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GUIDANCE DOCUMENT

Guidance Document for the Preparation of Premarket Notification [510(k)] Applications for Mechanical and Powered Wheelchairs, and Motorized Three-Wheeled Vehicles July 1995

Final
Docket Number:
FDA-2020-D-0957
Issued by:
Guidance Issuing Office
Center for Devices and Radiological Health

PDF Printer Version
(19 KB)

This guidance was written prior to the February 27, 1997 implementation of FDA's Good Guidance Practices, GGP's. It does not create or confer rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. An alternative approach may be used if such approach satisfies the requirements of the applicable statute, regulations, or both. This guidance will be updated in the next revision to include the standard elements of GGP's.

July 26, 1995
(reformatted 12/18/97)

This guidance document may contain references to addresses and telephone numbers that are now obsolete. The following contact information is to be used instead:

  • While this guidance document represents a final document, comments and suggestions may be submitted at any time for Agency consideration to the Restorative Devices Branch, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20993.
  • For questions regarding the use or interpretation of this guidance, contact the Restorative Devices Branch at 301-796-5650.
  • To contact the CDRH-Division of Industry and Consumer Education (DICE), call 1-800-638-2041 or 301-796-7100; email DICE@fda.hhs.gov; or write to DICE, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20993

    Additional copies are available from the Internet. You may also send an e-mail request to CDRH-Guidance@fda.hhs.gov to receive a copy of the guidance. Please use the document number (346) to identify the guidance you are requesting.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Rockville, MD 20850


PREFACE

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to the sponsors of premarket notifications [510(k)'s] for restorative devices. This document is intended to assist the sponsors in organizing and providing the essential information that should be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review.

This guidance is based on the Restorative Devices Branch's (REDB's) identification of specific criteria necessary to conduct an adequate evaluation of a 510(k) for the purpose of determining substantial equivalence for physical medicine/restorative devices. The objective of this document is to delineate to the device manufacturer important administrative, descriptive, and scientific information that should be included in a 510(k) for a restorative device. Individual 510(k) submissions may require additional information pertinent to each specific device. The suggestions and recommendations included in the guidance reflect the minimal requirements that would allow an evaluation of the device as determined by REDB. While the use of this document in the preparation of a 510(k) premarket notification will not ensure FDA clearance of a device, following the guidance will ensure that sufficient basic information is available to initiate a substantive review.

Note that the guidance document is a living document. It will be periodically revised as scientific knowledge and regulations change.

INTRODUCTION

Any 510(k) notification submitted under premarket notification procedures described in 21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 807, Subpart E, for FDA's determination that a new device is substantially equivalent to a predicate (existing) device in 21 CFR 890.3850 (Mechanical Wheelchair), 21 CFR 890.3860 (Powered Wheelchair), 21 CFR 890.3880 (Special Grade Wheelchair), 21 CFR 890.3890 (Stair-climbing Wheelchair), 21 CFR 890.3900 (Standup Wheelchair), and 21 CFR 890.380 (Motorized Three-wheeled Vehicle) should follow the format below and must contain all specified information that is applicable to the device.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

  1. Provide the name and address of the manufacturer and sponsor of the 510(k) submission.
  2. Provide the FDA registration number (if available) of the manufacturer of the new device.
  3. Identify the official contact person for all correspondence.

DEVICE IDENTIFICATION

  1. As stated in 21 CFR 807.90(d), a 510(k) shall be submitted separately for each product the manufacturer intends to market. Therefore, a submission can describe no more than one new device.

    A submission can describe more than one component of, or attachment to, a single device. The submission must compare each such component or attachment with that of a predicate device, or must state that the predicate device lacks such a component or attachment.

