Read on for some helpful questions to ask (essentially a “How-To” Guide for GUDID) when following GUDID, based on the recent FDA guidance document, “Global Unique Device Identification Database (GUDID).”   “How-To” Guide for GUDID What does the UDI rule require labelers to do? Include a unique device identifier (UDI) on device labels and packages...Read More

FDA releases Final Guidance on Content of Premarket Submissions for Device Software Functions.  This final guidance provides requirements for the recommended documentation manufacturers should include in premarket submissions for the FDA’s evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of device software functions. The guidance replaces the FDA’s Guidance for the Guidance for the Content of Premarket...Read More

In September 2022, FDA Updated the Software Guidance Policy for Device Software Functions and Mobile Medical Applications.  Last revised in September 2019, the policy is intended to clarify FDA’s regulatory oversight on software functions, including those used on mobile platforms and general-purpose computing platforms as well as software in the function or control of a...Read More

FDA releases Guidance on AI requests.  To aid manufacturers and reviewers, this guidance emphasizes the “Least Burdensome Provisions” when responding to deficiencies in a regulatory submission.  Download the final guidance: 2022-guidance-responding-deficencies-least-burdensome As stated by FDA, this guidance is “intended to help FDA staff develop, and industry respond to, a request for additional information needed to make a...Read More

Trying to understand Software Design Verification … A QA’s takeaway on reading the General Principles of Software Validation for the first time. FDA gives guidance in the General Principles of Software Validation guidance document, but in general: Testing at different levels: units, integrated units, software complete Testing types: negative, combinatorial, fault injection, risk controls challenge, boundary, corner cases, stress,...Read More

One of the most important references in creating a software development lifecycle process to assure software quality is the FDA guidance document, “General Principles of Software Validation.”  This guidance document has been around for many years.  The current version, 2.0, was released in 2002.  To many in the industry, this guidance is simply referred to...Read More

Devices that do not meet the criteria for the Breakthrough Devices Program may have a new option under the Safer Technologies Program for Medical Devices (STeP). Read our previous post on the the Breakthrough Devices Program here: FDA Breakthrough Devices Program Draft Guidance. SteP is a voluntary program for certain medical devices that are “reasonably...Read More

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a suite of “Digital Health” guidances. The guidances issued today are a continuation of the Agencies efforts announced as part of the Digital Health Innovation Action Plan and address key provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act. The first guidance announced is Clinical Decision Support Software, a revised...Read More

The FDA issued a new Final guidance, “Deciding When to Submit a 510(k) for a Change to an Existing Device,” on October 25, 2017. The full guidance is at the link provided. This supersedes the 1997 guidance. Note that FDA simultaneously released a Final guidance for when to submit a new 510(k) for software changes...Read More

The key guidance document from FDA regarding the software documentation required in a premarket submissions for FDA including 510(k)s, PMAs, and IDEs is the “Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff Guidance for the Content of Premarket Submissions for Software Contained in Medical Devices Document issued on: May 11, 2005  Read More