[Federal Register: January 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 20)]
[Notices]
[Page 4787-4788]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30ja03-70]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. 02P-0494]
Medical Devices; Exemptions From Premarket Notification; Class II
Devices
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that it
has received a petition requesting exemption from the premarket
notification requirements for a data acquisition unit for ceramic
dental restoration systems. FDA is publishing this notice in order to
obtain comments on this petition in accordance with procedures
established by the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of
1997 (FDAMA).
DATES: Submit written or electronic comments by March 3, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Branch
(HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061,
Rockville, MD 20852. Submit electronic comments to http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather S. Rosecrans, Center for
Devices and Radiological Health (HFZ-404), Food and Drug
Administration, 9200 Corporate Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850, 301-594-
1190.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Under section 513 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the
act) (21 U.S.C. 360c), FDA must classify devices into one of three
regulatory classes: Class I, class II, or class III. FDA classification
of a device is determined by the amount of regulation necessary to
provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness. Under the
Medical Device Amendments of 1976 (the 1976 amendments) (Public Law 94-
295), as amended by the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990 (the SMDA)
(Public Law 101-629), devices are to be classified into class I
(general controls) if there is information showing that the general
controls of the act are sufficient to assure safety and effectiveness;
into class II (special controls), if general controls, by themselves,
are insufficient to provide reasonable assurance of safety and
effectiveness, but there is sufficient information to establish special
controls to provide such assurance; and into class III (premarket
approval), if there is insufficient information to support classifying
a device into class I or class II and the device is a life-sustaining
or life-supporting device or is for a use which is of substantial
importance in preventing impairment of human health, or presents a
potential unreasonable risk of illness or injury.
Most generic types of devices that were on the market before the
date of the 1976 amendments (May 28, 1976) (generally referred to as
preamendments devices) have been classified by FDA under the procedures
set forth in section 513(c) and (d) of the act through the issuance of
classification regulations into one of these three regulatory classes.
Devices introduced into interstate commerce for the first time on or
after May 28, 1976 (generally referred to as postamendments devices)
are classified through the premarket notification process under section
510(k) of the act (21 U.S.C. 360(k)). Section 510(k) of the act and the
implementing regulations, 21 CFR part 807, require persons who intend
to market a new device to submit a premarket notification report
containing information that allows FDA to determine whether the new
device is ``substantially equivalent'' within the meaning of section
513(i) of the act to a legally marketed device that does not require
premarket approval.
On November 21, 1997, the President signed into law FDAMA (Public
Law 105-115). Section 206 of FDAMA, in part, added a new section 510(m)
to the act. Section 510(m)(1) of the act requires FDA, within 60 days
after enactment of FDAMA, to publish in the Federal Register a list of
each type of class II device that does not require a report under
section 510(k) of the act to provide reasonable assurance of safety and
effectiveness. Section 510(m) of the act further provides that a 510(k)
will no longer be required for these devices upon the date of
publication of the list in the Federal Register. FDA published that
list in the Federal Register of January 21, 1998 (63 FR 3142).
Section 510(m)(2) of the act provides that, 1 day after date of
publication of the list under section 510(m)(1), FDA may exempt a
device on its own initiative or upon petition of an interested person,
if FDA determines that a 510(k) is not necessary to provide reasonable
assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device. This section
requires FDA to publish in the Federal Register a notice of intent to
exempt a device, or of the petition, and to provide a 30-day comment
period. Within 120 days of publication of this document, FDA must
publish in the Federal Register its final determination regarding the
exemption of the device that was the subject of the notice. If FDA
fails to respond to a petition under this section within 180 days of
receiving it, the petition shall be deemed granted.
II. Criteria for Exemption
There are a number of factors FDA may consider to determine whether
a 510(k) is necessary to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and
effectiveness of a class II device. These factors are discussed in a
guidance the agency issued on February 19, 1998, entitled ``Procedures
for Class II Device Exemptions From Premarket Notification, Guidance
for Industry and CDRH Staff.'' That guidance can be obtained through
the Internet on the CDRH home page at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.fda.gov/cdrh or by
facsimile through CDRH Facts-on-Demand at 1-800-899-0381 or 301-827-
0111. Specify ``159'' when prompted for the document shelf number.
[[Page 4788]]
III. List of Petitions
FDA has received the following petition requesting an exemption
from premarket notification for a class II device: Medical Device
Consultants, Inc., on behalf of Sirona Dental Systems GmbH for data
acquisition systems used in the computer aided design and milling of
dental restorative prosthetic devices, classified under 21 CFR
872.3660, impression material.
IV. Comments
Interested persons may submit to the Dockets Management Branch (see
ADDRESSES) written or electronic comments regarding this document.
Submit a single copy of electronic comments to http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments
or two hard copies of any written comments, except
that individuals may submit one hard copy. Comments are to be
identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of
this document. The petition and received comments may be seen in the
Dockets Managment Branch between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday.
Dated: January 15, 2003.
Linda S. Kahan,
Deputy Director, Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
[FR Doc. 03-2112 Filed 1-29-03; 8:45 am]
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