, the verification step is the first operational check before ordering. Four pieces of information identify the cartridge family unambiguously: the FDA K-number on the device manual, the AccessGUDID Primary DI prefix, the manufacturer label on the device, and the catalog number on the cartridge box (where available). Any one of these is sufficient; together they cross-validate.
- Check the FDA K-number in the device manual. K150409 or K193070 identifies the original Vivace (SHEnB family). K221574 identifies Vivace Ultra (Aesthetics Biomedical family; FDA trade name LUDWIG Electrosurgical System).
- Look up the Primary DI from the device or cartridge label in AccessGUDID device lookup. A 0880001710xxxx prefix indicates SHEnB (GS1 issuing agency). A G055xxxxxxxx prefix indicates Aesthetics Biomedical (HIBCC issuing agency).
- Read the manufacturer label on the device. "ShenB Co." or "Sung Hwan E&B" identifies the original Vivace family. "Aesthetics Biomedical, Inc." identifies Vivace Ultra. After the ShenB rebrand to VYBE RF, newer SHEnB-built devices may carry the VYBE RF brand name with ShenB Co. as manufacturer; these still belong to the original Vivace cartridge family.
- Check the catalog number on the cartridge box if available. An ABMVIVM prefix indicates Aesthetics Biomedical (Vivace Ultra cartridge family). The absence of a catalog number, or an SH-TIP series identifier, indicates SHEnB (Vivace cartridge family).
Professionally sourced Vivace cartridges: how Pinova carries them
Pinova carries professionally sourced Vivace cartridges across both Vivace device families. The Pinova catalog distinguishes between the two cartridge lines at the product level so that clinics can order the SKU that fits their device. Clinics that have recently changed device generation, replaced a handpiece, or purchased a pre-owned unit should re-run the verification procedure in section 5 before placing a cartridge order, particularly when the device manual or the cartridge labeling is unavailable. Clinics evaluating pre-owned Vivace or Vivace Ultra devices on the secondary market should confirm cartridge availability and FDA clearance applicability against the specific unit, since both lines are still in active distribution but under separate manufacturer relationships. Browse the available stock on the Vivace cartridges page.
Frequently asked questions
Are Vivace cartridges single-use?
Yes. Both the Vivace SHEnB cartridge and the Vivace Ultra cartridge family are single-use disposable consumables. The SHEnB cartridge is supplied sterile from ethylene oxide processing to a sterility assurance level of 10 to the minus six under ISO 11135, as documented in the K193070 510(k) Summary.
Do Vivace and Vivace Ultra use the same cartridges?
No. The two cartridge families are mechanically incompatible. The original Vivace cartridge by ShenB Co. carries 36 needles in a 6×6 array. The Vivace Ultra cartridge by Aesthetics Biomedical carries 60 needles in a square pattern. The mounting interface differs as well. A cartridge from one family does not fit the other device. The disambiguation article in this series covers the regulatory background in full.
How does a clinic verify which Vivace cartridge family fits its device?
Four checks identify the cartridge family. Read the FDA K-number from the device manual (K150409 or K193070 means SHEnB; K221574 means Aesthetics Biomedical, FDA trade name LUDWIG). Look up the Primary DI in AccessGUDID (0880001710 prefix is SHEnB; G055 prefix is Aesthetics Biomedical). Check the manufacturer label on the device. Read the cartridge catalog number (ABMVIVM prefix is Aesthetics Biomedical).
Are Vivace cartridges available in insulated and non-insulated configurations?
Yes, for both families. The Vivace Ultra catalog makes the choice explicit at the SKU level (ABMVIVM05 and M09 insulated; ABMVIVM06 and M10 non-insulated). The Vivace SHEnB cartridge is described in manufacturer documentation as available in both configurations, with the 510(k) Summaries not specifying insulation type. The cross-brand article in this series covers the per-indication selection logic.
Where does Pinova source Vivace cartridges?
Pinova carries professionally sourced cartridges across both Vivace device families. Compatibility is based on industry-standard usage and clinical experience; verify against your device manual and current manufacturer documentation before ordering.