  2. The following information must be provided:

    1. The proprietary name of the new device;
    2. The generic name of the device;
    3. The classification of the predicate device e.g., Class II. Refer to 21 CFR and section 513 of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act;
    4. The proposed regulatory class for the new device, e.g., Class II. (21 CFR 862-892 contains the regulatory classifications for medical devices); and
    5. The panel code(s) for the device. [If the product is not classified under the physical medicine devices panel, identify the panel under which it is classified and provide the panel identification code (e.g., 89 is the code for the physical medicine devices panel)].
  3. Specify whether this device:

    1. Has been previously submitted to the FDA for identical or different indications; or
    2. Is currently being reviewed for different indications by the same or different branch within ODE; or
    3. Has been previously cleared by the FDA for different indications.

DEVICE DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION

Intended Use

Identify the specific intended use(s) for the subject device and the predicate device. The new device must have the same intended medical uses as those specified for the predicate device, to the extent that the changes do not alter the therapeutic or diagnostic effect and do not affect safety and effectiveness. These intended uses must be consistent with the descriptions of intended medical uses contained within the CFR section that is applicable to the device and must identify the specific medical conditions for which the device is indicated. If the indication differs, you must provide a justification as to how the change(s) do not affect safety and effectiveness. If special labeling claims are sought, information must be provided to support these claims.

Device Description

  1. Provide a written device description, including all device components, accessories, instruments, and any new features of the device.
  2. Specify the relevant dimensions of the device and all possible configurations, and functions of each device component.
  3. Describe how the device works and interconnects with other components.
  4. Provide engineering diagrams and/or photographs of the device, and complete written descriptions of the new and predicate devices. The document must contain illustrations of all internal and external features of both devices. Engineering diagrams must provide the lengths, widths, and heights of the devices and their major component parts.
  5. Photographs or other illustrations, such as dimensioned drawings, must provide front, rear and side views of the devices.
  6. Specify the dimensions and weight of the device.
  7. Indicate the kind of surface on which the device can be operated.
  8. Specify the maximum weight bearing capacity of the device.
  9. Report the results of "tiltover" tests performed laterally, posteriorly and anteriorly with a user of maximum allowable weight and maximum allowable seat height or when standing up (these usually apply to standup wheelchairs or wheelchairs in which the seat can be elevated).

    You may also report the results of the VA drop test if performed. (This is not a requirement.)

  10. Specify whether the device design conformance to any other voluntary performance standards, e.g., ANSI/RESNA standards.

Materials

Identify the specific materials for each component any additional processing that may affect the properties of the materials, and the voluntary standards with which the device materials will conform. The information should also include a description of the material strength tests performed on the frame and wheels. The results of flame retardant tests of the upholstery materials should be reported.

Labeling

  1. Provide draft or sample package labeling, package inserts, including complete operator's instructions, and required labeling regarding electromagnetic interference (EMI) according to FDA's March 26, 1994 labeling letter mailed to wheelchair manufacturers (copy attached).
  2. Provide the following prescription statement (both on the device itself and in the operator's manual, and in any advertising and/or promotional materials) according to 21 CFR 801.109:

    Caution: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a practitioner licensed by the law of the State in which he/she practices."

  3. Include copies of promotional materials for the new and predicate devices.
  4. Provide cleaning instructions.

Additional Information

The following specific information is required for powered devices in addition to the information specified elsewhere in this document.

  1. Specify the type of motor used.
  2. The following information regarding the breaking system must be included:

    1. A detailed drawing of the system with electrical schematics;
    2. An explanation of how the wheelchair stops in case of an electrical brake failure; and
    3. information on the braking time and distance.
  3. Report the results of the electrical safety test for the battery recharger, the flame retardant test of the upholstery material; and the ground leakage values (max 100 A allowed).
  4. Specify the number of batteries (gel or dry acid).
  5. Indicate the maximum distance of travel on the fully charged battery.
  6. If your device uses controlling software, you should refer to the FDA document entitled "Reviewer Guidance for Computer Controlled Medical Devices Undergoing 510(k) Review", dated August 29, 1991. As described in this document, you should determine and justify the level of concern you believe to be associated with your device's software. Further, in accordance with this guidance, provide documentation, commensurate with the level of concern, including: 1) System and Software Requirements & Design, 2) Software Development, 3) Verification & Validation (V&V), 4) Test Results and Analysis, and 5) Certification. You must also provide a hazards analysis for the software, identifying safety requirements for the software and system.

