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RQM+ Medical Device and In Vitro Diagnostic Blog
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Why You Should Verify Your Supplier's MedTech Materials
on 5 December 2023 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
In the MedTech sector, the biocompatibility of materials is critical for patient safety and product efficacy. Every material needs to be tested, with suppliers often providing quality and biocompatibility assurances.
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Musical Chairs MDR-Style: Keep dancing even though the music has stopped.
on 16 November 2023 | By Ed Ball, CEng, MIPEM, MIMMM – Manager, Intelligence & Strategic Execution
Introduction We have previously talked about the upcoming 2024 EU deadlines for QMS compliance and notified body applications for the EU MDR 2017/745 (5 Essential Tips for EU MDR Compliance and How to Meet the EU's 2024 MDR Deadlines), but what is needed beyond that? What if you...
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Enough Is Enough: Deciding When Your Safety Evaluation Is Complete
on 10 November 2023 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
For any MedTech company, the goal of developing products that are both effective and safe is at the heart of their mission. But as these companies build their products, they inevitably encounter testing challenges. Comprehensive testing, while crucial, often comes with a hefty...
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How a full-service CRO can get your device to market quicker
on 1 October 2023 | By Eric Pauls, Chief Customer Officer
From navigating the complex regulatory environment to implementing the right quality controls — MedTech companies face many challenges in getting their products to market. These challenges lengthen product development cycles and increase the time it takes to get vital...
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Don't Get Caught Off Guard: How to Meet the EU's 2024 MDR Deadlines
on 30 August 2023 | By Amie Smirthwaite, Ph.D., RQM+ Senior VP of Intelligence & Innovation and Jaishankar Kutty, Ph.D., RQM+ VP of Intelligence & Innovation
To begin, a cautionary statement... The MDR transition timeline extension is not automatically applied to every legacy device! The timeline extension is conditional in nature, and there are a few key requirements that must be satisfied before manufacturers can benefit from this...
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5 Tips for IVDR Certification of Companion Diagnostics
on 23 August 2023 | By Margot Borgel, Ph.D.
Introduction The pathway to IVDR certification for companion diagnostics (CDx) can be overwhelming due to the complexity of the certification process. Certification from a notified body was not previously required, as they were self-certified under IVDD. In addition,...
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Mastering the Transition: 5 Essential Tips for EU MDR Compliance
on 17 July 2023 | By Ed Ball, CEng, MIPEM, MIMMM – Manager, Intelligence & Strategic Execution
Introduction Regulation 2023/607 removed the May 2024 transition deadline for medical devices transitioning from MDD/AIMDD to MDR 2017/745. The end of the transition period was pushed back to 2026, 2027 or 2028, depending on the classification of the device.
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Breaking New Ground: Introducing the Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET) Pathway
on 5 July 2023 | By Daniel Lace, MD, Chief Medical Officer
This blog post explores the CMS and AHRQ's proposed TCET pathway, which aims to improve beneficiary access, reduce coverage uncertainty, encourage evidence development and coordinate benefit categories for emerging technologies. It also discusses eligibility criteria for...
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EU MDR Postponed – What We Know Now and What's Next
on 9 December 2022 | By Jaishankar Kutty, Ph.D., RQM+ VP of Intelligence & Innovation
Earlier today, in the EPSCO meeting, all EU member states unanimously agreed to the proposal recommendations listed below. Belgium asked for a detailed root cause analyses of why the MDR roll out finds itself where it is today. Malta has asked for one single date as opposed to a...
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Summary of FDA Regulatory Changes for Digital Health Devices in Q3 2022
on 6 December 2022 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
Digital health devices are no longer new on the scene, but the regulatory landscape continues to evolve. As predicted in our blog post earlier this year, the latest development is new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance documents for digital health devices that were...
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Medical Device Software: Top Regulatory Submission/File Deficiencies and Requests for Additional Info From Both FDA and Notified Bodies
on 29 November 2022 | By Kevin Go, MBA, RAC, CQA, RQM+ Senior Principal
Medical devices that fall into the category of software as a medical device (SaMD) are on the rise as technology continues to evolve. Although these products have proven to be highly beneficial to patients and end users, manufacturers must overcome many regulatory challenges.
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European Union Expert Panel's Review of a Novel Neurostimulation Device
on 21 November 2022 | By Andrew Tarnaris, M.D. MD (Res) FRCS (NeuroSurg), RQM+ Medical Director
A new opinion (CECP-2022-000222) provided under the Clinical Evaluation Consultation Procedure (CECP) was recently published by the European Commission. Here are some things worth noting, a summary to digest and lessons learnt both for manufacturers and notified bodies alike.
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How the FDA Encourages Innovation in Pediatric Medical Devices and Best Practices for Submissions
on 8 November 2022 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
As an industry, medical device manufacturers and regulators have an obligation to ensure that children are not left behind when it comes to the innovation and development of products to treat childhood conditions and diseases. The reality is that the innovation of pediatric...
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Review of RQM+ Findings in Mock Audits and Notified Body Submissions
on 2 November 2022 | By Rem Siekmann, RQM+, Ronald Sills, RQM+
The transition to EU MDR and EU IVDR has come with a steep learning curve for all in the industry, including both manufacturers and notified bodies. With hundreds of MDR and IVDR technical files under our belts, we have learned a lot about the most common findings — and how to...
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Lessons Learned From Using the FDA Customer Collaboration Portal (CCP) for eCopy and eSTAR
on 3 October 2022 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
As part of its commitment to shift to electronic submission, the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched the Customer Collaboration Portal (CCP) in July 2022. The CCP allows medical device manufacturers to...
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Are in Silico Trials a Fit for the Medical Device Industry?
on 8 September 2022 | By Andrew Tarnaris, M.D. MD (Res) FRCS (NeuroSurg), RQM+ Medical Director
Pappalardo F et al. published a recent paper (in the IEEE JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH INFORMATICS) advocating for a roadmap towards the CE marking of medical devices based on in silico trials. In silico trials simply mean the use of computer modelling and simulation in...
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RAPS Convergence 2022: A Sneak Peek at What Medical Device Manufacturers Can Expect to Learn from RQM+ Regulatory and Clinical Experts
on 31 August 2022 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
The annual RAPS Convergence is coming soon, and our team is excited to actively contribute to this year’s program with several speaking sessions. We’re covering wide-ranging regulations for medical devices and in vitro diagnostics in the EU and U.S. Here’s a preview of what to...
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How to Submit FDA CDRH Submissions Online
on 27 July 2022 | By Kevin Go, MBA, RAC, CQA, RQM+ Senior Principal
As part of FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health's (CDRH) Digital Transformation Initiative, several new tools have been released to strengthen the regulatory submission process. One of these tools is the Customer Collaboration Portal (CCP), which allows users to track...
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Impact of a High-Quality IVDR Notified Body Application
on 26 July 2022 | By Heike Moehlig-Zuttermeister, PhD, RQM+ VP Intelligence and Innovation, IVD
The transition from IVDD (98/79/EC) to IVDR (EU 2017/746) has been overwhelming for many manufacturers, especially those that have never worked with a notified body because they were previously able to self-certify under the IVDD. Many are now realizing that the IVDR notified...
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US FDA Update: Is it a Device? After the Fact Design History Files
on 14 June 2022 | By Ashley Clark, MS, RAC (US, Medical Device), RQM+ Principal Specialist and Nancy Morrison, RAC, RQM+ Executive Director, Regulatory & Quality Consulting Services
Summary Genus Medical Technologies upset the US FDA classification schema for imaging agents such as barium sulfate in the landmark litigation ruling1 in the drug turned device manufacturer’s favor that only products meeting the definition of a drug must be regulated as such....
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Impact of FDA Adoption of ISO 13485
on 7 June 2022 | By Kevin Go, Project Engineer and Nancy Morrison, Executive Director Regulatory and Quality Consulting Services
The FDA’s proposed rule to align its quality system regulation with ISO 13485 has the industry buzzing. What does it mean for medical device and IVD manufacturers? Let’s take a closer look at the proposed changes and what they might mean for manufacturers if they are adopted.
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3 Tips for Efficiently Preparing Your FDA eSTAR Submission
on 1 June 2022 | By Anike Freeman, RQM+ Principal
As part of the FDA Reauthorization Act (FDARA) and the Medical Device User Fee Amendments (MDUFA IV) of 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) committed to developing electronic submission templates. The intent of these templates is to provide guided submission...
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Overcoming the Most Common Periodic Safety Update Report (PSUR) and Post-Market Surveillance (PMS) Report Challenges
on 18 May 2022 | By Jan Kloiber, Senior Principal Specialist and Celeste Maksim, Chief of Staff, Clinical and Post-Market Services
May 2022 is the one-year milestone for EU MDR and the date of application for IVDR. For medical devices that have already been approved under MDR, annual periodic safety update reports (PSURs) are due for Class IIb and III devices. Since this is the first year and there is still...
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How Your Medical Director Can Help You Scope SOTA Properly: A Physician's Perspective
on 10 May 2022 | By Andrew Tarnaris, M.D. MD (Res) FRCS (NeuroSurg), RQM+ Medical Director
State of the art (SOTA) is a key element of the technical documentation required for MDR/IVDR certification. As a new requirement for devices in lower-risk classes, many manufacturers are struggling to provide SOTA context that meets notified body expectations. Whether for new...
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IVDR State of the Art (SOTA)
on 27 April 2022 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
State of the art (SOTA) is a key piece of the IVDR puzzle. Like many of the other required elements, it touches multiple sections of your technical documentation and must be consistently addressed throughout.
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A Quantitative Approach to Benefit-Risk Determination
on 21 April 2022 | By Bethany Chung, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Principal Regulatory Scientist and Jaishankar (Jai) Kutty, Ph.D., RQM+ VP, Intelligence & Innovation
Under the Medical Device Regulation (2017/745) (MDR), demonstrating clinical benefit and quantifying benefit-risk ratios are critical to compliance. A medical device must not be placed on the market if the benefit of the product does not outweigh the risk in a clearly quantified...
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Risk Management Challenges with IVDR Compliance - This May Be Your Biggest Obstacle
on 13 April 2022 | By Amie Smirthwaite BEng, PhD, RQM+ Senior Vice President, Intelligence & Innovation
IVD manufacturers have had to make significant improvements to their risk files since the days of IVDD. What was once the reality—static and often incomplete files that hardly changed after being placed on the market—is no longer acceptable. However, despite making major headway...
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What You Need to Know About Significant Changes Under IVDR
on 23 March 2022 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
Until recently, many IVD manufacturers were able to make changes to the design or intended use of their devices with minimal consequences under IVDD (98/79/EC). With the transition to IVDR and the date of application just around the corner, that time window is quickly closing....
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Using Chemical Characterization to Achieve Biological Equivalence
on 10 March 2022 | By Jaishankar Kutty, Ph.D., RQM+ VP of Intelligence & Innovation
In the EU, a device is considered to be equivalent if and only if it fulfills all the requirements of technical, clinical, and biological equivalence. Of these, biological equivalence tends to be the most nuanced and can be a confusing topic for medical device...
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How to Prepare for COVID-19 EUA or Enforcement Policy Expiration
on 22 February 2022 | By Ryan Randall, Senior Engineer, RQM+ (former FDA CDRH Lead Reviewer) and Kevin Go, Project Engineer, RQM+ (former FDA CDRH Lead Reviewer)
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, CDRH has dealt with an unprecedented workload to ensure timely access to high quality health products that are essential to the nation’s pandemic response. Two years later, the pandemic response remains a top priority as CDRH...
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Europe: 2021 Year-End Review & Looking Ahead to 2022
on 21 February 2022 | By Amie Smirthwaite BEng, PhD, RQM+ Senior Vice President, Intelligence & Innovation; Nancy Morrison, RQM+ Vice President, Intelligence & Innovation
2021 was another big year in the European regulatory realm as EU MDR and IVDR implementation continued to roll out. Let’s take a look at the highlights and lessons learned that we can apply as we go into 2022.
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Just Released: MDCG Guidance 2022-3 Verification of Manufactured Class D IVDs by Notified Bodies
on 17 February 2022 | By Heike Moehlig-Zuttermeister, PhD, RQM+ VP Intelligence and Innovation, IVD
The MDCG guidance 2022-3 Verification of manufactured class D IVDs by notified bodies was issued earlier this week on the 15th of February 2022. This guidance is important for manufacturers because it provides a detailed specification of the requirements for the testing plan and...
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Dr. Heike Moehlig-Zuttermeister Joins RQM+ as IVD Vice President Intelligence and Innovation
on 9 February 2022 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
RQM+ is excited to announce the addition of Dr. Heike Moehlig-Zuttermeister as IVD Vice President Intelligence and Innovation. Heike joins us after nearly eight years at BSI, where she held leadership roles within the IVD team.
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Software as a Medical Device
on 7 February 2022 | By Brian Hockett, RQM+ and Chad Quistad, RQM+
Advancements in technology over the past several decades have naturally led to advancements in healthcare. Software as a medical device (SaMD) is particularly poised for growth with one of the latest advancements: the Internet of Things (IoT). Because of this and other factors,...
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EU Update: Expert Panel Views for SARS-CoV-2 Devices
on 2 February 2022 | By Heike Moehlig-Zuttermeister, PhD, RQM+ VP Intelligence and Innovation, IVD
The first three Performance Evaluation Consultation Procedure (PECP) views have been published for a professional SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay and a professional nucleic acid testing (NAT) assay as well as a near-patient testing NAT SARS-CoV-2 product. Considering the actual...
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In case you missed it: 2021 Expert Content from the RQM+ Knowledge Center
on 31 January 2022 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
“RQM+ is always the first resource I think of when assistance is needed. In addition I cannot state how grateful I am for your organizations thought leadership and resources/content. It’s best in class!” In 2021, we launched the RQM+ Knowledge Center as your one-stop-shop to...
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FDA CDRH: What will they do in 2022?
on 26 January 2022 | By Ryan Randall, Senior Engineer, RQM+ (former FDA CDRH Lead Reviewer) and Kevin Go, Project Engineer, RQM+ (former FDA CDRH Lead Reviewer)
“It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” Whether baseball Hall of Famer-slash-philosopher Yogi Berra actually said these words or not, the sentiment rings true, as anyone who has tried to predict the course of the COVID-19 pandemic would know. Predicting...
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Best Practices and Processes for Integrating CERs and Post-Market Surveillance Under EU MDR
on 21 January 2022 | By Jonathan Gimbel, PhD, RQM+ Executive Director, Technical Leadership, Clinical & Post-Market Practice
The EU MDR date of application has come and gone, and most manufacturers are well aware of the new requirements. However, awareness does not necessarily equal effective implementation. One of the main challenges of MDR compliance is creating a strategy that integrates the work...
