Medical devices; exemption from premarket notification and reserved devices; Class I--FDA. Proposed rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to amend its classification regulations to designate class I devices that are exempt from the premarket notification requirements, subject to certain limitations, and to designate those class I devices that remain subject to premarket notification requirements under the new statutory criteria for premarket notification requirements. The devices FDA is proposing to designate as exempt do not include class I devices that have been previously exempted by regulation from the premarket notification requirements. This action is being taken under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act), as amended by the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 (the 1976 amendments), the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990 (SMDA), and the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA). FDA is taking this action in order to implement a requirement of FDAMA.     

Medical devices; exemptions from premarket notification; class II devices--FDA, Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is codifying the exemption from premarket notification of all 62 class II (special controls) devices listed as exempt in a January 21, 1998, Federal Register notice, subject to the limitations on exemptions. FDA has determined that for these exempted devices, manufacturers' submissions of premarket notifications are unnecessary to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness. These devices will remain subject to current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations and other general controls. This rulemaking implements new authorities delegated to FDA under the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act (FDAMA).     

Medical devices; exemption from premarket notification; class II devices; triiodothyronine test system. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is publishing an order granting a petition requesting exemption from the premarket notification requirements for the triiodothyronine test system with certain limitations. This rule will exempt from premarket notification the triiodothyronine test system intended for measuring the hormone triiodothyronine in serum and plasma. FDA is publishing this order in accordance with procedures established by the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Action of 1997 (FDAMA).     

Medical devices; exemption from premarket notification and reserved devices; class I. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending its classification regulations to designate class I devices that are exempt from the premarket notification requirements, subject to certain limitations, and to designate those class I devices that remain subject to premarket notification requirements under the new statutory criteria for premarket notification requirements. The devices FDA is designating as exempt do not include class I devices that have been previously exempted by regulation from the premarket notification requirements. This action is being taken under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act), as amended by the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 (the 1976 amendments), the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990 (SMDA), and the FDA Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA). FDA is taking this action in order to implement a requirement of FDAMA. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is announcing that it is withdrawing proposed rules to revoke existing exemptions from premarket notification for two devices.     

Medical devices; exemptions from premarket notification; class II devices; vascular tunnelers. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is publishing an order granting in part a petition requesting exemption from the premarket notification requirements for vascular tunnelers with certain limitations. This rule will exempt from premarket notification stainless steel vascular tunnelers of single unit construction. FDA is publishing this order in accordance with procedures established by the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA).     

Medical device; exemption from premarket notification; class II devices; barium enema retention catheters and tips with or without a bag. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is publishing an order granting a petition requesting exemption from the premarket notification requirements for barium enema retention catheters and tips with or without a bag with certain limitations. This rule will exempt from premarket notification barium enema retention catheters and tips with or without a bag. FDA is publishing this order in accordance with procedures established by the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA).     

Medical devices; procedures for premarket notification, premarket approval, classification, performance standards establishment, banning devices, and availability of regulatory hearings--FDA. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the medical device regulations governing procedures for premarket notification, premarket approval, classification, performance standards development, banning devices, and availability of regulatory hearings to conform these procedures to applicable provisions of the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990 (the SMDA). Its publication promotes clarity and certainty to regulated industry and thus fosters economic growth by correcting the provisions in FDA's existing regulations to conform them to the now-governing statutory provisions.     

Medical devices; exemptions from premarket notification and reserved devices; class I--FDA. Notice

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is publishing a list of class I devices, subject to certain limitations, that will be exempt from premarket notification requirements on February 19, 1998. FDA is also publishing a list of those class I devices that FDA believes will remain subject to premarket notification requirements because they meet the new statutory criteria for premarket notification requirements. These lists do not include class I devices that have been previously exempted by regulation from the premarket notification requirements. FDA is taking this action in order to meet a requirement of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (the FDAMA). The agency requests comments on whether the list of class I devices that will remain subject to the premarket notification requirements should be modified.     

Medical devices; effective date of requirement for premarket approval for three class III preamendments devices. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring the filing of a premarket approval application (PMA) or a notice of completion of a product development protocol (PDP) for the following three class III preamendments devices: Indwelling blood oxyhemoglobin concentration analyzer, cardiopulmonary bypass pulsatile flow generator, and the ocular plethysmograph. The agency also is summarizing its proposed findings regarding the degree of risk of illness or injury designed to be eliminated or reduced by requiring the devices to meet the statute's approval requirements and the benefits to the public from the use of the devices. This action implements certain statutory requirements.     

