The Medical Devices Directive (MDD: 93/42/EC)
The Medical Devices Directive is concerned with all medical devices, from sterile gloves to electronic monitoring equipment and complex MRI-scanners. Directive 93/42/EEC covers the placing on the market and putting into service of Medical Devices within the framework of CE marking.
Medical devices are divided into classes, determining the level of required compliance testing.
Equipment classes
Medical devices may be classified as Class I, Class IIa, IIb and III, with Class III covering the highest risk products. Medical devices are classified according to two criteria, one being the level of invasiveness , and the the other one is about the accompanying level of risk to the patient.
Some factors you should take under consideration are:
- intended to be in continuous use
- invasive or surgically invasive,
- implantable,
- whether or not the device contains a substance.
Class I equipment
Class I: Non-invasive low risk: Equipment or device without a monitoring function.
Class I equipment is not invasive, and should not administer anything to the patient, no medicines nor energy.
Class I medical equipment can be approved using the manufacturers declaration (similar to the LV or EMC directive) and no involvement of any certified or notified body is required.
Class IIa/b equipment
Class II : Non-invasive or short time invasive equipment or intensive patient skin contact or administration of body fluids or medicinal fluids or gases.
Class II equipment (and up) requires the involvement of a Notified Body that will approve customers documentation and/or QMS.
The diagram below shows the conformity assessment modules available as a function of the device class.
General Requirements
Implement a Quality Management system
Design and Production of medical devices need to be under control (but those in Class I) of an internal Quality Manufacturing System according to Annex II or V in the directive. Many companies choose to apply
"ISO 13485: Medical Devices: Quality Management Systems" as their main quality system.
Detailed requirements
The test procedures and judgments are generally steered a by a risk analysis approach.
- Prepare a risk management file to EN 14971,
- Obtain sufficient clinical data to obtain proof of claims,
- Create proof of biological safety,
- Comply with electrical safety requirements EN 60601-1 series of standards,
- Comply with electro magnetic compatibility (EMC) EN 60601 series of standards,
- Create a risk analysis steered reliability report for software to EN 62304,
- Implement Labeling and Instruction requirements and translations,
- Maintain traceability records on batch or component level,
- Set up a vigilance system.
The compliance of a medical device is an on-going process, that is to be repeated on a regular schedule with as input the residual risk list (as a conclusion of the previous compliance analysis), under consideration of reported field problems and accidents with a view on improvement of the device to maintain or achieve a "state of the art" product.
Prepare Technical Construction File
A Technical Construction File (TCF) is mandatory. The full construction details of the equipment and all measures taken to comply to the directive's Essential Requirements must be created and maintained.
For all but Class I devices the TCF need approval of an Notified Body.
Registration
Class I Medical Devices need to be registered at a competent authority.
Harmonized standards
The Medical Devices Directive uses harmonized standards to show presumption of compliance with the essential requirements of the directive:
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List of harmonized standards for 93/42/EC OJC 022 2013-01-24 (latest)
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List of Harmonized Standards for 93/42/EC OJC 163 2009-07-15
- List of Harmonized Standards for 93/42/EC OJC 314 2007-12-07
- List of Harmonized Standards for 93/42/EC OJC 304 2008-11-27
EMC for medical devices
The medical equipment should comply with EN 60601-1-2:2006 and several of the many subparts.
Electrical Safety for medical devices
The equipment should comply to EN 60601-1:2007 and applicable subparts, depending on the type of device. The EN 60601-1 standard series contains extensive requirements for patient touch current, dielectric testing and single fault requirements.
ce-test provides for testing services to this standard.
Risk Management Assessment
A full risk assessment to ISO 14971:2007 is part of the approval procedure for medical devices. ce-test may perform such a risk assessment according to the FMEA (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis) and a bi-directional TOP-DOWN-TOP FTA (Fault tree Analysis) methods. Other methods are acceptable.
Traceability
Products need to be fully traceable, both at the production stages (where do components come from) and in the marketing stage (to who the products are sold) . ce-test can help you with the requirements for traceability.
Vigilance
The manufacturer needs to set up and maintain a system where accidents and "near accidents" with the device will be adequately reported to the authorities. In combination with the required traceability of the product, this will allow effective product recalls and reduces collateral damage to patients if required.
Post market surveillance
The manufacturer needs to watch for any possible improvement to the safety of the product -to the state of the art-, and implement them in the final product as soon as possible, even after the product has been brought on the market. The list of residual risk should funtion as input to this process.
Labeling
Medical devices need to labeled so as they can be used safely by the addressed customer. This includes a set of warnings and markings for common hazards, such as sterilization warnings, date of use, and other warnings. A number of symbols have been defined in ISO 15223:2007 . The symbols in this harmonized standard may be used on the devices without further textual explanation.
Compliance tests
ce-test has been performing a number of medical equipment assessments , both in the Class I and Class II categories. Examples of products we assessed successfully are:
- Dry sterilizer (Class I)
- Tactile vibration test generator (Class I)
- Tactile hot-cold test generator (Class I)
- Nurse calling system for hospital including medical alarm (Class IIb)
- Bed wetting alarm (Class IIa)Medical gas alarm (Class I)
- Infusion pump (Class IIa)
- Clinical operations chair
- Sleep monitoring device
We will be happy to provide you with a suitable quote for type testing your equipment according to the MD directive: ask a quote here
Non european manufacturers
EC REP ( European Authorized Representative)
As a non-european medical devices manufacturer you will need to establish a EC authorized representative for your products. The name of the EAR (EC REP) needs to be mentioned on your products.
The EC REP is a legal entity designated by you to assist in the compliance process, and should be considered as a neutral compliance partner in Europe.
It's main responsibilities are (among others):
- Contact point to the authorities,
- Assist in product classifications,
- Carry out the vigilance functions on your products,
- Keep the Compliance documentation available,
- Notify and register product as required by the national authorities,
- Incident reporting and complaint handling within the EC.
We strongly advise any Non-European manufacturers of Medical Devices to appoint a independent EAR in Europe. You should not appoint any of your commercial representatives, as the name of the EAR will be mentioned on the product label.
ce-test, qualified testing has a EC REP service. We will hold your files, carry out assessments with you and be a contact point between you and the authorities.
Directive Amendment 2007/47/EC to 93/42/EC
Per 2010-03-21 directive 93/42/EC has been modified by the Amendments listed in 2007/47/EC.
This directive adds a number modifications to the directive:
- notably the ongoing ban on certain phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP and DINP) in designated devices and the accompanied labeling requirements. These phthalates are a common plasticizer in PVC and some other plastics,
- the designation of medical software being a medical device, and incorporation of software in the essential requirements,
- change of labeling,
- more translations required for your IFU (Instructions For Use) and other documents, notably GUI software interfaces.
Download an interpretative Document from the EC
ce-test, translation service
We provide translation service for the documentation (IFU) of your product, but also the GUI software incorporated into your product into EC official languages
.
ce-test, your turn key partner in compliance for medical devices.