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RQM+ Executive Video Briefing: IVDR New Transition Timelines
on 17 January 2022 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
While we are happy and relieved for the IVD industry to have an extension to the IVDR transition period, we’re concerned that the announcement may result in a misperception that there is plenty of time to get the work done.
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MDR and IVDR Mock Technical Assessments and Design Examinations
on 10 January 2022 | By Amie Smirthwaite BEng, PhD, RQM+ Senior Vice President, Intelligence & Innovation
With the rollout of EU MDR and IVDR, manufacturers are facing new challenges, especially when it comes to technical documentation review. Medical device and IVD manufacturers are accustomed to doing mock audits for quality systems and ISO certification, but these types of...
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FDA CDRH 2021: A Year in Review
on 5 January 2022 | By Kevin Go, Project Engineer, RQM+ (former FDA CDRH Lead Reviewer) and Ryan Randall, Senior Engineer, RQM+ (former FDA CDRH Lead Reviewer)
Looking back to 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world, much of the FDA’s focus turned to their response to the public health emergency. CDRH in particular reviewed thousands of emergency use authorization (EUA) applications and worked to facilitate the development and...
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The IVDR Performance Evaluation Report
on 21 December 2021 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
Under the EU In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation 2017/746 (IVDR), every IVD must have a Performance Evaluation Report (PER). PERs consist of three pillars: scientific validity, analytical performance and clinical performance. Collating data to satisfactorily address...
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EU MDR Article 61 and equivalence – is there a new way forward?
on 20 December 2021 | By Amie Smirthwaite BEng, PhD, RQM+ Senior Vice President, Intelligence & Innovation
About this article: Could there be more scope for use of equivalence data under EU MDR than you may have thought? Dr. Amie Smirthwaite, Sr. VP of Global Intelligence & Innovation at RQM+, EU MDR expert, and member of the working groups that authored MDCG 2020-5 and 2020-6, has...
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UK Approved Bodies: on your UKCA mark, get set, go!
on 17 December 2021 | By Ed Ball, CEng, MIPEM, MIMMM – Manager, Intelligence & Strategic Execution
The world of medical device regulation has seen immense change in past years. The EU MDR has been at the forefront of every agenda for some time – and the one-year deadline delay provided valuable extra time for businesses to get their act together. That one-year delay also...
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Clinical Evidence Requirements Under IVDR
on 16 December 2021 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
The next key regulatory milestone for manufacturers with products on the European market is the EU In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation 2017/746 (IVDR). A critical stage of IVDR planning is for manufacturers to assess whether they have enough clinical and performance...
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What do we know so far about post-Brexit medical device regulation?
on 14 December 2021 | By Ed Ball, CEng, MIPEM, MIMMM – Manager, Intelligence & Strategic Execution
What do we know so far about post-Brexit medical device regulation? With the new European MDR and IVDR regulations at the forefront of every conversation across the medical device industry, the emerging UK regime may have been overlooked as another pending compliance challenge....
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Canada Regulations News for Medical Devices and IVDs
on 3 December 2021 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
In case you missed it, the Medical Device Regulations in Canada quietly got updated in December 2020. The new regulation intends to boost post-market safety and requires manufacturers to submit a summary report, which is similar to the post-market Periodic Benefit-Risk...
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Impact of of MDCG 2021-24 on the Classification of Spinal Implants
on 30 November 2021 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
The recently released guidance on classification of medical devices is very concerning for manufacturers with spinal implantable medical devices. MDCG 2021-24 appears to have classified many spinal fusion devices that were previously thought to be Class IIb as Class III. This...
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Is Your Medical Device a Well-Established Technology (WET)?
on 17 November 2021 | By Jonathan Gimbel, PhD, RQM+ Executive Director, Technical Leadership, Clinical & Post-Market Practice
As guidance committees, manufacturers, and notified bodies continue to interpret the EU MDR, some areas remain fuzzy. Well-established technology (WET) is high on the list of definitions that are disputed as notified bodies seem to have a different interpretation than the...
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Overcoming Challenges and Streamlining Your SSCPs and SSPs
on 8 November 2021 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
In case you missed it, the latest presentation in our webinar series covers the new requirements under EU MDR and IVDR: the Summary of Safety and Clinical Performance (SSCP) and Summary of Safety and Performance (SSP), respectively. It’s no surprise that manufacturers are...
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What Are Clinical Benefits and How Do You Evaluate Them in Your CER?
on 27 October 2021 | By Jonathan Gimbel, PhD, RQM+ Executive Director, Technical Leadership, Clinical & Post-Market Practice
The rollout of the EU MDR has created new challenges for medical device manufacturers, including those that have had devices on the market for a long time. One area of increased focus is the need to quantitatively establish the clinical benefits to patients from the device based...
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Med Device Monday - Luminopia One, A Digital Therapeutic to Help Treat Amblyopia
on 25 October 2021 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Facts & FAQs: European Commission Proposal for Amendment of the IVDR (EU) 2017/746
on 19 October 2021 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented challenges for the In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) implementation impacting both manufacturers and key European Union (EU) infrastructure. On one hand, manufacturers were faced with staff shortages impacting their...
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Integrating Post-Market Surveillance Into Your QMS
on 12 October 2021 | By Amie Smirthwaite BEng, PhD, RQM+ Senior Vice President, Intelligence & Innovation
Now that medical device manufacturers have begun to implement MDR-compliant post-market surveillance (PMS) systems, it is a good time to take stock of common areas of difficulty and inefficiency, and consider how best to address these. Even manufacturers who are continuing to...
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FDA Friday - Anike Freeman, M.Eng., PMP
on 8 October 2021 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
This #FDAFriday series consists of mini-interviews with former FDA regulators. Our goals are twofold: (1) help students and professionals interested in Regulatory Affairs see what career paths are possible, and (2) talk about some of the various roles at FDA to demonstrate the...
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Post-Market Surveillance: A Concise Overview of Requirements
on 5 October 2021 | By Celeste Maksim, PhD, RAC, RQM+
Following the May 2021 deadline, medical device manufacturers now have an MDR-compliant post-market surveillance (PMS) system in place. However, there are still many issues and questions around this topic which need addressing.
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Top 10 Tips on How to Write a PMS Report and PSUR Without an Official Guidance Document
on 27 September 2021 | By Jan Kloiber, RQM+ Principal
Manufacturers have relied on guidance from the Medical Device Coordination Group and similar organizations to interpret many of the new regulations under EU MDR and IVDR. However, guidance has not been provided for every aspect of the regulation, and application deadlines have...
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Dr. Andrew Tarnaris Joins RQM+ as Medical Director
on 21 September 2021 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
RQM+ is excited to announce the addition of Dr. Andrew Tarnaris as Medical Director. With a background as both a medical doctor and notified body clinical expert, he represents an excellent example of our unique combination of clinical and regulatory experience.
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EU Update: SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Performance Evaluation MDCG Guidance Published
on 13 September 2021 | By Ashley (Ash) Clark, MS, RAC, RQM+
A new guidance document (MDCG 2020-21) has been published on the 3rd of August by the Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG) pertaining to performance evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro diagnostic medical devices. This document provides extensive details on what is expected for...
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RQM+ MDR Clinical Evaluation Roadmap: An Interview with Dr. Jai Kutty
on 9 September 2021 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
The introduction of MDR caused a major transformation in the medical device industry. Manufacturers continue to grapple with all elements of compliance, but clinical evaluation presents unique challenges. RQM+ is committed to helping clients navigate these challenges with former...
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Join us at the 2021 RAPS U.S. Convergence
on 30 August 2021 | By Stephen Biernacki
It is that time of year again for RAPS Convergence and we cannot wait to join the largest annual gathering of regulatory professionals from around the world. The conference will be held virtually this year from 12-15 September 2021 and we will be joining in the fun with a Q&A...
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RQM+ Announces Investment by Linden Capital Partners
on 16 August 2021 | By Lisa Casavant, RQM+ EVP
Investment to Accelerate Growth and Expand Consulting Services for Medical Device and Diagnostics Manufacturers
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RQM+ Case Study: Effective Managed Outsourcing for EU MDR
on 2 August 2021 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
THE PROJECT A leading global company offering medical technology, services, and solutions engaged RQM+ to help four business units prepare for the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR). Specifically, RQM+ is focused on assessing and remediating gaps in MDD technical files and...
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An Overview of Summary of Safety and Performance (SSP) Under IVDR
on 28 June 2021 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
EU IVDR 2017/746 includes a requirement to write a summary of safety and performance (SSP) for Class C and D IVDs. This is a new requirement that wasn’t included in IVDD. The goal of this requirement is to enhance transparency and provide adequate public access to summarized...
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![[Webinar] Strategies for Overcoming the Biggest Challenges in Achieving IVDR Compliance](https://www.rqmplus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/RQMPlus%20Webinar.jpg?length=450&name=RQMPlus%20Webinar.jpg)
[Webinar] Strategies for Overcoming the Biggest Challenges in Achieving IVDR Compliance
on 21 June 2021 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
The latest addition to our webinar series covers the biggest challenges in IVDR compliance. With hundreds of MDR submissions under our belts and a number of clients who have already received findings from their IVDR applications, we have learned a lot about the regulation, the...
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RQM+ Quick Guide to Medical Device Recall Management
on 10 June 2021 | By Kim Platt
Medical device recalls are daunting in many ways—manufacturers dread them, competitors love them, and patients don’t always understand them. A medical device recall could be a response to patient safety concerns or to unanticipated negative trends. All manufacturers should...
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How to Prepare a Design History File for FDA Inspection
on 1 June 2021 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections are stressful, especially if your documentation isn’t audit-ready. Creating and maintaining a compliant design history file (DHF) will help ensure that when the time comes, you’ll be ready for an FDA inspection that results in...
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A Comparison of IVDR to FDA IVD Regulatory Submission Requirements
on 27 May 2021 | By Stephanie Martinez
The European Union’s new In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) May 2022 implementation date is fast approaching. If you sell IVDs in multiple markets, it may be challenging to determine the differences between the IVD regulations in the U.S., the existing IVDD, and the new IVDR....
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The EU MDR Date of Application Has Arrived!
on 26 May 2021 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
The European Union (EU) Medical Device Regulation (MDR) 2017/745 date of application is here! To celebrate the incredible effort medical device manufacturers have put in so far to get to this point, we have compiled a brief review of the remaining EU MDR timeline and a list of...
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Med Device Monday - The Sonalleve MR-HIFU System Approved to Treat Osteoid Osteomas
on 25 May 2021 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Optimizing your Technical Documentation to reduce NB review time and questions (Medical Devices and IVDs)
on 20 May 2021 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
Whether you are used to working with a notified body or the MDR/IVDR requirements no longer allow you to self-certify and it’s all new to you, it is more important than ever to optimize your technical documentation. Notified bodies are already swamped with MDR submissions, and...
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How to Obtain CE Marking Under the MDR
on 18 May 2021 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
In the EU, CE marking is the system used to demonstrate that products meet the region’s requirements for safety, health, and environmental protection. When a product is labeled with the CE marking, it can be freely traded in the European Economic Area (EEA) without restrictions.
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Join the RQM+ IVDR Session During RAPS Euro Convergence 2021
on 5 May 2021 | By Deven Hennon, RQM+
We are excited to host a panel discussion during next week's virtual RAPS Euro Convergence 2021! Join our expert panel for our session on IVDR Implementation Best Practices and Challenges. See the schedule here and find more details on our session below.
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Everything You Need to Know About the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP)
on 28 April 2021 | By Rem Siekmann, RQM+
Maintaining regulatory and quality compliance across multiple markets is challenging. In addition to meeting stringent regulatory requirements, manufacturers must also submit to regular quality system audits. When operating in multiple markets, this often means a busy audit...
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Quick Guide to Medical Device Standards: ISO Standards and Beyond
on 28 April 2021 | By Rem Siekmann, RQM+
In the regulatory world, standards are essentially recommended processes that have been developed by subject matter experts with the aim of describing the best possible way to meet an end goal. For example, quality management standards are designed to improve efficiencies and...
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ISO 14971: 2019: 3 Key Changes from ISO 14971: 2007
on 28 April 2021 | By Chad Quistad, RQM+
As the underlying risk management process for medical devices, the ISO 14971 standard is a critical component of regulatory and quality compliance. When new versions are released and harmonized, it’s up to manufacturers to learn about the changes to update systems accordingly....
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How to Create a Compliant Periodic Safety Update Report (PSUR) Under EU MDR and EU IVDR
on 28 April 2021 | By Celeste Maksim, PhD, RAC, RQM+
The requirement for a periodic safety update report (PSUR) or post-market surveillance report (PMSR) is new under EU MDR and EU IVDR. MDD and IVDD had post-market requirements, but the MDR and IVDR requirements are more formal, and for most classes, these reports must be updated...
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Top 4 Findings from Notified Body Technical Documentation Audits Under EU MDR
on 28 April 2021 | By Melissa DeHass, RQM+
As we complete regulatory submissions under MDR, we continue to learn from notified body feedback and audit findings. These lessons learned are captured and disseminated throughout the RQM+ team to build our unrivaled collective knowledge, but we also believe in sharing this...
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How to Obtain CE Marking Under the IVDR
on 28 April 2021 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
CE marking is the system used in the EU to indicate that products meet the region’s safety, health, and environmental protection requirements. Products labeled with the CE marking can be freely traded in the European Economic Area without restrictions.
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8 Lessons Learned After Writing the Summary of Safety and Clinical Performance (SSCP) using MDCG 2019-9
on 28 April 2021 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
EU MDR 2017/745 includes a requirement to write a summary of safety and clinical performance (SSCP) for implantable and Class III devices. Although this is still a relatively new requirement, RQM+ has already gained valuable experience preparing SSCPs on behalf of our clients....
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Med Device Monday - Novel Device to Reduce Snoring and Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea
on 26 April 2021 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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RAPS Webcast: PMCF User Feedback Surveys
on 8 April 2021 | By Stephen Biernacki
Update: the RAPS + RQM+ webcast is now available on demand here. Understand the ins and outs of PMCF user feedback surveys by registering for two upcoming and free RQM+ webinars: April 27 – PMCF User Feedback Surveys: Practical solutions for leveraging user feedback surveys as...
