The guidance documents relate to human factors testing, data, and clinical considerations.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) had a busy month in February with respect to human factors, issuing three new guidance documents:
FDA also held a webinar on February 19, 2016 regarding the Applying Human Factors and Usability Engineering to Medical Devices final guidance.[4]
This focus on human factors guidance is indicative of FDA’s current concerns about the potential impact that poor human factors engineering (HFE) and usability engineering (UE) practices can have on the safety and effectiveness of medical devices, as well as the public health risks associated with user error. Manufacturers of combination products and medical devices—particularly those devices identified in the List of High Priority Devices for Human Factors Review draft guidance—should be aware of the impact of these new guidances on FDA’s expectations for human factors data in premarket submissions, HFE/UE-related processes and documentation, and human factors clinical study considerations.
This final guidance supersedes the former draft guidance “Medical Device Use-Safety: Incorporating Human Factors Engineering into Risk Management” that was issued on July 18, 2000.[5] The final guidance is intended to provide guidance to device manufacturers on the use of HFE/UE during device development to ensure that devices will be safe and effective for their intended users, uses, and use environments.
The final guidance discusses the following:
Ultimately, FDA hopes that appropriate application of HFE/UE can optimize device design—improving safety while also reducing the risk of costly postmarket design modifications and updates.
This draft guidance document identifies those devices that FDA considers to have a clear potential for serious harm resulting from use error. The draft guidance recommends that manufacturers of such devices submit human factors data in their premarket submissions to demonstrate that the risks associated with use error have been appropriately addressed.
The devices listed by FDA include the following:
This draft guidance document outlines certain types of human factors considerations for studies during the development of combination products. It addresses several topics, including recommendations for human factors information in combination product investigational or marketing submissions, clarification of the different types of human factors studies, the recommended timing and sequencing of such studies, and how human factors studies relate to other clinical studies.
Interested parties have until May 3, 2016 to submit comments on the two draft guidance documents described above, which may be submitted electronically via www.regulations.gov or by mail/hand delivery/courier to FDA’s Division of Dockets Management.
If you have any questions or would like more information on the issues discussed in this LawFlash, please contact any of the following Morgan Lewis lawyers:
Washington, DC
M. Elizabeth Bierman
Michele Lee Buenafe
Christine Forgues Schlenker
[1] U.S. Food & Drug Admin, Final Guidance: Applying Human Factors and Usability Engineering to Medical Devices: Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff (Feb. 3, 2016) http://1.usa.gov/1WLMzPO; 81 Fed. Reg. 5762 (Feb. 3, 2016) https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-02-03/pdf/2016-01887.pdf.
[2] U.S. Food & Drug Admin., List of Highest Priority Devices for Human Factors Review: Draft Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff (Feb. 3, 2016) http://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocuments/UCM484097.pdf; 81 Fed. Reg. 5756 (Feb. 3, 2016) https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-02-03/pdf/2016-01889.pdf.
[3] U.S. Food & Drug Admin, Human Factors Studies and Related Clinical Study Considerations in Combination Product Design and Development: Draft Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff (Feb. 3, 2016) http://www.fda.gov/ucm/groups/fdagov-public/@fdagov-afda-gen/documents/document/ucm484345.pdf; 81 Fed. Reg. 5764 (Feb. 3, 2016) https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-02-03/pdf/2016-01888.pdf.
[4] U.S. Food & Drug Admin., Applying Human Factors and Usability Engineering to Medical Devices - February 19, 2016, FDA.gov, http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/NewsEvents/WorkshopsConferences/ucm484392.htm.