Medical Device Regulations & Compliance
INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES
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Staying Ahead of Enforcement: Executive Strategies To Prevent FDA Warning Letters
This article focuses on practical strategies for medical device companies to strengthen their quality management systems and develop proactive programs that anticipate issues before they attract FDA action.
Historically, many medtech companies have engaged with the FDA in a conservative way, providing only the minimum required to obtain clearance or approval. That mindset is no longer enough.
The core message of a new guidance issued by NHS England and MHRA is clear: ambient voice technology (AVT) tools that go beyond mere transcription to include summarization are to be classified as software as a medical device (SaMD).
FDA warning letters highlight recurring patterns, systemic gaps, and evolving priorities that medical device manufacturers can analyze to strengthen compliance and drive operational excellence.
The EMA issued three new draft documents in July, all related to the advancement of the use of electronic technology in GMP: AI, computerized systems, and documentation. The public comment period ends Oct. 7.
WHITE PAPERS & CASE STUDIES
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Leverage Apps To Reduce Line Changeover Time From 14 Days To 3
A global biopharma leader modernized its complex equipment changeover process using an innovative platform to achieve faster execution, fewer errors, and greater visibility through digitized, validatable SOPs.
A human factors strategy ensures medical products are safe, effective, and compliant by integrating user-focused design early, reducing risks, and optimizing regulatory approval processes.
Container Closure Integrity Testing (CCIT) ensures drug sterility, evolving with regulatory updates like USP <1207>. Deterministic methods are preferred over probabilistic ones to maintain product integrity.
It was imperative for a large European CMO that produces multiple biologic drugs to select the right product quality and value for each customer to comply with the August 2023 revision to the EU GMP Annex 1.
Explore how medical device companies aim to balance patient safety with environmental stability by offering bio-based UHMWPE, which reduces carbon footprints by up to 70%.
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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Cutting-Edge Innovation Steals Spotlight On London Biotechnology Show 2025 Exhibition Floor6/27/2025
The London Biotechnology Show 2025 exhibition floor was a vibrant epicentre of innovation, featuring nearly 100 exhibiting companies representing the entire biotechnology value chain—from laboratory equipment and health tech to compliance and logistics.
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How Micro Molding At Accumold Is Driving Sustainability From The Inside Out6/23/2025
Accumold advances sustainability through micro molding, enabling lighter, more efficient devices that reduce material use, energy consumption, and environmental impact across industries.
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Accumold Harnesses AI To Empower People, Enhance Precision, And Strengthen Customer Partnerships5/17/2025
Accumold leverages AI to enhance—not replace—human expertise, using data-driven insights to boost efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration in micro molding for advanced manufacturing solutions.
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Discover Medbio's Medical Molding Expertise At MD&M East5/8/2025
Visit Medbio at Booth #837 to explore full-service medical manufacturing backed by 100+ years of expertise, trusted by top global device makers.
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Knowles Extends Custom Miniaturization Capabilities To MedTech OEMs5/7/2025
Knowles expands into MedTech, offering precision miniaturization services to OEMs for scalable, cost-effective manufacturing of implantables, diagnostics, surgical tools, and drug delivery devices.
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Visit Medbio At MD&M West In Anaheim, CA1/28/2025
Medbio and Caplugs bring 100+ years of expertise, offering innovative solutions and seamless support for medical manufacturers. Visit us at Booth #2113 from February 4 - 6 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
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Accumold Brings Micro-Optics Expertise To Photonics West 20251/22/2025
Accumold, a global leader in precision micro injection molding, is excited to kick off the new year with its annual attendance at industry-leading trade shows, starting with SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco, CA, from January 28-30, 2025. The company will be at booth 1853, showcasing cutting-edge micro-molded plastic components that range from 5 cm down to under 1 mm in size, all exhibiting micron-level features.
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Nordson MEDICAL, Boyle Receives MedAccred Accreditation1/15/2025
Nordson MEDICAL’s Boyle, Ireland facility has earned MedAccred accreditation, joining PRI's Qualified Manufacturers List, highlighting its high-performance manufacturing for medical device applications.
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Accumold To Showcase Micro Molding Expertise At MEDevice Silicon Valley 202410/28/2024
Accumold, a leader in precision micro molding, will showcase innovative solutions for medical device OEMs at Booth 1034 during MEDevice Silicon Valley, November 20-21, 2024.
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Accumold Showcases Micro Molding Innovation At Compamed10/22/2024
Accumold is set to participate at Compamed in Düsseldorf, Germany, from November 11-14 where they will highlight their small and complex parts for medical device OEMs.