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FDA Friday- Misleading Registration Certificates: Sorting through Company Claims
on 19 March 2021 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Med Device Monday - FDA Approves Prosthetic Implant for Above-the-Knee Amputations
on 22 February 2021 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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PMCF User Feedback Surveys
on 17 February 2021 | By Stephen Biernacki
In this webinar we will provide practical solutions for leveraging user feedback surveys as PMCF activities under the EU MDR, presented by former notified body leadership and PMCF subject matter experts.
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MDCG 2020-16 Classification Guidance for IVDs
on 16 February 2021 | By Ashley (Ash) Clark, MS, RAC, RQM+
RQM+ experts summarize the MDCG guidance from November 2020, Guidance on Classification Rules for the in vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices under Regulation (EU) 2017/746, to aid IVD industry stakeholders in understanding, planning, and executing compliance to the IVDR by May...
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Dr. Jaishankar Kutty Joins RQM+
on 1 February 2021 | By Deven Hennon, RQM+
February 1, 2021 - RQM+ welcomes Dr. Jai Kutty.
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New Guidance: FDA Safer Technologies Program (STeP) for Medical Devices
on 21 January 2021 | By Kevin Go, MBA, RAC, CQA, RQM+ Senior Principal
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) released the highly anticipated Safer Technologies Program (STeP) Guidance Document.
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Best Practices for Scientific Database Searching
on 18 January 2021 | By Stephen Biernacki
This on-demand webinar will address best practices in scientific database search techniques that can be applied in the performance of a clinical evaluation.
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Announcing RQM+
on 11 January 2021 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
We are proud to announce that R&Q and Maetrics have merged and rebranded to form the world's leading medical device and diagnostics consultancy. Check out the full press release below or visit our new brand microsite at RQMplus.com
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Med Device Monday - New Implant to Repair Torn ACL
on 4 January 2021 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Leveraging PMCF Surveys for EU MDR Compliance - Part 2
on 15 December 2020 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
When to use Post-Market Clinical Follow-up (PMCF) Surveys under the European Union's Medical Device Regulation.
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EUDAMED Delay Brings Little Comfort to Medical Device Companies
on 7 December 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
7 December 2020 Update: After some delays the first module of the European database on medical devices (EUDAMED) is live! Here is what you need to know about the Actor registration module, the first of six modules in EUDAMED: WHO can use this module? Economic operators...
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Leveraging PMCF Surveys for EU MDR Compliance - Part 1
on 1 December 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
1 December 2020 - Getting started with Post-Market Clinical Follow-up (PMCF) Surveys under the European Union's Medical Device Regulation.
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Lessons Learned: 2020 RAPS U.S. and Euro Convergence
on 23 November 2020 | By RQM+ Subject Matter Experts
RQM+ sponsored both RAPS U.S. and Euro Convergence conferences in 2020 and we also led and provided subject matter experts for two panel discussions. Our experts pulled together the highlights from both conferences and summarized them by category for our readers.
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A New Approach to Corporate Holiday Gift Giving
on 18 November 2020 | By Lisa Casavant, RQM+ EVP
18 November 2020 - A challenging year makes it more important than ever to be supporting and serving our communities.
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Top Ten Tips and Best Practices for PMCF Surveys Under EU MDR
on 10 November 2020 | By Celeste Maksim, PhD, RAC, RQM+
10 November 2020 - RQM+ experts have come up with a list of our top ten suggestions for mastering Post-Market Clinical Follow-up ("PMCF") Surveys under the European Union's Medical Device Regulation.
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FDA Friday - Interview with Dr. Seth Carmody
on 30 October 2020 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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FDA’s Tool for Assessing Medical Device Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
on 28 October 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
28 October 2020 - October is National Cybersecurity Awareness month, so we think there is no better time to talk about FDA’s new qualified tool for assessing medical device cybersecurity vulnerabilities and why using it makes sense to help you #BeCyberSmart.
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Med Device Monday - Cybersecure Medical Devices
on 26 October 2020 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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FDA Friday - Cybersecurity Awareness Month at FDA!
on 23 October 2020 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Q&A: Economic Operators - Addressing the EU MDR and IVDR requirements
on 21 October 2020 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
R&Q's August 2020 webinar focused on Economic Operators: Addressing the EU MDR and IVDR requirements head-on. In this follow-up blog post, our knowledgeable MDR and IVDR regulatory experts sat down to answer audience questions.
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Integrating Risk and Complaint Management
on 16 October 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
Having strong integrated complaint and risk management processes is about more than just compliance. Watch this webinar and learn critical strategies and tactics for success. As with every R&Q webinar, all registrants will receive access to the slides and recording.
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Irish Notified Body Requires ISO 14971:2019 Compliance by December 2020
on 14 October 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
14 October 2020 - The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) has adopted December 2020 as the expected implementation date for EN ISO 14971:2019.
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A Discussion With the European Commission on Expert Panels
on 7 October 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
7 October 2020 - A short conversation with the European Commission provides details on when we can expect access to their expert panels.
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What You Need to Know About the UK's New Medical Device Guidance
on 1 October 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
1 October 2020 - As the end of the BREXIT transition period nears, the UK government has released a proposed regime on the regulation of medical devices.
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R&Q Acquires Maetrics to Form the Largest Medical Device-Focused Global Regulatory and Quality Consultancy
on 10 September 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
We are proud to announce that we have acquired Maetrics, a leader in life sciences quality and regulatory consulting. Check out the full press release below or visit ourRAPS Convergence 2020 announcement page for more information.
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Program Management for IVDR and EU MDR
on 8 September 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
Whether you’re just starting to plan your IVDR program (or not sleeping well because you haven’t started yet) or well into EU MDR but ready to plan post-market surveillance activities, our September webinar will be helpful. All registrants will receive access to the slides and...
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Announcing R&Q Training Workshops
on 3 September 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
3 September 2020 - Training Workshops brought to you by the Subject Matter Experts at Regulatory & Quality Solutions.
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Roundup: RQM+ at the 2020 RAPS Convergence
on 30 August 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
RQM+ is counting down the days until we can join the RAPS community at the virtual RAPS Convergence 2020 on 13-16 September 2020. As many of you know, the Convergence is the largest annual gathering of regulatory professionals from around the world. While we'll miss interacting...
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Ranked: The most popular on-demand panel discussions from R&Q
on 24 August 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
Note: A version of this post was initially published for the flagship online publication of RAPS, Regulatory Focus™ In an effort to further support the medical device industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, we've been spreading love more than ever in one of the best ways we know...
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R&Q's Ruthanne Vendy Contributes to RAPS Fundamentals of EU Regulatory Affairs
on 11 August 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
11 August 2020 - We sat down to with R&Q's Ruthanne Vendy, RAC to talk about her experience as a contributing author to the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society’s (RAPS) Fundamentals of EU Regulatory Affairs, Ninth Edition.
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Economic Operators: EU MDR and IVDR Requirements
on 3 August 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
In our August 2020 webinar you'll learn about the EU MDR and IVDR requirements for economic operators.
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Q&A: Solving the EU MDR Labeling Puzzle
on 29 July 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
Although a lot has changed in our worlds since R&Q's December 2019 webinar focused on Solving the EU MDR Labeling Puzzle, the general requirements have stayed the same. In this blog post, our knowledgeable EU MDR regulatory experts sat down to provide some updates on a few more...
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First Do No Harm: Protecting Patients Through Post-Market Surveillance
on 15 July 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
15 July 2020 - R&Q experts discuss "First Do No Harm - The report of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review."
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PMCF Plans
on 7 July 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
In this on-demand webinar originally presented in July 2020, find out how to create detailed, compliant, and business-balanced PMCF plans.
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Q&A: FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and EU MDR Article 59
on 6 July 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
R&Q's May 2020 webinar focused on FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) process and EU MDR Article 59 to release devices needed for prevention and treatment of COVID-19. In this blog post, our knowledgeable FDA and EU MDR regulatory experts sat down to provide answers to your...
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State of the Art (SOTA) Part I: What is a State of the Art Evaluation?
on 22 June 2020 | By Susan Farabaugh, RQM+ Consultant
You have been reviewing the 4th revision of the European Commission’s Guidelines on Medical Devices, "MEDDEV 2.7/1 Clinical Evaluation: A Guide for Manufacturers and Notified Bodies Under Directives 93/42/EEC and 90/385/EEC" to make sure you are following all requirements to get...
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Q&A: RAPS Webcast - PMS Requirements of the EU MDR
on 15 June 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
R&Q is a Premium Solutions Partner of the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) and in April, we joined forces to offer up a premium webcast. R&Q Executive Director of Regulatory and Quality Consulting Services, Nancy Morrison, presented PMS Requirements of the EU MDR:...
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Q&A: Structuring PERs under IVDR
on 8 June 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
R&Q's April 2020 webinar focused on Structuring Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs) under In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR). In this blog post, our knowledgeable IVDR experts sat down to provide answers to your questions from the webinar and we hope that they will shed...
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Emergency Use Authorization Stories: The Humn Project
on 18 May 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
As we collectively watch the world struggle to cope with the devastating impacts of COVID-19, the Emergency Use Authorization Act has given the R&Q team opportunities to provide pro bono regulatory guidance to incredible medical device companies that are prioritizing “giving...
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FDAnews Webinar featuring R&Q's Jon Gimbel, Ph.D. on June 2
on 13 May 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
Tuesday 2 June 2020 — An FDAnews Webinar featuring R&Q
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Case Studies of MDD and MDR Audit Findings... and Lessons Learned
on 8 May 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
On-Demand - A webinar entirely dedicated to case studies.
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RQM+ Remediation Station: Tools & Tips
on 8 May 2020 | By Deven Hennon, R&Q
Welcome to the Remediation Station! We've got live shows with the experts, case studies, and insights to help you get through remediation successfully. First up, join us Friday, May 8 11:00am ET / 8:00am PT for RQM+ Live #4: Best Practices for Reducing Pain in a Medical Device...
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RQM+ Live! #5 — 5/14/20
on 1 May 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
Chatting with Former FDA and Notified Body Representatives
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R&Q Experts Reviewed the New MDCG Guidance - Here is What They Learned.
on 1 May 2020 | By Deven Snyder
If you were excited when the European Commission finally released four guidance documents covering Clinical Evaluation Equivalence, Clinical Evidence of Legacy Devices, and templates for the Post-market clinical follow-up (PMCF) Evaluation Reports and Plans (MDCG 2020-5-8) last...
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Q&A: EU MDR Audits: Preparing, Managing & Responding to Nonconformances
on 28 April 2020 | By Deven Snyder
R&Q's March 2020 webinar focused on dealing with EU MDR Audit Nonconformances. In this blog post, our knowledgeable EU MDR experts sat down to provide answers to your questions from the webinar and we hope that they will shed some light on similar questions that you may have on...
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FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and EU MDR Article 59
on 27 April 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
26 May 2020 - Processes, tips, and lessons learned.
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What is Dynamic Mechanical Analysis Used For?
on 24 April 2020 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Dynamic mechanical analysis, sometimes abbreviated to DMA, is a workhorse technique used to investigate the various mechanical properties of materials as a function of frequency, temperature, and time. The goal is to ultimately get an in-depth assessment of the stress and strain...
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BREAKING NEWS: European Parliament Approves One Year EU MDR Delay
on 17 April 2020 | By Deven Snyder
This post is an update to our recent blog post where Nancy Morrison, R&Q's Executive Director, Regulatory & Quality Consulting Services, shared her thoughts on the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the EU MDR timeline. You can read that post here.
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Focusing on Process Improvements as a Competitive Advantage
on 15 April 2020 | By Deven Snyder
At R&Q, we are seeing firsthand how heavily impacted companies of all sizes are by the volatile global markets brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. To assist our country’s more vulnerable businesses, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed in...
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COVID-19 Continues to Impact Medical Device Manufacturing in China
on 13 April 2020 | By Deven Snyder
Medical device companies often have a globally distributed workforce which can include remote specification developers and, more likely, manufacturing sites. In China alone, where the virus was first detected, many medical device companies have manufacturing sites, utilize...
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Join Us Weekly — Announcing DEVICE L❤️VE Live!
on 9 April 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
The current pandemic is challenging for everyone to varying degrees. R&Q has the utmost respect, appreciation, and love for healthcare workers and all frontline workers across the globe. Our mission from the start has been to improve people's lives and our announcement today has...
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RAPS Webcast: PMS Requirements of the EU MDR
on 6 April 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
Note: this webcast is now available on demand. R&Q is a Premium Solutions Partner of the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) and on Wednesday, April 15th, we're joining forces to offer up a premium live webcast. Attendees will earn 1.5 RAC credits and the event is...
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Q&A: PMS Requirements of the EU MDR
on 3 April 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
In February – just before COVID-19 began to seriously impact those of us in the United States – R&Q Executive Director of Regulatory & Quality Consulting Services, Nancy Morrison, presented the webinar PMS Requirements of the EU MDR: Implementation Challenges and Solutions. We...
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Structuring PERs under IVDR
on 1 April 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
Whether you are interested in improved strategies for completing PERs or effectively completing your first PER, our April 2020 webinar can act as a critical guide.
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How Will COVID-19 Impact the EU MDR Timeline?
on 19 March 2020 | By Deven Snyder
Nancy Morrison, R&Q's Executive Director, Regulatory & Quality Consulting Services, shares her thoughts on the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the EU MDR timeline: Team NB, the European Association of Notified Bodies (NB) that are active in the medical device...
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New EU MDR Guidance on Significant Changes
on 18 March 2020 | By Deven Snyder
As most of the world seems to be at a standstill this week, the European Commission published new guidance (MDCG 2020-3) to further define “significant change” requirements under the new Medical Device Regulation (MDR) policies coming our way on May 26, 2020. The highly...
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EU MDR Audits
on 5 March 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
Preparing, managing and responding to nonconformances.
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Q&A: Developing an FDA Regulatory Strategy
on 28 February 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
R&Q's first webinar of 2020 was the first in a two-part series on bringing your medical device to market in the United States. Part one addressed Class I and Class II devices, while part two (TBA in the spring) will cover Class III devices. The questions we received related to...
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EU MDR 2017/745 Health Check List
on 24 February 2020 | By Deven Snyder
Check out R&Q experts' European Union Medical Device Regulation (MDR) 2017/745 Health Check List below to determine the areas to focus your resources in the final few months before the May 26, 2020 MDR Date of Application. If you have questions, concerns, or need any help...
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Working Principles and Applications of Scanning Electron Microscopy
on 17 February 2020 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is an advanced analytical tool that vastly outstrips the capabilities of traditional light microscopy. The standard array of magnifying lenses in a compound microscope enables sample magnification by up to 1000x, using visible wavelengths of...
