Medical Device Regulations & Compliance
INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES
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![New-Business-Technology-iStock-1220938772]( "4 Strategies for Medtech Compliance With FDA’s Upcoming Computer Software Assurance Guidance")
4 Strategies for Medtech Compliance With FDA’s Upcoming Computer Software Assurance GuidanceAs the FDA finalizes and publishes the Computer Software Assurance (CSA) guidance later this year, companies that have not already started the transformation process to CSA should get started now. Here are 4 strategies to be successful.
The first article in this series examined 5 common misconceptions in data integrity (DI). In this article, the author now shares 9 example areas where he has seen significant DI implementation problems in pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
Data integrity (DI) issues in pharma and medical devices have always been there, but in my experience as a consultant, these issues have increased in frequency more recently, thus moving them to the forefront. In this article, I explain five misconceptions about data integrity in our industry.
The EU MDR regulation imposes new requirements for clinical evaluation for some Class III and implantable devices, narrowing equivalence routes and placing greater emphasis on postmarket clinical follow-up (PMCF). This article provides three best practices for compliance and then offers an overview of common issues observed in notified body submissions.
On Sept. 1, 2021, the FDA’s final rule on intended use for drugs and devices became effective. The rule has a complicated history and has been the subject of controversy over the last 6 years. It provides clarity to manufacturers, but many remain dissatisfied with the evidentiary standard for determining intended use. Might legal challenges follow?
WHITE PAPERS & CASE STUDIES
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![Industry 4.0 AI smart factory iStock-1286063951.jpg]( "Vital Signs Of The Medical Device Industry")
Vital Signs Of The Medical Device IndustryThe medical device industry emerged from 2020 a little beat up and bruised, but those that were able to adapt successfully will act as models for 2021 and beyond. As the medtech ecosystem and medical device regulations continue to evolve in conjunction with the continued pressure to meet demand while adhering to quality expectations, medical device companies must embrace digital transformation and shifts in mindset to remain competitive.
In medical device development, speed, efficiency, and accuracy with document control processes are a top priority. Regulators are embracing advancing technologies to effectively achieve their mission of ensuring public health and safety — including enhancements directly related to documentation.
Data integrity plays a key role in all areas of CGMP compliance, and the FDA expects all data to be reliable and accurate. A good approach to achieving and maintaining data integrity compliance is to develop a practical data management strategy that involves employees, IT data management processes, and company policies.
Regulatory inspections conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are commonly followed by a list of observations noted during an audit. By understanding the FDA’s updated approach to medical device regulation and the information provided in this document about inspection observations, medical device companies can more easily identify and mitigate compliance issues.
Accordingly, many companies have a conundrum if they want to maintain both ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certification: How to comply with the varied requirements within only one quality system. The array of opportunity may not be as broad in terms of rationalizing how to do business as an outlier.
ABOUT MEDICAL DEVICE REGULATIONS & COMPLIANCE
Medical devices, from ideation to post-launch assessment, are regulated in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Medical Device Regulation Act of 1976 and subsequent amendments to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1938.
The FDA’s medical device regulatory pathways — for premarket review, clearance, and approval — are based on three classifications, indicating the degree of regulatory control necessary to ensure a device’s safety and effectiveness. Class I devices are considered low-risk, and many are exempt from the regulatory process. Class II devices require special controls for “labeling, guidance, tracking, design, performance standards, and postmarket monitoring,” and most require premarket notification 510(k) to demonstrate substantial equivalence (having the same intended use and technological characteristics) to a legally marketed device. Class III devices usually sustain or support life, are implanted, or present a significant risk of illness or injury. Most class III devices require premarket approval (PMA), which examines a variety of factors in weighing the probable health benefits from intended use of a device versus the probable risks.
