Class 1 recalls are at a 15-year high. To reduce the number of recalls and nonconformances, medtech manufacturers need quality management and traceability processes that go beyond documenting and tracking changes to effectively connect people, processes and data.
“We’re excited to have Naomi in this role. With her FDA experience, her visionary approach will pave the way for success, ensuring that businesses not only meet the FDA’s stringent requirements but also thrive in an environment where cybersecurity is a fundamental business value.”
Stefano Vicenzetto, Design Systems Engineer at Flex, shares his insights on how Circular Economy principles can be applied within the MedTech industry to reduce environmental impact by shifting away from the linear take, make and waste approach.
The NeuroAccess technology employs focused ultrasound in combination with microbubbles to open the blood-brain barrier in a safe, temporary and noninvasive manner.
The guidance provides a framework that manufacturers can use to show that physics-based or mechanistic computational models used to support regulatory submissions are credible.
Companies must now electronically submit all FDA 510(k) submissions using the eSTAR platform. Dr. Dhriti Roy, vice president of Regulatory Affairs Transformation at Essenvia and faculty at Oxford University’s MedTech innovation platform, highlights the benefits and challenges of eSTAR, as well as processes and tools companies need to adopt as they transition to this new submission process.
As with most industries experiencing steady growth, the medtech market faces several challenges, including supply chain issues, price inflation on materials and energy, labor shortages and increasing regulations. Adopting cloud-based digital solutions can help address these challenges. For companies investigating new solutions, the State of Manufacturing Technology survey can serve as a valuable benchmarking tool.
EU MDR requires significant reforms to the device labeling process. Manufacturers must ensure that identifiers are correctly applied to products, and that key data elements and formats are accurate. In addition, manufacturers need to have access to centralized data, audit tracking, robust security controls, eSignature capabilities and strong workflow management to ensure compliance.
The growth of the medical device industry brings increased competition and a need to find ways to become more efficient and cost-competitive, without compromising quality. In this column, Doug Donahue, Director of Foreign Direct Investment and Manufacturing for Guanajuato’s Medical Device Cluster and co-managing partner of Entrada Group, discusses the benefits, challenges and opportunities available for companies investigating Mexico as a manufacturing site.
Change control plans for AI/ML, remanufacturing of devices and medical device shortages are among the guidances the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) is prioritizing in 2024. The agency is seeking stakeholder feedback on the list of guidance documents it intends to publish in the coming year.