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PMS Requirements of the EU MDR
on 31 January 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
Our February 2020 webinar will help you optimize every element of PMS/PMCF as it relates to the EU MDR at your organization.
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Brexit: Top Five Do's and Don'ts for Medical Device Manufacturers
on 31 January 2020 | By Deven Snyder
After four years, many heated debates, several delays, and a few Prime Ministers later, the United Kingdom (U.K.) is officially leaving the European Union (EU) today, January 31, 2020. Well, sort of. Instead of the “hard Brexit” that had been promised and feared in March, April,...
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Med Device Monday: The iStent inject Device for Glaucoma Patients
on 27 January 2020 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Developing an FDA Regulatory Strategy
on 8 January 2020 | By Stephen Biernacki
Our January 2020 webinar is designed to help you create a comprehensive regulatory strategy that enables you to successfully enter the US market.
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510(k): What is a Premarket Notification?
on 7 January 2020 | By Taryn Meade, RQM+ Director of Biological Evaluation Consulting
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act establishes strict requirements for devices and products marketed to consumers and professionals in the U.S. This includes medical devices, food and pharmaceutical packaging, and cosmetics containers. Before a new product can be...
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MDR’s May 2020 Deadline Won’t Change
on 6 January 2020 | By Deven Snyder
During a December meeting of the European Union’s Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO), European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, confirmed that the May 2020 deadline for Medical Device Regulations (MDR) implementation...
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House Passes Bill to Repeal the Medical Device Tax
on 18 December 2019 | By Deven Snyder
The holidays may have just gotten a little happier and a lot brighter for those of us in the medical device industry! Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to repeal the impending and much-criticized Medical Device Tax, a 2.3% excise tax on...
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Med Device Monday – FDA grants a new device that can detect HIV-1 Drug Resistance Mutations
on 9 December 2019 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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BREAKING NEWS: EU MDR Delay Class I Devices
on 27 November 2019 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
RQM+ clients have one more thing to be thankful for this year as a new Corrigenda to the European Union Medical Device Regulation (MDR) has been issued that extends the due date for Certificates for Class I – reusable surgical instruments – for four years. Check out the newly...
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R&Q Cares: Supporting Light of Life Rescue Mission
on 26 November 2019 | By Deven Snyder
The R&Q offices are buzzing with excitement as the holidays quickly approach! Many of us are preparing to gather with family and friends this week to celebrate Thanksgiving over a warm meal, football on the TV and great conversation with loved ones. As much as we are a company...
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Announcing R&Q's new Vice President of Technical Services, Ralph Asencio
on 25 November 2019 | By Stephen Biernacki
Regulatory & Quality Solutions (R&Q) is absolutely delighted to announce Ralph Asencio as Vice President of Technical Services! R&Q has plenty to be thankful for in 2019. It's been an incredible year for a multitude of reasons, one of which has been the addition of key technical...
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EU MDR/IVDR Guidance List Provides Insight on 2019 Expectations
on 7 November 2019 | By Deven Snyder
Get ready for an active fourth quarter in the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) world! We sat down with R&Q's Nancy Morrison, Executive Director of Regulatory and Quality Consulting Services, to get her thoughts on the newly released "Ongoing Guidance development within...
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Q&A: FDA Updates for Medical Device Manufacturers
on 5 November 2019 | By Deven Snyder
From new software and cybersecurity guidance to updates to existing medical software policies, September was a busy month for FDA guidance releases. During our October webinar on FDA Updates for Medical Device Manufacturers, R&Q experts addressed these changes and what impacts...
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Med Device Monday: TransMedics OCS™ Lung System for Lung Preservation
on 28 October 2019 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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FDA Friday - A Closer Look at the CDRH Health of Women Program
on 18 October 2019 | By Erin Gontang
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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"Hope isn't a strategy." Takeaways from RAPS and new industry updates.
on 4 October 2019 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
September was an incredible month for us at R&Q. Our thought leaders were out and about at DeviceTalks Minnesota, our own 3-hour CER Virtual Workshop (now available on demand), The MedTech Conference (AdvaMed), and the RAPS Regulatory Convergence. Whew! If you participated in...
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Med Device Monday - XVIVO Perfusion System for Storing Human Organs Before Transplantation
on 30 September 2019 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Solving the EU MDR Labeling Puzzle
on 17 September 2019 | By Stephen Biernacki
Our December webinar will help you understand and act on requirements.
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Strategies for Successful IVDR Implementation
on 17 September 2019 | By Stephen Biernacki
Our November 2019 webinar looked at how to assess products and more.
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FDA Updates
on 17 September 2019 | By Stephen Biernacki
Our October 2019 webinar highlighted key areas of change related to the FDA.
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What GMP Means in Pharma
on 11 September 2019 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
The acronym GMP refers to the good manufacturing practices promoted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the remit of the FD&C Act; which mandates strict levels of quality assurance at every stage of the pharmaceutical manufacturing chain. Although GMP principles...
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How to Conduct Molecular Weight Analysis
on 20 August 2019 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
The molecular weight of proteins, natural and synthetic polymers is a clear indicator of product performance and activity. To control product performance across a broad range of applications, the understanding of molecular weight determination is key.
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Q&A: Integrating CERs and Post-Market Surveillance
on 27 June 2019 | By Stephen Biernacki
While we're in the midst of taking the summer off from webinars (see you in the fall!) and excitedly preparing for our CER Virtual Workshop in September, we did have our most popular and best-reviewed webinar ever in May: Integrating CERs and Post-Market Surveillance. The...
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What is Polymer Molecular Weight?
on 21 June 2019 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Polymer molecular weight (MW) is the molecular mass of a polymer chain. While small molecules of the same elemental composition all exhibit the same molecular weight, polymer chains exhibit different characteristics. These chains are compounded from multiple small molecules that...
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Two sides of the regulatory coin
on 18 June 2019 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
One of the most rewarding aspects of regulatory work is that no two days are the same. There are always new (and constantly evolving) technologies and regulations to provide fresh opportunities to show your skills. If you’ve been tied up trying to get ready for May 26, 2020 and...
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Wednesday Wisdom: Article on Regulating Software as a Medical Device (SaMD)
on 5 June 2019 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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What is Elemental Analysis Used For?
on 22 May 2019 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Elemental analysis is a process in analytical chemistry in which a sample of material such as water, minerals and bodily fluid is analyzed to ascertain its elemental composition. Elemental analysis can be qualitative, determining which elements are present or quantitative,...
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That's a wrap! A recap of our Advanced EU MDR and CER Workshops and what to do if you missed them.
on 9 April 2019 | By Stephen Biernacki
In March R&Q partnered with the Medical Alley Association in Minneapolis and MassMEDIC in Boston to offer industry-leading educational workshops on the EU MDR and CERs. R&Q recruited top industry experts, including representation from notified bodies BSI and GMED North America,...
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R&Q adds former TÜV Rheinland North America Lead Auditor of Medical to team
on 8 April 2019 | By Stephen Biernacki
Regulatory & Quality Solutions (R&Q) continues to grow aggressively – all while never sacrificing the high quality of service our clients have come to expect (this is a guiding principle and will never change) – and our latest addition to the team is particularly exciting. R&Q...
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EU MDR for Combination Products
on 25 March 2019 | By Stephen Biernacki
More companies will require notified body involvement.
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How to Choose a GPC Column
on 27 February 2019 | By Taryn Meade, RQM+ Director of Biological Evaluation Consulting
Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) is a powerful technique that provides a direct measurement of molecular weight, a critical property in characterizing natural and synthetic polymers. There is no universal GPC system with the capability to separate every polymer-based...
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Top 10 EU MDR and CER Questions
on 25 February 2019 | By Stephen Biernacki
Answers to the most popular questions we receive.
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EU MDR / CER Portfolio Planning
on 25 February 2019 | By Stephen Biernacki
Know the essential EU MDR portfolio planning requirements.
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QMS for EU MDR
on 25 February 2019 | By Stephen Biernacki
Does your quality system meet the additional requirements?
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Risk Management Updates
on 25 February 2019 | By Stephen Biernacki
What to do with your process to meet the EU MDR/IVDR requirements.
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Analyzing Solar Cells via X-ray Diffraction
on 1 February 2019 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
X-ray diffraction is a powerful method of characterizing crystalline materials in a non-destructive manner. It is often used to identify and quantify crystalline phases by illuminating samples with a beam of X-rays and analyzing the distinctive diffraction patterns emitted from...
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🏅 Top 10 Questions: EU MDR and CER [Upcoming Webinar]
on 25 January 2019 | By Stephen Biernacki
Are you registered for our next free webinar yet? It's one you won't want to miss and it's next week!
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Protein Characterization, Identification & Purification
on 25 January 2019 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
Protein characterization is an incredibly broad field of study that encompasses a wide range of analytical methods and techniques. Although biochemists have made enormous strides in protein analysis, the process of identifying and purifying novel proteins remains a daunting...
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What does Brexit mean to your medical device company?
on 16 January 2019 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
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Med Device Monday: The Fluobeam 800 and the PTeye System for Parathyroid Tissue Detection
on 7 January 2019 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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The Working Principles of Gel Permeation Chromatography
on 19 December 2018 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) is a powerful analytical technique used to separate dissolved molecules by size, based on their elution from a column filled with a porous gel. I t can be described as a type of molecular sieving chromatography, where samples are separated...
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FDA Friday: Reclassification
on 30 November 2018 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Premarket Notification: 510(k) FDA
on 21 November 2018 | By Taryn Meade, RQM+ Director of Biological Evaluation Consulting
A 510(k) is a premarket submission made to FDA to demonstrate that the device to be marketed is at least as safe and effective, that is, substantially equivalent, to a legally marketed medical device (21 CFR 807.92(a)(3)) that is not subject to PMA.1
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Our Advanced EU MDR and CER Workshop is coming to California in December at DeviceTalks West
on 14 November 2018 | By Stephen Biernacki
Note: Presenters/Panelists listed below subject to change. R&Q is bringing our Advanced EU MDR and CER Workshop to DeviceTalks West! Join us Dec.12 for an extensive, detailed look at EU MDR and CERs through the lens of top industry experts who have successfully implemented...
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Med Device Monday: Aethlon's Hemopurifier
on 29 October 2018 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Polymer Testing: Polyethylene and End of Life Management
on 26 October 2018 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Polyethylene is the most pervasive synthetic polymer used worldwide, comprising over a third of the world’s annual plastic manufacturing output. Production of plastics has come under significant environmental scrutiny in recent years with estimates suggesting that as much as...
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Using Transmission Electron Microscopy to Analyze Engineering Materials
on 10 October 2018 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
Transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) are the big guns of the microscope world, capable of peering far beyond the diffraction limit of conventional optical microscopes to resolve sub-nanometer details and probe the atomic structure of materials. [1] The most sophisticated...
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What is Thermal Gravimetric Analysis?
on 8 October 2018 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Thermogravimetric analysis, or thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), is a method of determining the overall mass of a sample as a temperature-dependent property. Mass change as a function of temperature is a fundamental property of many materials as they degrade and lose volatile...
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FDA Friday: Updates to our Previous De Novo Pathway Blog
on 14 September 2018 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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New webinars, major events... hello, fall!
on 11 September 2018 | By Stephen Biernacki
First thing's first: our free webinars are back. Over the next three months – beginning September 25 – we'll be covering combination products, EU MDR, and economic operators. Slides, recordings, and Q&A will be made available to everyone who registers. We've made it easy for you...
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R&Q Q&A: Employee Spotlight and Career Opportunities
on 24 July 2018 | By Victoria Rose
This is our R&Q Q&A series. Every few months we ask R&Q employees how they make their impact at R&Q... and the impact R&Q has had on them. From improving people's lives to R&Q's rewarding culture, we hope their answers shed light on how our company influences the medical device...
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Not your average EU MDR and CER workshop
on 20 July 2018 | By Stephen Biernacki
Note: Presenters/Panelists listed below subject to change. DeviceTalks Boston is Oct. 8-10 this year and as part of it, R&Q is helping to organize an Advanced EU MDR and CER Workshop. It's an extensive, detailed look at EU MDR and CERs through the lens of top industry experts...
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Taking it up a notch at DeviceTalks Minnesota
on 10 May 2018 | By Stephen Biernacki
DeviceTalks Minnesota is right around the corner and we couldn't possibly be more excited - really. June 4-5 is only a little over three weeks away! We've witnessed the growth of this event first-hand over the past few years and this year we're confident will be the best yet,...
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🔑 Unlock the Secrets to CERs in our May Webinar
on 7 May 2018 | By Stephen Biernacki
Unlock the secrets to complying with the increased requirements for CERs in May's free R&Q webinar: CERs – Tips, Tricks, and Lessons Learned The session will be on Tuesday, May 22 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST. The presentation slides, webinar recording, and Q&A will be made...
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💼 EU MDR – Proactive Post-Market Surveillance [Upcoming Webinar]
on 20 April 2018 | By Stephen Biernacki
It's time for our next free R&Q Intelligence Series webinar. The session – EU MDR – Proactive Post-Market Surveillance: The requirements and staff it will take to do it. – will be held Tuesday, April 24ᵗʰ from 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST. If you can't view the webinar live, we encourage...
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Typical Molecular Weights of Common Polymers
on 18 April 2018 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
No two polymers are the same. They exhibit different properties depending on key characteristics, such as their molecular weight. Polymer molecular weight (MW) describes the molar mass distribution of a polymer chain, which determines the weight of the macromolecule itself. This...
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What is Transmission Electron Microscopy?
on 13 April 2018 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a form of microscopic analysis that transmits a high-energy beam of electrons through an ultrathin sample specimen. This provides imagery based on the transmission/attenuation of electrons, which is then magnified for direct observation...
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Wednesday Wisdom: Breakthrough Devices Program
on 11 April 2018 | By Blythe Sinclair
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Med Device Monday: Diagnostic for Detection of Brain Trauma
on 2 April 2018 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Polymer Failure Analysis with RQM+ Lab Services
on 30 March 2018 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Failure analysis is used to detect chemical and mechanical defects and deficiencies in polymer products, which have contributed to or directly resulted in failure. It is a critical analytical field that can improve the efficiency and profitability of polymeric products,...
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R&Q Q&A: Employee Spotlight and Career Opportunities
on 6 March 2018 | By Victoria Rose
This is our R&Q Q&A series. Every few months we ask R&Q employees how they make their impact at R&Q... and the impact R&Q has had on them. From improving people's lives to R&Q's rewarding culture, we hope their answers shed light on how R&Q influences the medical device industry...