Obstetric and gynecology devices; effective date of requirement for premarket approval for glans sheath devices. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule to require the filing of a premarket approval application (PMA) or a notice of completion of product development protocol (PDP) for glans sheath medical devices. The agency has previously published its findings regarding the degree of risk of illness or injury designed to be eliminated or reduced by requiring the devices to meet the statute's approval requirements and the benefits to the public from the use of the devices.     

Medical devices; device tracking. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the medical device tracking regulation. FDA is making substantive changes to revise the scope of the regulation and add certain patient confidentiality requirements, and nonsubstantive changes to remove outdated references and simplify terminology. These revisions are made to conform the regulation to changes made in section 519(e) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) by the FDA Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA), and to simplify certain requirements.     

Medical devices; effective date of requirement for premarket approval for three preamendment class III devices. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule to retain three class III preamendment devices in class III and to require the filing of a premarket approval application (PMA) or a notice of completion of a product development protocol (PDP) for the following devices: The lung water monitor, the powered vaginal muscle stimulator, and the stair-climbing wheelchair. The agency has summarized its findings regarding the degree of risk of illness or injury designed to be eliminated or reduced by requiring the devices to meet the statute's approval requirements and the benefits to the public from the use of the devices.     

Medical devices; obstetrical and gynecological devices; classification of the assisted reproduction laser system. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is classifying the assisted reproduction laser system into class II (special controls). The special control that will apply to the device is the guidance document entitled "Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: Assisted Reproduction Laser Systems." The agency is classifying this device into class II (special controls) in order to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is publishing a notice of availability of the guidance document that is the special control for this device.     

Medical devices; Medical Device Data Systems. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on its own initiative, is issuing a final rule to reclassify Medical Device Data Systems (MDDSs) from class III (premarket approval) into class I (general controls). MDDS devices are intended to transfer, store, convert from one format to another according to preset specifications, or display medical device data. MDDSs perform all intended functions without controlling or altering the function or parameters of any connected medical devices. An MDDS is not intended to be used in connection with active patient monitoring. FDA is exempting MDDSs from the premarket notification requirements.     

Medical devices; immunology and microbiology devices; classification of ribonucleic acid preanalytical systems. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is classifying ribonucleic acid (RNA) preanalytical systems into class II (special controls). The special control that will apply to the device is the guidance document entitled "Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: RNA Preanalytical Systems (RNA Collection, Stabilization, and Purification Systems for RT-PCR Used in Molecular Diagnostic Testing)." The agency is classifying the device into class II (special controls) in order to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is announcing the availability of a guidance document that will serve as the special control for the device.     

Medical devices; exception from general requirements for informed consent. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final regulation to confirm, with one change, the interim final rule (IFR) entitled "Medical Devices; Exception From General Requirements for Informed Consent." This final rule confirms the IFR's establishment of a new exception from the general requirements for informed consent to permit the use of investigational in vitro diagnostic devices to identify chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agents without informed consent in certain circumstances. FDA has created this exception to help ensure that individuals who may have been exposed to a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agent are able to benefit from the timely use of the most appropriate diagnostic devices, including those that are investigational. This final rule adds a requirement that the investigator submit the required documentation to FDA, in addition to submitting it to the reviewing Institutional Review Board (IRB).     

Medical devices; clinical chemistry and clinical toxicology devices; instrumentation for clinical multiplex test systems. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is classifying instrumentation for clinical multiplex test systems into class II (special controls). The special control that will apply to the device is the guidance document entitled "Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: Instrumentation for Clinical Multiplex Test Systems." The agency is classifying the device into class II (special controls) in order to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is publishing a notice of availability of a guidance document that is the special control for this device.     

Medical devices; immunology and microbiology devices; classification of fecal calprotectin immunological test systems. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is classifying fecal calprotectin immunological test systems into class II (special controls). The special control that will apply to these devices is the guidance document entitled, "Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: Fecal Calprotectin Immunological Test Systems." The agency is classifying these devices into class II (special controls) in order to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of these devices. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is announcing the availability of a guidance document that will serve as the special control for these devices.     

Medical devices; radiology devices; reclassification of bone sonometers. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule to reclassify bone sonometer devices from class III into class II, subject to special controls. FDA is taking this action on its own initiative after reviewing recent scientific and technological studies regarding bone sonometer devices. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is announcing the availability of a guidance document entitled "Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff; Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: Bone Sonometers" that will serve as the special control for these devices.