    Please be advised that if you provide only the minimum information highlighted in the "510(k) Review Software Documentation Matrix", this may not assure adequate information to make a determination about the software. In documenting V&V procedures (all levels of concern), you should provide pass/fail and test completion criteria, and a system level functional test plan. You should refer to the sample questions provided in this guidance and to other sources, as necessary. You are encouraged to submit a summary of the development life cycle in terms of how it assures traceability of the safety concerns throughout development, and how the testing and analyses adequately demonstrate that the software meets its functional and safety requirements. Overall, the software documentation provided should allow for an adequate assessment of the quality of the software design and development, and of the level of software quality control.

    Copies of this guidance document can be obtained from the Division of Small Manufacturers Assistance (DSMA), at 800-638-2041.

  7. Specify the speed limits while in slow, normal, and high control (max 6 m.p.h. allowed).
  8. Specify in degrees the maximum safe operational incline, that the device can climb safely, in degrees measure posteriorly, anteriorly and sideways with the center of gravity at the highest level.
  9. Specify the highest curb clearance.
  10. Specify the maximum safe speed and minimum turning radius to prevent tip over during operation.
  11. Provide documented information on the electromagnetic compatibility of the device as described in the addition to ISO EMC Draft Standard 7176-14, titled Draft ISO EMC Group Proposal: Electromagnetic Compatibility Addition, dated April 3, 1995 (copy attached) regarding electromagnetic compatibility requirements for powered wheelchairs and motorized scooters.

SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCE INFORMATION

  1. The legally marketed predicate device with which the subject device is to be compared for the determination of substantial equivalence must be identified. Evidence must be provided that the device was placed into interstate commerce for other than research uses or as part of a plant-to-plant transfer and was actually labeled and promoted for the intended use to which the submitter of the premarket notification is claiming substantial equivalence. This may be accomplished by providing copies of the firm's advertisements, catalog pages, or other promotional material dated prior to May 28, 1976 and shipping documents such as invoices, bills of lading, receipts showing the interstate transit of the device (for other information which can be used to prove Pre-Amendment status contact DSMA).

    Alternatively, the 510(k) number(s) of the predicate device(s) may be identified. The 510(k) number may be obtained from the Electronic Docket (ED), an automated retrieval system of the Division of Small Manufacturers Assistance (DSMA), which provides medical device regulations, FDA talk papers and press releases, device evaluation guidance, and the listing of all approved 510(k)s sorted by applicant name. This 510(k) information is located under the Product Clearance Main Menu Item # 12. Dial (301) 594-4802 or (800) 252-1366. For more guidance on how to assess this information, contact DSMA. Call toll free (800) 638-2041, (301) 443-6597, or fax (301) 443-8818.

  2. The submission should include a description of all significant similarities and differences between the new and predicate devices. To facilitate review, the submission should contain a summary table which compares the two devices in terms of the intended medical uses, functions and physical characteristics, including safety characteristics. All technological characteristics that describe the device subject of the submission and that demonstrate the substantial equivalence between the device and a legally marketed device must be reported.

510(K) SUMMARY OR STATEMENT

  1. Provide a 510(k) summary of safety and effectiveness information in the premarket notification submission upon which an equivalence determination could be based, written in accordance with the content and format requirements that are specified in 21 CFR 807.92, or
  2. Provide a 510(k) statement that safety and effectiveness information will be made available to interested persons upon request. This statement must follow the format and contain the wording as specified in 21 CFR 807.93.

TRUTH AND ACCURACY STATEMENT

Provide a statement that all data and information submitted in the premarket notification are truthful and accurate and that no material fact has been omitted, as required by 21 CFR 807.87(j).


Submit Comments

You can submit online or written comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5))

If unable to submit comments online, please mail written comments to:

Dockets Management
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

All written comments should be identified with this document's docket number: FDA-2020-D-0957.

 
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