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Med Device Monday: Implantable Continuous Pump for Remodulin
on 6 March 2018 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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A Beginner’s Guide to Dynamic Mechanical Analysis
on 14 February 2018 | By By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) describes a procedure in which the mechanical properties of materials are measured as a function of time, temperature, and frequency. In basic terms, dynamic mechanical analysis involves the application of a stressor on a target such as the...
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Food Toxicology: Testing Food Contact Materials
on 1 February 2018 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
A ubiquity of food contact materials exists today, with virtually all the food we consume coming packaged in some form or another. This has the multifaceted benefit of preserving food goods: maintaining quality for longer transit and storage periods; reducing the risk of...
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Measuring Polymer Exemptions with Gel Permeation Chromatography
on 15 January 2018 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established to protect human health by providing regulatory oversight and implementing decisive action where required. Changes in manufacturing protocol and emergent materials mean that the powers of the EPA are routinely subject...
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FDA Friday - Michael Nilo, MS
on 12 January 2018 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Webinar Q&A: Preparing your CER for MDR
on 8 January 2018 | By Stephen Biernacki
Note: R&Q's first Intelligence Series webinar of 2018 will be held on January 23rd – QMS for EU MDR: Does your quality system meet the additional requirements? Sign up here! -- Back in November and as part of the R&Q Intelligence Series, we held the webinar, Preparing your CER...
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Good Manufacturing Practice in the Medical Device Industry
on 5 January 2018 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
All manufacturers are expected to establish some form of quality protocols to ensure that products meet a minimum standard, whether that threshold is established by general expectations or by regulators. Naturally, manufacturers of medical devices are held to a higher benchmark...
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Overcoming Uncertainty in E&L Testing
on 27 November 2017 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
E&L testing is carried out on plastic products to understand which molecules, such as antioxidants, slip agents, surfactants lubricants, etc. are released from a polymer system. Undertaking E&L testing is a critical step of the medical device and pharmaceutical safety...
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Welcome, Jacob Foster: Regulatory and Quality Solutions' New Senior Principal Engineer
on 14 November 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
Jacob Foster brings 20+ years of medical device and pharmaceutical regulatory, quality, and project management experience to R&Q. He also brings an engaging personality, eager to do more for clients. Pittsburgh, PA -- Regulatory and Quality Solutions LLC (R&Q) exists to improve...
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![Preparing your CER for MDR [Upcoming Webinar]](https://www.rqmplus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Webinars/RQ/R%26Q%20Intelligence%20Series%202017/2017%20November%20-%20Preparing%20your%20CER%20for%20MDR/RQ_Webinar_Preparing_CER_for_MDR_Website_Promo_10_31_17-min.png?length=450&name=RQ_Webinar_Preparing_CER_for_MDR_Website_Promo_10_31_17-min.png)
Preparing your CER for MDR [Upcoming Webinar]
on 13 November 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
The upcoming EU MDR requires enhanced clinical evidence to support the device whether you have Class I or Class III products. For products that have been on the market for a long time there may be limited or no clinical studies, and yet, the new European Medical Device...
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ISO 13485:2016 Companion Handbook Now Available
on 24 October 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
ISO has published a companion handbook to ISO 13485:2016, Medical devices-Quality management systems - Requirements for regulatory purposes. From AAMI: It provides users with practical guidance and accurate interpretation of the requirements specified in the standard. It offers...
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Polyethylene (PE) High Temp GPC Separation Example
on 18 October 2017 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
New generation Resolve Columns (7.8 mm x 300 mm) are produced to allow separation over the molecular weight range from 500 to 12,000,000 g/mol (PS equivalent) for 13 µm particle size packing materials. Polyolefins often have broad molecular weight ranges characterized by high...
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Webinar Q&A: EU MDR / CER Portfolio Planning
on 2 October 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
In September and as part of the R&Q Intelligence Series, we conducted the webinar, EU MDR / CER Portfolio Planning: Know the essential EU MDR portfolio planning requirements. Portfolio planning is a key aspect of interfacing with your notified body. The upcoming EU MDR changes...
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Webinar Q&A: Risk-Based Approach to ISO 13485:2016
on 19 September 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
Last month and as part of the R&Q Intelligence Series we conducted the webinar, Risk-Based Approach to ISO 13485:2016: Risk considerations and implementation. Risk considerations and implementation of a risk-based approach in your QMS processes is one of the most significant...
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EU MDR / CER Portfolio Planning: The Essential Requirements [Free Webinar]
on 12 September 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
What? Please join us for September's free R&Q Intelligence Series webinar: EU MDR / CER Portfolio Planning: Know the essential EU MDR portfolio planning requirements. The session will take place Tuesday, September 26 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST. Portfolio planning is a key aspect...
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Pharmaceutical Lab Testing: APIs, Excipients, and Contact Materials
on 25 August 2017 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Pharmaceuticals are designed, developed, and primarily manufactured in laboratory environments. Lab testing is a mandatory requirement in practically every phase of pharmaceutical R&D and production, from incoming raw materials inspection to dosage form quality control (QC)....
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MEDDEV 2.7/1 & CERs: Questions and Answers
on 21 August 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
Clinical evaluation requirements have been changing, with the latest impact coming from MEDDEV 2.7/1 Rev 4. Preparing for and meeting these requirements is important because the grace period offered by some notified bodies is ending and clinical evaluation reports (CERs) are...
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Cybersecurity for Medical Devices: Questions and Answers
on 8 August 2017 | By Marilyn Waxberg
As the number of network connected medical devices increases, opportunities for improved patient care also increase. As a consequence, the vulnerability to cyber-attacks becomes a greater threat. Medical device cybersecurity threats can be dangerous for providers, networks, and...
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MDUFA IV: More Than Just User Fees - FDA Reauthorization Act (FDARA) Passes Senate
on 4 August 2017 | By Jake O'Donnell
Pending the expected signature of President Trump, MDUFA IV will be implemented (along with PDUFA VI and GDUFA II). Passage, including the associated rise in user fees for device manufacturers over the term of the act (FY18-22), was largely expected. Legislative politics involve...
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Clarifying the Clinical Evaluation Requirements: A Case Study
on 1 August 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
About R&Q's Case Studies: We hope this Clinical Evaluation Report case study is valuable to you. Here are our currently available case studies. Subscribing to our blog is the best way to know when future case studies and other resources are available. Questions on this...
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Med Device Monday: Nonabsorbent Dressing
on 31 July 2017 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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EU MDR: Your Questions, Our Answers
on 27 July 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
On May 5, 2017 the EU MDR (Medical Device Regulation) was published in the EU Official Journal. This date starts the three-year mandatory transition period where the MDR will replace the MDD (Medical Device Directive). The expanded scope of the MDR combined with the time frames...
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Regulatory and Quality Solutions Names Julie Maes Director of Territory Operations – Northern Lakes Region
on 24 July 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
Maes brings 25+ years of medical device regulatory, quality, and project management experience to R&Q. Pittsburgh, PA -- Regulatory and Quality Solutions LLC (R&Q), a provider of industry-leading regulatory and quality engineering services to medical device and combination...
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Med Device Monday: Class II Device Types Exempt from Premarket Notification
on 18 July 2017 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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E&L: Key Principles of Extractables & Leachables Analysis
on 14 July 2017 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
E&L testing is a critical process in pharmaceutical packaging development and medical device manufacturing. Unlike many other forms of laboratory analyses, it cannot be broken down into a series of simple methods. This is primarily due to the complex and infinitely variable...
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The Lowdown on Cybersecurity for Medical Devices
on 14 July 2017 | By Jyothsna Nunna
Every one of us has probably either been affected by or knows someone who has been affected by a cybersecurity vulnerability. Some attacks happen for the thrill, some to expose weaknesses between competitors, some for malicious intent, and some for money. We hear of these issues...
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[Free R&Q Webinar] Cybersecurity for Medical Devices: The regulatory and quality ramifications.
on 6 July 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
What? Please join us for a free R&Q Intelligence Series webinar: Cybersecurity for Medical Devices: The regulatory and quality ramifications. The session will be held on Tuesday, July 25 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST.
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Medical Device Monday: Tongue Depressors
on 4 July 2017 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Med Device Monday: Bone Mills
on 30 May 2017 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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What's Changed with FDA User Fees?
on 16 May 2017 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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RESOURCE: The MDR and IVDR Have Been Published! See Our Table of Key Dates
on 8 May 2017 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
Publication in the Official Journal of the European Journal on May 5, 2017 means the regulations will enter into force on May 26, 2017, twenty days after publication. We will have a three-year transition period for the MDR and a five-year transition period for the IVDR. Products...
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![MEDDEV 2.7/1 & CERs: Know the Changes and What to Do [Webinar]](//www.rqmplus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Webinars/RQ/R&Q%20Intelligence%20Series%202017/May%20-%20MEDDEV/Webinar_Promo_May_MEDDEV_v2-min.png?length=450&name=Webinar_Promo_May_MEDDEV_v2-min.png)
MEDDEV 2.7/1 & CERs: Know the Changes and What to Do [Webinar]
on 2 May 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
Part of your month, [almost*] every month: R&Q Intelligence Series webinars are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month. These free webinars from some of the medical device industry's leading-most experts are designed for reporting on and analyzing the top industry trends and...
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Titrimetry in Wine Analysis
on 19 April 2017 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
Titrimetry is an important analytical process used to determine the quantity of specific constituents in a mobile phase. It is a type of volumetric analysis where the analyte is quantified as a function of equivalence, which is expressed as a titration curve with an end point...
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EU MDR and Clinical Evidence: What You Need to Know
on 18 April 2017 | By Ruthanne Vendy
THE SKINNY: The Council of the European Union adopted the proposed new European Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR) in March 2017 and passed by Parliament in April 2017. It is expected to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union in the upcoming weeks, making the...
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Med Device Monday: Class I Device Types Exempt from Premarket Notification
on 17 April 2017 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Particulates and Residues in Medical Devices
on 12 April 2017 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
RQM+ Lab Services is one of the world’s leading authorities in the field of medical device analytical chemistry and laboratory testing. It is a deceptively broad field of analysis, comprising routine physical testing and complex product deformulation, alongside contamination and...
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Med Device Monday: Raindrop Vision Inlay
on 11 April 2017 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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E&L Testing: Methods of Chemical Characterization
on 10 April 2017 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Extractables and leachables testing – E&L testing for short – is the process of identifying and quantifying the molecules which can be released from plastic-containing products. This blog post discusses the many different analytical techniques which are used to analyze sample...
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EU MDR: Assessing the Impact and Next Steps [Webinar]
on 5 April 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
Part of your month, every month: R&Q Intelligence Series webinars are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month. These free webinars from some of the medical device industry's leading-most experts are designed for reporting on and analyzing the top industry trends and topics in...
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Exploring the Importance of Polymer Analysis
on 4 April 2017 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Polymers are ubiquitous materials used in construction, engineering, and countless commercial products. These applications can be as varied as the polymeric materials used in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage packaging, and personal care cosmetics. They are...
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Contamination Detection: Particulates and Residue Analysis with RQM+ Lab Services
on 31 March 2017 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Process and quality control in the pharmaceutical industry requires highly-discerning contaminant detection, including particulates and residue analysis. These elements are among the primary forms of contamination in the pharmacological industry, and can arise from a broad range...
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What is ISO 10993 Used for?
on 29 March 2017 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
ISO 10993 comprises a series of international standards for the evaluation of biomedical devices and associated biological risk. ISO 10993 includes specific standards for certain material classes, such as ceramics or metals, as well as evaluation and testing within a...
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Med Device Monday: C-Section Retractor
on 28 March 2017 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Carrying Out Particle Analysis Using DLS
on 20 March 2017 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
There are various well-established methods of carrying out particle analysis including dynamic image analysis (DIS), static light scattering (SLS), and sieve analysis—sometimes called gradation testing. These methodologies can often be complementary, each providing information...
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MDSAP: A Better Inspection Option for Device Manufacturers?
on 14 March 2017 | By Jake O'Donnell
Note: This post is written by Jake O'Donnell, Senior FDA Compliance Principal at R&Q. Jake has more than 20 years of experience working for the FDA. Please join us for a free one-hour webinar on MDSAP, March 28th. Medical device firms, are you looking forward to your next FDA...
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![MDSAP: What is it? Is it for me? How will I get it done? [Webinar]](//www.rqmplus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Webinars/RQ/R&Q%20Intelligence%20Series%202017/March%20-%20MDSAP/Webinar_Promo_March-min.png?length=450&name=Webinar_Promo_March-min.png)
MDSAP: What is it? Is it for me? How will I get it done? [Webinar]
on 7 March 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
Part of your month, every month: R&Q Intelligence Series webinars are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month. These free webinars from some of the medical device industry's leading-most experts are designed for reporting on and analyzing the top industry trends and topics in...
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Review Controls Applied to Outgoing Data Streams (Because the FDA Might Be)
on 6 March 2017 | By Jake O'Donnell
Medical device manufacturers need to carefully manage several important outward streams of information regarding their products. The regulatory community is generally most familiar with the data stream that relates to obtaining clearance to market devices, which involves...
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NEWS: Bill Introduced to Improve FDA's Medical Device Inspection Process
on 1 March 2017 | By Jake O'Donnell
Senator Johnny Isakson [R-GA] Note: This post is written by Jake O'Donnell, Senior FDA Compliance Principal at R&Q. Jake has more than 20 years of experience working for the FDA. We hope his commentary brings a useful perspective to the new bill. Anytime there is an...
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UV-VIS Absorbance and Protein Characteristics
on 16 February 2017 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
One of the most common methods for analyzing protein characteristics and measuring protein purity in solution is to observe the sample’s absorption of ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths of light. Proteins that contain the appropriate amino acids are absorbent to light on the...
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![A Risk-Based Approach to Your QMS Implementation - ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 [Webinar]](//www.rqmplus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Headshots/Optimized_for_Web/mark_swanson-min.jpg?length=450&name=mark_swanson-min.jpg)
A Risk-Based Approach to Your QMS Implementation - ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 [Webinar]
on 12 February 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
Part of your month, every month: R&Q Intelligence Series webinars are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month. These free webinars from some of the medical device industry's leading-most experts are designed for reporting on and analyzing the top industry trends and topics in...
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An Overview of Toxicological Risk Assessments
on 25 January 2017 | By Taryn Meade, RQM+ Director of Biological Evaluation Consulting
What is a Toxicological Risk? Toxicological risk measures the probability of an adverse effect being caused by a given compound. This covers effects such as skin irritation from topical treatments to more serious risks such as a material being carcinogenetic or fatal if ingested.
