Discover new articles every week on the topics of regulatory affairs (including international approval and FDA approval), QM systems (e.g., ISO 13485), risk management (ISO 14971), software development (IEC 62304), IT security, clinical evaluation, usability engineering (IEC 62366-1), and systems engineering (including IEC 60601-1, ISO 10993) - also for IVD medical devices.
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Manufactures use the “Research Use Only” (RUO) label to declare that their products should not be used in diagnostic procedures. This enables them to avoid the time-consuming and costly documentation required for conformity-assessed in vitro diagnostic medical devices (CE-IVDs). Nevertheless, some medical laboratories still use RUO products in diagnostic procedures, sometimes even with the knowledge…
DetailsOne assumption persists: Products for general laboratory use such as PCR cyclers, NGS devices, fragment analyzers, centrifuges, pipetting robots, and extraction kits must bear a CE-IVD marking. Is this correct? There is often a lack of clarity about Hence, there are uncertainties, in order not to make themselves liable to prosecution. This article provides clarity…
DetailsThe classification of in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) can have far-reaching consequences, as it has an impact on the conformity assessment procedure, certification audits, and, thus, on market launch. To help you prevent the unnecessary allocation of your IVD product to a high-risk class, this article provides an overview of 1. What qualifies a product as an…
DetailsAccessibility refers to the design of products and services that can also be used by people with physical limitations. The term “products and services” encompasses both physical and digital products and services. This also includes medical devices (physical devices, apps, other standalone software). This article explains which accessibility requirements manufacturers of medical devices should be…
DetailsThe system architecture describes the components of a (medical) device and how these components interact with each other via interfaces. For standalone software, the system architecture and software architecture coincide. 1. Documentation of the system architecture a) Notation language The documentation should reveal the individual components and their interaction. It has been proven that using…
DetailsIn December 2021, the EU extended the transitional periods of Regulation 2017/746 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDR) (Regulation 2022/112). In March 2023, the European Commission decided to abolish the “sell-off period” for IVDs that comply with Directive 98/79/EC (IVDD) (Regulation 2023/607). In January 2024, the European Commission published a proposal to amend the IVDR, which further extends…
DetailsOrphan medical devices are medical devices (and IVDs) for small patient groups. The development of these niche products is often not profitable for manufacturers. As a result, particularly vulnerable groups, such as children, do not always receive adequate medical care. This article shows possible solutions and classifies the guideline MDCG 2024-10. 1. Orphan medical device:…
DetailsOn September 14, 2024, the new version of the German Health Interoperability Governance Regulation (or IOP Governance Regulation, or GIGV for short) came into force. The German Ministry of Health published a draft bill (only available in German) containing the recitals on April 24 of that year. This version of the GIGV will replace the…
DetailsMedical device manufacturers must determine the severity of possible harm to assess the risks posed by their devices. What sounds simple is very challenging in practice. This article assists in determining and documenting the severity of harm in accordance with ISO 14971. 1. Basics a) Definition ISO 14971, the standard for risk management of medical…
DetailsRegulations such as the MDR require proof of the biocompatibility of all materials that come, directly or indirectly, into contact with patients or users. A test-based biocompatibility assessment provides reference data that provides a very good basis in the event of unexpected problems and that helps to quickly and directly identify unknown causes. However, there…
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