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U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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  2. Medical Devices
  3. Device Advice: Comprehensive Regulatory Assistance
  4. How to Study and Market Your Device
  5. Premarket Submissions: Selecting and Preparing the Correct Submission
  6. Investigational Device Exemption (IDE)
  1. Premarket Submissions: Selecting and Preparing the Correct Submission

Investigational Device Exemption (IDE)

An investigational device exemption (IDE) allows the investigational device to be used in a clinical study in order to collect safety and effectiveness data. Clinical studies are most often conducted to support a PMA. Only a small percentage of 510(k)s require clinical data to support the application. Investigational use also includes clinical evaluation of certain modifications or new intended uses of legally marketed devices. All clinical evaluations of investigational devices, unless exempt, must have an approved IDE before the study is initiated.

Clinical evaluation of devices that have not been cleared for marketing requires:

  • an investigational plan approved by an institutional review board (IRB). If the study involves a significant risk device, the IDE must also be approved by FDA;
  • informed consent from all patients;
  • labeling stating that the device is for investigational use only;
  • monitoring of the study and;
  • required records and reports.

An approved IDE permits a device to be shipped lawfully for the purpose of conducting investigations of the device without complying with other requirements of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) that would apply to devices in commercial distribution. Sponsors need not submit a PMA or Premarket Notification 510(k), register their establishment, or list the device while the device is under investigation. Sponsors of IDE's are also exempt from the Quality System (QS) Regulation except for the requirements for design controls (21 CFR 820.30).

Good Clinical Practices (GCP)

Good Clinical Practices (GCP) refers to the regulations and requirements that must be complied with while conducting a clinical study. These regulations apply to the manufacturers, sponsors, clinical investigators, institutional review boards, and the medical device. The primary regulations that govern the conduct of clinical studies are included in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 (21 CFR):

  • 21 CFR 812, Investigational Device Exemptions, covers the procedures for the conduct of clinical studies with medical devices including application, responsibilities of sponsors and investigators, labeling, records, and reports.
  • 21 CFR 50, Protection of Human Subjects, provides the requirements and general elements of informed consent;
  • 21 CFR 56, Institutional Review Boards, covers the procedures and responsibilities for institutional review boards (IRBs) that approve clinical investigations protocols;
  • 21 CFR 54, Financial Disclosure by Clinical Investigators, covers the disclosure of financial compensation to clinical investigators which is part of FDA’s assessment of the reliability of the clinical data.
  • 21 CFR 820 Subpart C, Design Controls of the Quality System Regulation, provides the requirement for procedures to control the design of the device in order to ensure that the specified design requirements are met.

Each of these regulations is discussed in detail throughout this section.

Additional Information



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