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Acquisition Regulatory Assessments: A Case Study
on 25 January 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
About R&Q's Case Studies: We hope this Acquisition Regulatory Assessments case study is valuable to you. Here are our currently available case studies. Subscribing to our blog is the best way to know when future case studies and other resources are available. Questions on this...
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Med Device Monday: Restless Leg Relaxer
on 24 January 2017 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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R&Q Q&A: Minnesota Spotlight
on 20 January 2017 | By Victoria Rose
Welcome to the third post in our R&Q Q&A series. Every few months we ask R&Q employees from a different region questions about how they make their impact at R&Q... and the impact R&Q has had on them. From improving people's lives to R&Q's corporate culture, we hope their answers...
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Med Device Monday: Bone Anchors
on 10 January 2017 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Regulatory and Quality Solutions (R&Q) Certified By the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
on 9 January 2017 | By Stephen Biernacki
R&Q, provider of industry-leading regulatory and quality consulting and engineering services to medical device companies, is proud to announce national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women's Business Enterprise Council-PA-DE-sNJ, a regional certifying...
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A Cool New Way to Prevent Cancer Hair Loss — Literally
on 19 December 2016 | By Kate Keverline
♫ Baby, It's Cold Outside, especially in Texas, where a clinical trial showed a new cooling cap system can prevent hair loss in cancer patients. The ongoing trial involved 95 women with early stage breast cancer. After four cyles of chemotherapy, 48 of the patients—or 51...
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Headway in PA: Announcing Dedicated Operations Directors in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia
on 16 December 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
In 2016 R&Q expanded its activities and the amount of clients served in the northeast (specifically, the greater Boston region), formally launched R&Q in Minnesota, and continued to service new and existing clients throughout the state of Ohio. In 2017 we plan to strengthen our...
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Process Validation Case Study: Know What You Know... and What You Don't
on 13 December 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
About R&Q case studies: We hope this process validation case study helps you understand how we serve our medical device clients in this area. If you have specific process validation questions please contact us and we'll be happy to help. Looking to solve a different problem?...
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How to Develop a Biological Evaluation Plan
on 17 November 2016 | By Taryn Meade, RQM+ Director of Biological Evaluation Consulting
A biological evaluation plan is developed to systematically assess whether a device intended for use in humans poses an unacceptable biological safety risk.
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Vital To-Do for 2017: Prepare for ISO 13485:2016
on 7 November 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
“Procrastination is the bad habit of putting of until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.” - Napolean Hill It's really never too early, especially when it comes to renewing the certifications you need to keep your product on the market. In...
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Slides and Webinar Recording: Chemical Characterization Requirements
on 28 October 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
Missed our webinar with iuvo BioScience - Chemical Characterization Requirements: ISO 10993-18 and Extractables & Leachables Requirements? Good news: you can now download the slides and view the recording.
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Next Up: FDA Regulatory 101 with Combination Products Spotlight at Heal Ohio Conference
on 19 October 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
This is the last FDA Regulatory 101 installment of the year for our partnership with BioOhio. After events in Cincinnati and Columbus, the October 27th event will be held during the 2016 Heal Ohio Conference at the University of Akron. Former FDA Consumer Safety Officer Jake...
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Engineering Plastics via Gel Permeation Chromatography
on 14 October 2016 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) is a well-known method which is used for characterizing polymers according to their molecular weight distribution. The gel permeation chromatography analysis of engineering plastics at high temperatures needs specialized instruments and...
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Master 510(k), IDE, and PMA Submissions at AdvaMed's Workshops
on 14 October 2016 | By Kate Keverline
Within driving distance to D.C.? There's still time to enjoy a few days there next week and simultaneously hone your submissions skills. The FDA, R&Q, and other talented industry experts courtesy of AdvaMed are offering three workshops dedicated to teaching you the guidelines...
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CAPA on CAPA: Webinar Slides and Recording
on 7 October 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
Missed our CAPA on CAPA webinar with MassMEDIC? Now you can download the slides and view the recording.
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The REdI Fall 2016 Conference: Slides and Recordings
on 5 October 2016 | By Kate Keverline
The Regulatory Education for Industry (REdI) Conference is an FDA-led forum that brings together the regulatory educators from FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) to provide direct, relevant, and helpful...
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Med Device Monday: Briteseed and SafeSnips
on 3 October 2016 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Free Webinar: Chemical Characterization Requirements: ISO 10993-18 and Extractables & Leachables Requirements
on 28 September 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
What? This joint webinar presented by Regulatory and Quality Solutions (R&Q) and iuvo BioScience is focused on the requirements for chemical characterization in the healthcare industry. Specifically, it will discuss the standards required for ISO 10993-18 chemical...
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R&Q Q&A: Northeast Employee Spotlight and Openings
on 23 September 2016 | By Victoria Rose
Welcome to the second post in our R&Q Q&A series. Every few months we ask R&Q employees from a different region questions about how they make their impact at R&Q... and the impact R&Q has had on them. From improving people's lives to R&Q's corporate culture, we hope their...
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Minnesota Momentum: R&Q Hires Member of ISO Technical Committee 210, Mark Swanson
on 21 September 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
Mark Swanson is R&Q's new Director of Minneapolis–Saint Paul (MSP) Territory. Welcome, Mark! Mark's addition firmly establishes R&Q in the Twin Cities and prepares R&Q to handle growth in the region. The hiring also builds upon R&Q's existing technical leadership, increasing...
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Revamping Supplier Quality: A Case Study
on 12 September 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
About R&Q's Case Studies: We hope this Supplier Quality Remediation case study is valuable to you. Here are our currently available case studies. Subscribing to our blog is the best way to know when future case studies are available. Questions on supplier quality remediation?...
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When CAPA Needs a Corrective Action: A CAPA Remediation Case Study
on 8 September 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
About R&Q's Case Studies: We hope this case study is valuable to you. Here are our currently available case studies. Subscribing to our blog is the best way to know when future case studies are available. Questions? Contact us. Challenge The FDA found problems you didn't think...
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Medical Device Development: Avoiding Pitfalls in Human Factors / Usability and Design
on 7 September 2016 | By Carol Vierling
This article was originally published in Summer of 2016's Made in PA issue, a publication of the Pittsburgh Technology Council. The competitive landscape of medical devices combined with the advantages of being first to market often tempt manufacturers to move through the...
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Med Device and Med Tech Startups: Master Regulatory Basics and More! September 22 in Philly
on 1 September 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
We all gotta start somewhere... and Pennsylvania Bio and Quorum have helped us put together an invaluable event to help your early-stage medical device company hit the ground running. Seasoned experts, such as R&Q's President Maria Fagan and Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's Will...
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5 Reasons Not to Fear a Supplier Audit
on 30 August 2016 | By Michelle Mahoney
The following post is written by R&Q Senior Engineer, Michelle Mahoney. One of the toughest things to experience when walking in to audit a company is the tension, anxiety, and fear emanating from those in the room. Taking a look around the room, I notice heads are turned away,...
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What You Should Do About the Two New FDA Draft Guidance Documents
on 24 August 2016 | By Nancy Morrison, RQM+
It has been a long journey for the FDA to get the new draft guidances published on when to submit a 510(k) for a change to an existing device, and another specific to software changes. But on August 8th, 2016 it finally happened! For those of you who remember the FDA's attempt...
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Free Webinar: CAPA on CAPA, Presented by MassMEDIC and R&Q - Register Now!
on 16 August 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
CAPA is often overlooked as an integral component of a quality system. More often than not, the FDA can trace deficiencies in a system directly back to the CAPA system. However, an effective quality system needs more than just a rework of the outcome of the ineffective CAPA...
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Med Device Monday: Prosthetic Face
on 16 August 2016 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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R&Q's Christine Santagate Featured in Medical Design & Outsourcing
on 3 August 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
Staying at the forefront of the medical device industry takes work - a lot of it, in fact. Communication with R&Q's peers in the industry is in large part how our employees do it, and a big part of that is addressing hot topics in the industry. R&Q's own Client Solutions Advisor...
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Preparing for New Regulations of Elemental Impurities in Drugs
on 1 August 2016 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Drug and dietary supplement manufacturers face an increasingly complex set of elemental impurity standards, which we will detail here.
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July is a BIG month for R&Q in Columbus, OH
on 12 July 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
■ ■ ■ Are you an Ohio Bioscience Expo & Showcase attendee here to register for the FDA Regulatory 101 Series? ■ ■ ■ The Ohio Bioscience Expo & Showcase and next FDA Regulatory 101 Series event are on July 27th and 28th, respectively. If you're outside of Columbus but in Ohio,...
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Wearables are Exploding (Not Literally!) and Transforming the Medical Device Industry
on 8 July 2016 | By Kate Keverline
Image via Verily Smart wearables are turning into a largely profitable industry. From glucose monitoring, to sleep technology, to fitness apps, the number of wearable medical devices on the market are continuing to grow and in turn, help the lives of people - with or without...
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10 Tips for Adopting the Updated ISO 13485:2016 Standards: Webinar Slides and Recording
on 7 July 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
Missed our latest webinar on this year's ISO 13485 changes? Now you can download the slides and recording. R&Q's Director of Regulatory Affairs Nancy Morrison and Client Solutions Advisor Christine Santagate walked through 10 tips for adopting the latest changes. From conducting...
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What is the Karl Fischer Titration Method?
on 6 July 2016 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
At RQM+ Lab Services , our team of expert lab technicians utilize a range of testing methods to deliver precise results for specific customer requirements. Where water determination is the primary ob j ective, we often deploy the Karl Fischer titration method; the...
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FDA Approved: A Human Factors and Usability Case Study
on 22 June 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
About R&Q's Case Studies: We hope you enjoy our latest case study. View all of our available Case Studies. Subscribing to our blog is the best way to know when future case studies are available. FDA Approved: Creating and Implementing a Compliant Usability Engineering Process...
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4 Things R&Q Learned At MD&M East
on 21 June 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
What an action-packed three days MD&M East was this year! Our team is exhausted, but in the absolute best way possible. I'm not sure how anyone who attended the show could've escaped the exhaustion... as the exhibit floor was BIG. If you're reading this and attended, hopefullly...
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This New Med Device Will Help You Sleep Better
on 17 June 2016 | By Kate Keverline
Everyone appreciates a good night's sleep. A big obstacle to that is the fact that 18 million American adults suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), and the condition arises simply from a wayward throat muscle. A new study by Dr. Richard Schwab, co-medical director of the...
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Industry Advice: Earn RAC Points and Enhance Your Resume by Writing for RAPS' Regulatory Focus
on 13 June 2016 | By Carol Vierling
You've already read a few benefits in the title but let's reiterate: Earn RAC points Enhance your resume/LinkedIn profile Get published, and share your expertise with industry peers in the process These are just three of the several reasons you should consider writing an article...
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The de novo Pathway: Is It Right for My Device?
on 10 June 2016 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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R&Q Q&A: Boston Employee Spotlight
on 8 June 2016 | By Kate Keverline
Welcome to the first post in our R&Q Q&A series. Every two months we'll ask R&Q employees from a different region questions about how they make their impact at R&Q... and the impact R&Q has had on them. From improving people's lives to R&Q's corporate culture, we hope their...
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Wellness Devices vs. Medical Devices
on 3 June 2016 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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The Med Device Industry (and the FDA) Embrace 3D Printing Innovation
on 25 May 2016 | By Kate Keverline
Just this week the world's first 3D-printed office opened in Dubai. It took all of 17 days to print a 2,700-square-foot building at half the price of conventional methods. In short, this 3D printing thing has some legs... and we mean that literally, too. 3D printing is...
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R&Q: Engineered by Women
on 24 May 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
Did you know that women are half as likely as men to start businesses? That's a statistic R&Q wants to help change. Aside from the importance of gender and fairness issues, women entrepreneurship fuels economic growth. R&Q is Engineered by Women. We're proud to have been started...
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A Whole New World of UDI: Slides and Recording
on 20 May 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
If you have any UDI needs or questions, do not miss this post.
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MD&M East Expo and Conference: June 14-16
on 17 May 2016 | By Kate Keverline
Be a part of the largest and most influencial medical manufacturing event on the east coast. Join more than 500 leading medtech suppliers and manufacturers - including Johnson & Johnson, Stryker, and countless others - at the Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) East Expo and...
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How I Broke into Regulatory Affairs, and How You Can, Too
on 13 May 2016 | By Allison Komiyama, Ph.D., RAC, RQM+ Vice President, MedTech Innovations
In December 2021, RQM+ acquired AcKnowledge Regulatory Strategies (AcKnowledge RS), a San Diego-based firm specializing in regulatory affairs consulting for the medical device and IVD industry. The integration of this impressive team enhances the extensive RQM+ network of...
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Presentation and Networking at PA Bio: Practical Considerations for Avoiding FDA Compliance Problems (BEING RESCHEDULED)
on 11 May 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
NOTE: This event has been cancelled and is being rescheduled. Organizer Regulatory and Quality Solutions (R&Q) What? A presentation and networking event over lunch at PA Bio: Practical Considerations for Avoiding FDA Compliance Problems, and How to Manage Them If They Arise In...
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The New ISO 13485 Standards are Here! Sign Up for a Free R&Q Webinar
on 11 May 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
The world's most well known standards for medical device quality management have been updated for the first time since 2003. Released in March by the International Organization for Standardization, ISO 13485 provides the universal requirements for manufacturers and service...
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AdvaMed Workshop: Integrating Human Factors into Med Device Design Control and Beyond
on 4 May 2016 | By Kate Keverline
Attention any and all regulatory affairs specialists, engineering managers, quality & production engineers, QA/Q directors and managers and compliance officers: AdvaMed is presenting a Design Control-focused workshop in Golden Valley, Minnesota, June 7-8. The workshop has been...
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MassMEDIC Webinar: A Whole New World of UDI - May 18
on 28 April 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
If you missed R&Q's Paul Robinson discuss UDI during R&Q's afternoon workshop at BIOMEDevice in April, here's a second chance. A similar presentation and discussion will be offered in conjunction with MassMEDIC on Wednesday, May 18th at 11:30am EST. All the details - including...
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PA Bio Connect@ - May 9 in Philadelphia
on 25 April 2016 | By Kate Keverline
Great news, Philly! EisnerAmper will be hosting the Pennsylvania Bio: Connect@ Series May 9th in Philadelphia - and we'll be there. R&Q is a longstanding member of Pennsylvania Bio and is excited to network at this event and other upcoming events in the area, too. Here's what to...
