Medical Device Regulations & Compliance

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES

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    Closing The Loop On Risk Management With ISO 14971:2019

    Edwin L. Bills, member of ISO TC 210 JWG1, discusses the evolution of risk management standards for medical devices and how ISO 14971:2019's revision (which is also identical to EN ISO 14971:2019) is meant to "close the loop." Based on the extensive changes in Clause 10, all manufacturers of medical devices and in vitro medical devices will need extensive review and possible changes to their production and post-production activities section of their quality systems in order to meet the new requirements.

Using Production And Postmarket Data To Validate FMEA Assumptions

One common issue with regulatory agencies and certification bodies regarding failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is that organizations are not utilizing production and postmarket surveillance data to validate the probability of occurrence and probability of detection assumptions, which leads to inspectional observations and audit findings.

Risk-Based Postmarket Surveillance (PMS) In The Age Of EU MDR: Risk-Based Trending

Risk-based incident trending for postmarket signal detection is quickly becoming an expectation from most regulatory agencies and EU MDR is one of the first regulations to expressly document this requirement. Jayet Moon concludes his four-part article series on risk-based postmarket surveillance in the age of EU MDR by examining the salient features of a sound risk-based trending process and methodology and discussing what to look for in a trend analysis.

Risk-Based Postmarket Surveillance (PMS) In The Age Of EU MDR: The Binding Thread Of Risk Management

The thread of risk management connects every piece in the quality management system and guides the manufacturer in quality related decision-making throughout the lifecycle of the device. In Part 3 of his article series on risk-based postmarket surveillance (PMS) in the age of EU MDR, Jayet Moon discusses how quality risk management and PMS are natural partners. He also examines the five elements for which the PMS system should be on the lookout.

Risk-Based Postmarket Surveillance (PMS) In The Age Of EU MDR: A Systems Approach

Jayet Moon continues his four-part series on risk-based postmarket surveillance in the age of the EU Medical Device Regulations (MDR) with Part 2, which delves into the systems approach. Such an approach gives due consideration to process interfaces with other organizational functions and knowledge management. It would not only make compliance to EU MDR easy but also make the organizational processes much more effective and efficient.

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WHITE PAPERS & CASE STUDIES

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    Considerations In Combination Product Risk Management

    Drug-device combination products are rapidly increasing in use based upon the numerous benefits they provide. Successful development and commercialization requires demonstration of performance and regulatory compliance. This article is a brief review of a webinar that discussed approaches to achieving both.

Demystifying Performance Testing: Strategies To Qualify Combination Products

Demonstration of fit-for-purpose for a drug-device combination product requires demonstration of system performance that meets regulatory requirements. This article presents a best practice strategy for performance testing. It starts with a thorough understanding of applicable regulations and guidances. Following this, performance risks are identified using failure modes and effects analyses (FMEA) and failure cause mapping analyses. Next, a test plan based on accepted standards is designed and executed, considering highest risk failure modes first.

Connecting The Dots Between Quality, Engineering, And Regulatory To Increase Innovation And Improve Operational Efficiency

This article presents a Single Source of Truth (SSOT) solution for all medical device-related information so that all stakeholders have access to relevant information at any time. By controlling information and making it accessible across an organization, teams can focus on quality, accelerate innovation, and improve operational efficiency while ensuring global regulatory compliance.

Finding The Ideal Balance – Where Risk And Cost Of Quality Meet

It is a constant challenge to keep improving product value for customers while reducing overall costs. Part of the solution resides in the functional activities of the risk involved and the cost of quality management. This article delves further into the ideas behind finding the ideal balance of where risk and cost of quality meet.

Test Method Development, Experimental Design And Positive Controls For Package Integrity

Given that the experimental design has only two conditions, leaking and non-leaking, this variable is extremely important to understand. Proper use of positive controls and knowledge of how alternative approaches are applied to challenge a test method support the validity and reliability of the method.

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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.

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