Medical device makers must adhere to Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations, which FDA inspectors use to determine if a manufacturer has the facilities, skills, and equipment to produce and pack its product. In addition, the FDA requires all medical devices to carry a unique device identifier (UDI), readable by both machines and humans, to “improve patient safety, modernize device postmarket surveillance, and facilitate medical device innovation.”
Medical device makers competing in international markets must monitor and adhere to the policies of foreign regulatory bodies, which can vary greatly, depending on the nation. Further, many global regulators require manufacturers to be certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO 13485 compliance, confirmed through third-party (Notified Body) audits, demonstrates a medical device manufacturer’s procedures and products meet or exceed international quality standards.
Efforts are also underway to standardize international regulations to ensure the safety, effectiveness, and quality of medical devices. The International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) — composed of regulatory agencies from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, Japan, Russia, and the United States — is building upon previous work by the Global Harmonization Task Force on Medical Devices (GHTF) to speed this harmonization and convergence.
LATEST HEADLINES
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Edwards' Self-Expanding Transcatheter Heart Valve Receives CE Mark2/15/2018
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in patient-focused innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring, recently announced it has received CE Mark for its self-expanding CENTERA valve for severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis patients at high risk of open-heart surgery.
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Arterys’ Oncology Imaging Suite With Deep Learning Cleared By FDA2/15/2018
Arterys Inc., the leader in intelligent, cloud-based medical imaging software solutions, recently announced its fifth 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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Embrace Becomes First FDA-Cleared Seizure-Monitoring Smart Watch2/5/2018
Empatica Inc has received clearance from the FDA for Embrace, its award-winning smart watch. Embrace uses AI (advanced machine learning) to monitor for the most dangerous kinds of seizures, known as "grand mal" or "generalized tonic-clonic" seizures, and send an alert to summon caregivers' help.
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FDA Clears Zimmer Biomet’s Total Shoulder Arthroplasty System1/3/2018
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE and SIX: ZBH), a global leader in musculoskeletal healthcare, today announced it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for the Sidus® Stem-Free Shoulder system as a total shoulder arthroplasty solution for patients with good bone stock that have either osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthrosis, focal avascular necrosis of the humeral head or who had previous surgeries of the shoulder that do not compromise the fixation.
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K2M’s 3D-Printed Expandable Corpectomy Cage With Cervical Spine Indications Gains CE Mark12/20/2017
K2M Group Holdings, Inc.(NASDAQ:KTWO) (the "Company" or "K2M"), a global leader of complex spine and minimally invasive solutions focused on achieving three-dimensional Total Body Balance™, today announced that it received a CE Mark for its CAPRI® Cervical 3D Expandable Corpectomy Cage System* featuring Lamellar 3D Titanium Technology™, and the successful completion of its first surgical case.
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First Wire-Free Radar Breast Tumor Localization System For Long-Term Implant Cleared By FDA11/13/2017
Cianna Medical, Inc. has received FDA clearance of the SAVI SCOUT® reflector for long term implant. The SAVI SCOUT reflector is an integral part of the SCOUT system for wire-free breast tumor localization.
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CardioFocus’ HeartLight Excalibur Balloon For AF Treatment Earns CE Mark10/27/2017
CardioFocus, Inc. today announced the European CE Mark approval of the HeartLight Excalibur Balloon, a next-generation technology designed for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).
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Acutus Medical’s Real-Time Cardiac Mapping Systems Cleared By FDA10/24/2017
Acutus Medical® today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the AcQMap® High Resolution Imaging and Mapping System and the AcQMap® 3D Imaging and Mapping Catheter for use in patients for whom electrophysiology procedures have been prescribed.
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FDA Clears Game Ready’s Multi-Modality Recovery Device10/6/2017
The injury and surgery recovery technology leader, Game Ready®, announced today that the company has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its revolutionary orthopedic rehabilitation device, the Med4 Elite™.
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FDA Approves Implantable To Treat Central Sleep Apnea10/6/2017
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new treatment option for patients who have been diagnosed with moderate to severe central sleep apnea.