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AdvaMed Webinar: Avoiding and Managing FDA Compliance Problems - Monday, May 9th
on 15 April 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
Did you miss former FDAer Jake O'Donnell speak about avoiding and managing FDA compliance problems during R&Q's afternoon workshop at BIOMEDevice earlier this week? If so, we have news especially for you: he will be presenting on a similar topic via a webinar on Monday, May 9th...
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7 Methods of Assessing Protein Purity
on 14 April 2016 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Just one mammalian cell is made up of a combination of many distinct proteins, often to the degree of thousands in varying concentrations. The variety and magnitude of protein types within just micro volumes of a single sample micro present substantial challenges for...
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NEW White Paper - Practical Considerations for Avoiding Regulatory Escalation: R&Q's Latest, In-Depth White Paper from a Former FDA Consumer Safety Officer
on 13 April 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
There’s a formula for effectively managing an adverse FDA inspection and the newest R&Q white paper shares it. Learn all the practical considerations for avoiding regulatory escalation from a former FDA Consumer Safety Officer: R&Q's Jake O'Donnell. This is your free, ultimate...
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Minnesota, Here We Come: See You at the 2016 Medical Alley Annual Meeting, April 27th
on 23 March 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
R&Q will be a Supporting Sponsor at the Medical Alley Association's 2016 Annual Meeting, April 27th. If you're not familiar, the association is a state-based member organization servicing the health technology community who works to promote Minnesota's Medical Alley by...
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R&Q's Can't-Miss Education Event of the Year: An Afternoon Training Workshop at BIOMEDevice in Boston, April 13th
on 8 March 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
Those in the northeast, get ready! Not only will R&Q be exhibiting at this year's BIOMEDevice show (booth 640) and sponsoring MassMEDIC's Annual Conference, but we'll be presenting an afternoon training workshop (three separate sessions) free to attendees of the BIOMEDevice show...
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When Benefit Outweighs Risk: Creating a Successful Clinical Evaluation Report - A Case Study
on 18 February 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
About R&Q's Case Studies: We hope you enjoy our third case study. View all of our available Case Studies. Subscribing to our blog is the best way to know when future case studies are available. Challenge High volume of data... and differing opinions. A client's product is...
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5 Heads are Better Than 1: De-Risking Your Regulatory Pathway Using a Team Approach - A Case Study
on 15 February 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
About R&Q's Case Studies: We hope you find value in our second case study. View all of our available Case Studies. Subscribing to our blog is the best way to know when future case studies are available. Challenge Regulation doesn't have to be a barrier to innovation. A client...
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Introducing Our First In A Series of New RQM+ Case Studies: Design History File Remediation
on 12 February 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
About RQM+ Case Studies: Our goal in producing case studies is to succinctly demonstrate how RQM+ applied our unique expertise to tackle a client's challenge, implement a competent solution, and demonstrate real results. We will post each case study to our blog and offer a...
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Announcing the 2016 FDA Regulatory 101 Series
on 8 February 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
Medical device professionals in Ohio, are you ready? Last year R&Q teamed with BioOhio to present an ongoing series of 101 medical device events throughout the year. Thanks to participation and feedback from ambitious medical device professionals across Ohio - and the support of...
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Hear R&Q and Other Industry Experts Discuss 510(k) Submissions at AdvaMed's Workshop In Irvine, CA
on 2 February 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
Join R&Q's Marilyn Waxberg and Nancy Morrison as they speak along with other industry experts at AdvaMed's 510(k) Submissions Strategy Workshop in Irvine, CA this month. The event is scheduled for two days: February 22-23. Marilyn is R&Q's Senior Principal Advisor and Nancy is...
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Biological Endpoint Testing in Biocompatibility Evaluations
on 1 February 2016 | By Taryn Meade, RQM+ Director of Biological Evaluation Consulting
Biological safety evaluations are designed to assess whether a product is safe for its intended use depending on its composition. For example, an evaluation of a cardiovascular implantable device would need to assess potential risks associated with long term contact with blood...
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Revisiting a Classic: The Pirate-Themed CT Scanner
on 26 January 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
Behold medical device ingenuity at its finest. In 2013 the NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital purchased a pirate-themed CT scanner, and the result is an incredible way to put children at ease before being scanned. See the rest of the creativity in pictures...
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R&Q Is Sponsoring The M2D2 $100K Challenge and A Summary of Important Dates
on 22 January 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
The University of Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) has announced the M2D2 $100K Challenge 2016, a nationwide competition that showcases innovative ideas of early-stage medical device, diagnostic, and biotech companies. R&Q is proud to announce that we are...
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Presentation and Networking: Is A Medical Device Hiding In Your Product Portfolio? Join R&Q at MassBio!
on 14 January 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
Organizer Us! Regulatory and Quality Solutions (R&Q) What? A presentation and networking event over lunch addressing how an accessory or tool, in reality, is often a medical device. This session will discuss combination products and the use of accessories with drugs and...
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Announcing R&Q's Newest Senior FDA Compliance Principal: Former FDA Consumer Safety Officer Jake O'Donnell
on 6 January 2016 | By Stephen Biernacki
R&Q is thrilled to announce the newest member of our team. Jake O'Donnell will act as Senior FDA Compliance Principal beginning February 2016. Jake formerly acted as Consumer Safety Officer (CSO) at the FDA for 20 years.
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Chemical Characterization Testing of Medical Devices
on 4 January 2016 | By Taryn Meade, RQM+ Director of Biological Evaluation Consulting
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) partially recognized the ISO 10993 guidance making it one of the most important for the chemical characterization testing of medical devices.1 ISO 10993 outlines all of the necessary steps for regulatory compliance to use new or existing...
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We Made a Video About R&Q! Here's Why.
on 1 December 2015 | By Stephen Biernacki
One of R&Q's priorities in 2015 was to find new, distinctive ways to tell our story. We wanted to make it abundantly clear to potential clients and employees that R&Q is first and foremost about improving lives. We also wanted to clearly explain how we improve lives. The result...
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Welcome To R&Q's New Website!
on 13 November 2015 | By Stephen Biernacki
Welcome to R&Q's updated website! To state it plainly, we've revamped our website to better serve the needs of regulatory and quality professionals in the medical device industry. We hope you find it easy to use. Some changes include more clearly outlined services, additional...
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Common Mistakes in Extractables and Leachables Analysis
on 2 November 2015 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
An important step in determining the biological compatibility and safety of a medical device as required by ISO 10993 is chemical characterization. Extractables and leachables testing is a vital but complex part of this. There is no one-size-fits-all approach that can be...
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Determination of Protein Molecular Weight
on 7 August 2015 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
Determining the structural, chemical and functional properties of proteins is of vital importance to an increasing range of biopharmaceutical and life science markets. This is conducted repeatedly throughout the research and development (R&D) process for initial characterization...
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Notified Body Expectations: Today, Tomorrow and into the Future
on 27 May 2015 | By Pauling Panagis
R&Q and Nerac invite you to attend a free medical device event and panel discussion titled: Notified Body Expectations: Today, Tomorrow and into the Future Space is Limited - Register Today https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1718288 Thursday, June 18,...
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Identifying Particulates and Residue in Pharmaceuticals
on 19 May 2015 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
Pharmaceuticals are subject to the strictest controls – and rightly so. International and regional regulators work to mandate the highest quality standards for therapeutics and medical devices, which puts a real burden of responsibility on manufacturers and packagers.
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Christmas Tree: Artificial or Real
on 15 April 2015 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
Making the choice between a real or ‘fake’ Christmas tree can be a tough family decision. While there are many reasons to choose artificial (no needles, doesn’t dry out, cheaper over time), possibly the best reason is safety.
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What Extractable and Leachable Compounds are Found in Syringes?
on 27 March 2015 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Extractables and leachables are chemicals that can be extracted from a product such as a syringe and deposited into the product it is housing. This can be either in the presence of a solvent or through direct contact over an extended period of time. An extractable and leachable...
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Product Deformulation: Reverse Engineering with RQM+ Lab Services
on 11 March 2015 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Product deformulation is a complex analytical process designed to uncover the specific chemical identity of finished goods. Chemists take the product of interest, break it down into its constituent parts, separate those into distinct entities, then analyze both the major and...
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Applications of Thermal Gravimetric Analysis
on 10 March 2015 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) is a thermal analysis technique used to quantify the overall mass of a sample as a temperature dependent property. The change in mass as a function of temperature is a key property in a range of materials because they lose volatile components as...
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E&L For Bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)-phosphate (bDtBPP)
on 6 March 2015 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)-phosphate (bDtBPP) has been the subject of much discussion in the area of Extractables and Leachables testing for single use bioprocess systems.
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Product Deformulation: A Step-by-Step Guide to Reverse Engineering
on 10 December 2014 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Chemical reverse engineering is an extremely valuable process for those looking to protect their intellectual property from manufacturing issues or patent infringements. It is also deployed to help manufacturers maintain a competitive edge through targeted product analysis. Each...
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Common Causes of Polymer Failure
on 1 December 2014 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
Understanding how and why materials degrade and ultimately fail is a critical step in the research and development (R&D) process. Compared to the lifespan of traditional engineering materials, polymers tend to fail in comparatively short timeframes. It is one of the reasons that...
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Contaminant Analysis: How to Interpret Particulate Matter
on 7 October 2014 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
Particulate contamination analysis using microscopy and spectroscopy methods can identify and mitigate contamination in chemical, consumer products, industry or processes. Particulate analysis is the first stage in resolving contamination issues that could be potentially...
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New Trends in Analytical Chemistry – The Corona Charged Aerosol Detector (CAD)
on 17 September 2014 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
The world of liquid chromatography has come a long way since the first online detectors for HPLC systems became available. At that time sixty some years ago, refractive index and conductivity detectors were all that was available, but neither provided the sensitivity that would...
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Molecular Weight Determination of Pharmaceuticals with Novel GPC
on 27 August 2014 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Molecular weight is a key property used in the characterization of polymer-based products. It refers to the molar mass distribution of polymer chains which can vary widely within polymers of the same chemistry. This can be problematic for regulated industries where products must...
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Ten Tips for A Successful Use of Total Product Life Cycle (TPLC) Reports
on 2 June 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
The FDA, as part of the transparency initiative, has developed a Total Product Life Cycle (TPLC) report capability on their website (www.fda.gov). The intention behind this new report is to provide existing data to medical device manufacturers that will enable them to...
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Ten Tips for Successful Integration of Risk Management & Usability Engineering
on 19 May 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
Even though Risk Management and Usability Engineering are clearly two separate processes with unique requirements, they are interdependent and must communicate with each other during the entire product lifecycle. Risk Management identifies the risk of a medical device’s...
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The Basics of Polymer Analysis: Techniques & Solutions
on 12 May 2014 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Given the level to which plastics, rubbers, and other materials have impacted modern life, it is easy to see the importance of in-depth polymer analysis. By exploring critical parameters like molecular weight (MW), structure, morphology, and thermal characteristics, chemists can...
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510(k) Submissions-Ten Tips for a Successful Submission
on 5 May 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
The process of submitting a 510(k), demonstrating that your device is substantially equivalent to a device that is already cleared, can be daunting. Typically designed to be a 90-day review by the FDA, the entire process could take several months if adequate information is not...
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Successful Regulatory Strategy-Ten Tips
on 21 April 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
Having a documented regulatory strategy developed early during a new product’s development life cycle and updated periodically is critical for a new product’s market success. An inaccurate or lack of regulatory strategy can lead to the product not being cleared for market in the...
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Implementing a Successful Recall Process - Ten Tips
on 24 March 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
In the medical device arena, recalls are a fact of life and competitors love to find out that you’ve had one. Regardless of recall classification (Class I, II, or III), a recall procedure is instrumental in working in concert with a company’s post-market surveillance and...
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Warning Letters - Ten Tips
on 10 March 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
Each year, the FDA issues hundreds of warning letters to medical device companies for reasons ranging from manufacturing practice violations to breaches in labeling and misbranding. Companies responding well to the FDA’s demand for prompt compliance will ultimately return to the...
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Pre-Submission Program – Final Guidance
on 21 February 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
On February 18, the FDA issued the final guidance document for the Pre-Submission Program and Meetings with FDA Staff. The Pre-Submission process is a way for industry to get feedback from the FDA prior to the submission of a premarket application (PMA, 510(k), HDE, IDE, de...
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Affordable Breakthrough Innovations
on 13 February 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
Innovative ideas for medical devices are often costly for manufacturers to make and for patients to own. However, not all innovative medical devices will cost you an arm and a leg.
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Guidance Documents for 2014
on 30 January 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
In an effort to help get safe and effective medical devices to market more quickly, the FDA publishes a list of proposed guidance documents each year. Here is FDA’s prioritized list of things you can expect to see in 2014:
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Pediatric Subpopulations – Final Rule
on 22 January 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
On Friday, January 10, 2014 the FDA issued a final rule, which amends the premarket approval (PMA) regulations. The final rule requires “submission of information on pediatric subpopulations that suffer from the disease or condition that a device is intended to treat”. 1 The...
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510(k) Pop Quiz!
on 10 January 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
How well do you know the logistics of the 510(k) process? Today’s blog is interactive, as well as educational! Take this quiz (no cheating!). Comment on the post to tell me how many answers you got right!
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3D Printing in Medicine
on 9 January 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
As if 3D printers for rapid prototyping weren’t cool enough, researchers at the University of Wollongong and St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, part of Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), have been using 3D printing to make some...
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Regulatory News - Report on FDA Device Review Process
on 9 January 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
As part of FDA’s Performance Goals and Procedures adopted under MDUFA III (The Medical Device User Fee Act of 2012), the FDA agreed to participate with the medical device industry in an independent assessment of the process for the review of medical device submissions. The key...
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Transhumanism - Science from Fiction: Conclusion
on 2 January 2014 | By Ryan Kasun
Trans∙hu∙man∙ism /tranz’hyoomənizm// Noun The belief or theory that the human race can evolve beyond its current physical and mental limitations, especially by means of science and technology.1
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Devices for the Military
on 20 December 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
This past weekend I travelled to the Chicago-land area to attend my brother’s graduation from Northern Illinois University and commissioning into the US Army. He will be reporting to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for officer training as part of the Army Corps of Engineers. This...
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Veterinary Medical Devices - FDA Regulations
on 12 December 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
I recently worked on a project that involved writing a regulatory strategy for a device used on animals. This was a new area for me and I got interested in learning even more about the topic afterwards. I was curious as to how big of a market veterinary devices were, as well as...
