Draft Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff: Applying Human Factors and Usability Engineering To Optimize Medical Device Design; Availability

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of the draft guidance document entitled “Draft Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff: Applying Human Factors and Usability Engineering to Optimize Medical Device Design.” The recommendations in this guidance are intended to improve the safety and effectiveness of devices and reduce use error. This draft guidance is not final; nor is it in effect at this time.

DATES:

Although you can comment on any guidance at any time (see § 10.115(g)(5) (21 CFR 10.115(g)(5))), to ensure that the Agency considers your comment on this draft guidance before it begins work on the final version of the guidance, submit electronic or written comments on the draft guidance by September 19, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written requests for single copies of the draft guidance document entitled “Draft Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff: Applying Human Factors and Usability Engineering to Optimize Medical Device Design” to the Division of Small Manufacturers, International, and Consumer Assistance, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 66, rm. 4613, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist that office in processing your request, or fax your request to 301-847-8149. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for information on electronic access to the guidance.

Submit electronic comments on the draft guidance to http://www.regulations.gov . Submit written comments to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Identify comments with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Molly Story, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 66, rm. 2533, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-796-1456, e-mail: molly.story@fda.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

To understand use-related hazards, it is necessary to have an accurate and complete understanding of how a device will be used. Understanding and optimizing how people interact with technology is the subject of human factors engineering (HFE) and usability engineering (UE). HFE/UE considerations that are important to the development of medical devices include three major components of the device-user system: (1) Device users, (2) device use environments, and (3) device user interfaces.

For safety-critical technologies such as medical devices, the process of eliminating or reducing design-related use problems that contribute to or cause unsafe or ineffective medical treatment is part of a process for controlling overall risk. For devices where harm could result from “use errors,” the dynamics of user interaction are safety-related and should be components of risk analysis and risk management. By incorporating these considerations into the device development process, manufacturers can reduce the overall risk level posed by their devices, thus decreasing adverse events associated with the device, and avoid potential device recalls.

II. Significance of Guidance

This draft guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). This draft guidance, when finalized, will represent the Agency's current thinking on human factors engineering for medical devices. It does not create or confer any 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 and regulations.

III. Electronic Access

Persons interested in obtaining a copy of the draft guidance may do so by using the Internet. A search capability is available for all CDRH guidance documents at http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocuments/default.htm. Guidance documents are also available at http://www.regulations.gov. To receive “Draft Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff: Applying Human Factors and Usability Engineering to Optimize Medical Device Design.” you may either send an e-mail request to dsmica@fda.hhs.gov to receive an electronic copy of the document or send a fax request to 301-847-8149 to receive a hard copy. Please use the document number 1757 to identify the guidance you are requesting.

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

This draft guidance refers to currently approved collections of information found in FDA regulations. These collections of information are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The collections of information in 21 CFR part 820 are approved under OMB control number 0910-0073; the collections of information in 21 CFR part 812 are approved under OMB control number 0910-0078; the collections of information in 21 CFR part 807, subpart E are approved under OMB control number 0910-0120; the collections of information in 21 CFR part 814, subpart B are approved under OMB control number 0910-0231; the collections of information in 21 CFR part 814, subpart H are approved under OMB control number 0910-0332; and the collections of information in 21 CFR part 801 are approved under OMB control number 0910-0485.

V. Comments

Interested persons may submit to the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES) either electronic or written comments regarding this document. It is only necessary to send one set of comments. It is no longer necessary to send two copies of mailed comments. Identify comments with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.