A Deep Dive into the Medical Device Development Process

In the world of digitalism, technology that is widely considered to be the most advanced in its field can rapidly become outmoded in a matter of years, if not months. And the medtech space is no exception.

For that reason, billions of dollars are invested in medical technology development on an annual basis. And, as demand for medical technology innovation rises with each passing year, increasingly more companies enter the space.

Medical device development is the cyclical process of taking an idea for a medtech product and turning that dream into reality.

But, as mentioned, that’s easier said than done.

The companies that actually make it to the product market release stage are in the minority. According to Frontiers in Public Health:1

That said, there are different categories of medical product development that can impact the expected timeline and obstacles. The FDA classifies these products based on the risk they pose. The three classes are:

When it comes to the product pipeline, the FDA’s quality system regulation (QSR) outlines five stages of processing that every medical product must undergo to reach regulatory approval. The stages are:3

STAGE 1—DEVICE DISCOVERY AND CONCEPT

The inception of most medical devices typically comes from a moment where a researcher sees an unmet need in the medical market. From there, they create a concept for their idea or device that could meet that need, reduce costs, and optimize care delivery.

This is followed by a proof of concept brief that fleshes out the idea and the steps necessary to demonstrate that the product is viable and that there are financial opportunities that justify the exorbitant R&D costs.

As a part of the process, medical researchers need to categorize their product as a class I, II, or III device. How they classify the product will then impact what testing and certification it must undergo.

STAGE 2—PRECLINICAL RESEARCH AND PROTOTYPE

After the idea has met internal approval—i.e., demonstrated to have a market position, viability, and financial feasibility—the product enters phase two.

To begin, researchers produce a medical device prototype that can be safely tested—not on humans—but in a controlled lab setting.

During this stage, researchers begin brainstorming risks and customer or user needs. Here, customer feedback is essential, whether in the form of:

This input can then play a crucial role in optimizing the product’s design, which typically follows an iterative process where each newer model is tested and improved upon previous attempts.

STAGE 3—MARKET APPROVAL

As mentioned, these steps are established by the QMS framework. Therefore, the application process depends heavily on your product. A Class I product will have far fewer regulatory hoops it must jump through when compared to a Class III product.

A design history file (DHF) chronicles the tests and controls the product has passed and also outlines the design and manufacturing steps taken to develop the product to its current state. This document is then subject to FDA audits to confirm that the medical device is safe for the general public.

STAGE 4—FDA DEVICE REVIEW

After DFH and FDA testing is completed, medical device manufacturers must apply for FDA clearance. Typically, they will need to file one of three applications:

If necessary, the FDA may consult an Advisory Committee about whether or not the product should be granted FDA approval. After this, the FDA decides whether the device is:

The findings are then required by law to be submitted with all supporting evidence into the Federal Register.

STAGE 5—POST-MARKET DEVICE SAFETY MONITORING

Despite all of the testing a medical device undergoes during the previous four stages, it’s still possible that new problems emerge after it hits the market.

Therefore, the FDA monitors the device’s performance and safety even after it has been approved and gone to market. There are three means by which the FDA engages in safety monitoring. They include:

According to Gail A. Van Norman, MD,4 “Bringing a device to market takes an average of 3 to 7 years, compared with an average of 12 years for drugs.” But, in truth, the answer to expected timelines depends heavily on the device itself, with the utmost factor being its classification.

Put simply, the more regulations a product faces, the longer it will inevitably take to reach the market. So, although it’s not always the case, the rough estimate timeframe by classification looks as follows:

There are four primary factors that make medical device development a serious undertaking. Each of these elements can contribute to the length and the cost of the entire process. They include:

Taking medical devices from concept to market may take several years and cost tens of millions of dollars. And even then, due to the complex nature of the process, there’s still a significant chance that the product fails to produce impactful ROI by the time it finally crosses the finish line and reaches the market.

So, how can you change that? How do you increase your odds of producing a viable product, and do so faster and cheaper?

So, how can you change that? How do you increase your odds of producing a viable product, and do so faster and cheaper? Using Within3’s insights management platform, your team can streamline the various phases of medical device development. Our solution is trusted by the world’s top medical device organizations to help them collaborate virtually, manage the insight lifecycle, and perform clinical trials.

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