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Risk Assessment Strategies in Extractables and Leachables
on 6 December 2013 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
Risks assessments are a key element in extractables and leachables testing. There are many factors involved in ascertaining the specific risks and how this ultimately impacts the biocompatibility of a medical device.
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5 Key Elements of GMP in the Food Industry
on 4 December 2013 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
Good manufacturing practice (GMP) is a critical part of the quality assurance and control (QA/QC) pipeline for food contact materials, from primary packaging through to kitchenware. Although GMP principles were established by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they were...
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Getting to Know You
on 2 December 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
You probably think you know yourself pretty well, right? Of course. You’re a (circle all that apply) super cool/ witty/ charming/ good-looking/ intelligent person, and humble about it too, but what does your DNA say about you? DNA is an incredibly complex storage structure for...
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Molecular Weight Analysis: How to Measure MW?
on 22 November 2013 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Analyzing the molecular weight of both natural and synthetic polymers is extremely complex, and almost impossible to carry out with exactness. Unlike elemental analysis – which focuses on the chemical composition of samples under test – molecular weight analysis considers the...
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Devices remain unclassified
on 14 November 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
I read a really interesting article this week written by Josh Rising called "The Loophole That Keeps Precarious Medical Devices in Use". The articles explains how when the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 were implemented, dozens of marketed medical devices were left...
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A Culture of Quality
on 7 November 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
As quality professionals, we are always looking for ways to improve the quality of products, and reduce the cost of quality mishaps. But how do you actually climb to the top of that mountain of high quality while still maintaining a marketable product?
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Not-So-Blind Ambition
on 6 November 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Can you imagine what a GPS for blind people would be like? We may not be there yet, but a research project at the University of Arkansas could be the next best thing. Dr. Cang Ye and his team are making over the standard white cane often used by the visually impaired into a...
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RAPS 2013 Series: MDSAP
on 31 October 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Of all of the seminars I attended at the RAPS 2013 Conference in Boston, the Medical Devices Single Audit Program ("MDSAP") was arguably the best. The overview of MDSAP - done well by Kim Trautman of the FDA and Mike Ward from Health Canada - was thorough and well done; however,...
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Quality Control for Blood Transfusions
on 24 October 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Over the years, major advances in blood transfusion safety measures have drastically reduced the risk of viral transmission via allogeneic blood. Although correlation doesn’t necessarily imply causation, it’s tempting to believe that this may have something to do with the...
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First Artificial Pancreas receives FDA Approval
on 24 October 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Upon my nightly adventures of surfing the World Wide Web I came across this article on the Popular Science website announcing the FDA’s approval of the Medtronic MiniMed 530G Insulin pump, praisingly dubbed the first artificial pancreas. The Medtronic device was officially...
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Medical Device Manufacturers | Device Manufacturers | Affordable Care Act | Medical Device News | Medical Device Tax
On the Edge of Our Seats
on 18 October 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
As the government shutdown dragged onward, nobody was watching the outcomes more than medical device manufacturers. For device manufacturers – there was and still is a lot at stake. And make no mistake – the medical device tax is part of the hot debate in Washington right now....
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Deep Breaths
on 18 October 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
The standard treatment for patients with cancer of the larynx is to have a tracheostomy tube installed. Tracheostomy tubes are Class II devices, under 21 CFR 868.5800. According to ProTip CEO Maurice Beranger, this technology has not changed in 140 years. Tracheostomy tubes...
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Government Shutdown - Impact on Medical Devices
on 15 October 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
On October 1st, 2013, the Government of the United States began shutting down operations due to an impasse in congress regarding government funding appropriations. Practically speaking for the medical device industry, the shutdown puts businesses, medical professionals, and,...
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Transhumanism - Science from Fiction: Part I - Bionic Body Parts
on 11 October 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Advancements in biotechnology have made things of science fiction into reality. Back in the 70’s, bionic body parts were thought to be donned only by the Six Million Dollar Man1 and The Bionic Woman2. Fast forward forty years and bionic body parts are more science than fiction....
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Telehealth
on 11 October 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
In the world in we live, where communication is becoming further removed from face to face interaction, medicine is utilizing telecommunications technologies to advance treatment and care for patients.
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FDA gives Voice to the People
on 11 October 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a new initiative targeted at giving the patients a voice in the agency’s decision making process on medical devices. I became aware of this effort by the FDA when...
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Canada | Change In Contract Manufacturer | Health Canada | Medical Device | License Amendment Fax Back Form | Registration Triggers | Registration | Change In Country Of Origin
License Amendment Triggers in Canada
on 2 October 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Sometimes changes in process can have a dramatic effect on product registration. There are several events that can cause a re-registration of a registered medical device. A new product name, part number, material, manufacturing site, country of origin, business name or...
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Pounding the Pavement
on 1 October 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Earlier this year I joined a running club, Steel City Road Runners (come run with us!). I’m still a newbie, but I really enjoy the challenge that running provides. This past week, the Boston Marathon announced to applicants who would be awarded the last 5,000 spots in the 2014...
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FDA Releases Mobile Medical Applications Guidance Document
on 27 September 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
This week must be the week of the FDA publications. In the same week the UDI final rule and guidance were published, the FDA has also released the guidance document on the FDA's plan for enforcement regarding Mobile Medical Applications. The FDA's final thoughts on how they'll...
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UDI Documents Released by FDA
on 25 September 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
The rule and guidance document for Unique Device Identifiers ("UDI") on medical devices and some combination product that contain devices has been released.
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EU marketing approval system
on 19 September 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
The European marketing approval system for medical devices is less stringent than other regions of the world and because of that, at times it is viewed as a more attractive market for device manufacturers. However over the past few months, a new proposal has come up in Europe...
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Same Road (Regulatory Pathway), Different Car (Medical Device)..Similar Success (Clearance,Approval)
on 18 September 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
As you might expect, here at RQS the responsibilities and duties of providing our clients with the support they need often involves traveling for on-site visits. For the time being, most of the travel takes place within the greater metropolitan area of the cities in which we...
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Transhumanism - Science from Fiction: Intro
on 17 September 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
What do Jean Grey and Professor Xavier of X-Men, Vulcan “mind-melds” from Star Trek, the Six-Million Dollar Man, Darth Vader and Jedi mind tricks from George Lucas’ Star Wars, The Bionic Woman adapted from Martin Caidin’s Cyborg, Inspector Gadget, Replicants from the 1980’s...
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A Systematic Study of Response Factor Variation for Extractables and Leachables
on 11 September 2013 | By Kevin Rowland, RQM+ Director of R&D
Chemical analysis for leachables is one of the the primary methods used to assess the risk to patients and consumers from substances which leach from pharmaceutical packaging, medical devices and food packaging. A number of high-profile incidents have demonstrated that...
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International Labeling Requirements
on 11 September 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
It used to be much easier to have an international device on the market that complies with the regulations of the multi-country international market. With a properly localized multi-language Instructions for Use, the regulations of most international countries were met with one...
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Brain Disease | Iso 14971 | Risk Management | Harm | Sequence Of Events | Hazardous Situation | Sterilization | Hazard
Foreseeing the Risks
on 5 September 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
On the news this morning, I heard a story that got me thinking about risk management. The headline was “Eight N.H. patients possibly exposed to fatal brain disease”. Further research about the situation reveals just how complex this case is.
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510(k)-Exempt Devices
on 5 September 2013 | By Stephen Biernacki
In the FDA-regulated medical device world, there are 3 classifications for medical devices: Class I, Class II and Class III. The FDA (http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/Overview/ClassifyYourDevice/default.htm) provides a rather in-depth overview of how...
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FDA guidance document on RF Wireless Technology in Medical Devices
on 30 August 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
With the growing use of incorporating wireless technology into medical devices, the FDA has issued a final guidance Radio Frequency Wireless Technology in Medical Devices. This guidance document is meant to cover a wide range of medical devices that use wireless technology from...
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Improved machines based on human biology
on 30 August 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Today, when I was thinking of a blog topic, I had a moment of clarity. I realized that I regularly peruse the news and media for evidence of how machines and medical devices help humans, improve human life, and how humans utilize machines and technology to help solve problems. I...
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Recognition for Contributions in Medical Advancement 60 years in the making
on 30 August 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
In my Bioethics course during my undergraduate years, we had discussed the curious case of Henrietta Lacks: a 31 year old African American mother who contributed to numerous modern day medical advancements upon her death without her or her family’s knowledge. I noticed that...
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Reliability – From Bike Racks to Medical Devices
on 22 August 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Every once in a while, when I’m not running, I like to take my bike down to the river trails of downtown Pittsburgh. I throw my bike rack on my car, strap it in, and I’m ready to go. Being as I only used my bike rack about ten times since I got it, I was surprised when I went to...
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Vacation Revelation
on 22 August 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
I am in TopSail North Carolina this week enjoying the ocean, sun and family! (Yes: in that order)
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Class Iia | Eu | Disease Management | Mobile Platform | Mobile Medical Applications | Health Management | Fda | Substantial Equivalence | Verizon Wireless | Software Platform | Medical Applications | Software Technologies | Medical Application
Mobile Medical Applications - Most Reliable Apps, Internationally?
on 22 August 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
A few notable posts pertaining to mobile medical applications came through my Twitter feed / Inbox recently, so I wanted to share!
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Fear Factor: Audits
on 22 August 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Why is it that when you drop the A-bomb (audit) people just seem to instinctively cringe. Is this a learned behavior or one that has been passed down since men began assessing each other for acceptance?
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RQS Ohio Social Event - August 14, 2013
on 9 August 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Please join RQS for a happy hour networking event! Drinks and appetizers will be provided and prizes will be given away to winning attendees during the event.
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Guidance document clean-up! - CDER
on 9 August 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
I read an interesting article on the RAPS website this morning about a new initiative set by the FDA to clean-up certain guidance documents. This means finalizing draft guidance documents, withdrawing or updating/revising outdated guidance documents. This initiative is taking...
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Draft Guidance on Medical Device Reporting for Manufacturers - Issued 07/09/13
on 5 August 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Earlier last month, FDA released a new draft guidance that addresses many questions and answers pertaining to the sometimes tricky world of medical device reporting for medical device manufacturers. (1-4) The draft guidance, “Draft Guidance on Medical Device Reporting for...
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Super Supplements or Scary Supplements: Consumers are the Judge
on 1 August 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
While doing my usual read-through of the headlines on USA Today, I recently came across an article about a USA Today investigation examining the works of Matt Cahill, a supplement designer with a dark history in developing risky products. As an individual who tries to maintain a...
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“It’s like getting your high school diploma…”
on 26 July 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a Risk Management Conference hosted by the FDAnews. At the beginning of the conference, we all went around the room and introduced ourselves, and indicated why we were there. Not surprisingly, a majority of people were there to have a...
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Just Say No
on 24 July 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
So you think you’re a bargain shopper, huh? Did you secretly get a rush when you had a coupon for that high-end toothpaste AND found it on sale? Most bargain shopping comes with few, if any, downsides. (Ok, so maybe you had to evict a family of angry possums from that couch you...
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FDA Medical Device Reporting Update
on 24 July 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
One of the ways that I try to stay in touch with the world of medical device regulations is by subscribing to the CDRH (Center for Devices and Radiological Health) mailing lists (http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/OfficeofMedicalProductsandTobacco/CDRH/ucm135906.htm)....
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How the FDA handles complaints
on 19 July 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Complaints from end users to medical device manufacturers are unfortunately a common occurrence. Medical device manufacturers are expected to handle these complaints efficiently and effectively by keeping the end user or patient’s safety in mind. However not a lot of people...
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Biosense | 21 Cfr | Fda Guidance | Mobile Medical Applications | Fda | Medical Device | Submission Type | Mobile Application | Medical Applications | Regulatory Strategy | Medical Application
Mobile Medical Applications: Make Sure uChek with FDA
on 19 July 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
The latest mobile medical application news on the industry's collective mind is the issuance of an "It has come to our attention..." letter sent to Biosense Technologies in India, essentially questioning why Biosense has not obtained 510(k) clearance for their uChek mobile...
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Documentation 101: Life as an Engineer
on 11 July 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
As a recent college graduate working in the medical device industry, I quickly learned that life as an engineer is different than what is envisioned and different than what is taught in the hundreds of undergraduate programs across the nation. Today, students graduate with...
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Croatia Joins the EU
on 10 July 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
As of June 30th, Croatia has now been formally added to the list of EU governed / regulated countries making for a total of 27 European Union countries.
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A Vaccine for Colon Cancer
on 10 July 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
As a University of Pittsburgh graduate, I was excited to read in the spring issue of Pitt Magazine about a promising advance in cancer prevention research at my alma mater. Immunologist Olivera Finn and her research team at Pitt have been studying potential cancer prevention...
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The Importance of Production Equivalence
on 10 July 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
In today's world of always looking for ways to get something done faster there appears to be one area where speed has begun to do some harm. This area happens to be related to production equivalence. Quite simply, production equivalence is the evidence that a manufacturer...
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What are Extractables and Leachables?
on 3 July 2013 | By Mark Jordi, Ph.D., RQM+ Principal Advisor
Container systems for drug products should not release any chemicals which can build up in quantities that could create a risk of toxicity or impact the stability or efficacy of the drug. Extractables and leachables refer to compounds which can be either extracted or leached...
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Cybersecurity | Premarket Submissions | Risk Analysis Approach | Patient Data | Security Breach | Mobile Apps | Medical Device Design
Cybersecurity
on 28 June 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
My recent work has involved providing regulatory assistance to software medical devices. One thing I have been learning about is how security and privacy is handled with these types of products. Often times I have experienced clients grouping regulatory affairs with privacy and...
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My Day at FDA
on 28 June 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
For today's show-and-tell, I'm bringing a picture of me at FDA:
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FDA Inspections Database
on 27 June 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released its new data set for the Inspections Database. 1-2 The Inspections Database makes available the most recent inspection (up to two years of inspections) of a company. The final inspection classification for clinical trial...
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Start Ups | Vcs | Due Diligence | Investments | Angel Investors | Exit Strategy | Venture Capitalists | Venture Capitalist | Start-up Device | Medical Device Start-up | Angel Group
Funding Your Start-Up Medical Device Company
on 27 June 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
Over the last few months, several of the potential clients I’ve met with have been start-up device companies. Typically, I find that start-ups will have a fantastic product idea that can positively impact countless lives – but, often, they do not have a clear plan for how they...
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Congenital Heart Defects | Rqs | Heart To Heart | Medical Technology | Quality Solutions | Birth Defect | North Park
Congenital Heart Walk
on 19 June 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
This weekend my family and I are going to go to the Congenital Heart Walk at 9:45 a.m. at the boathouse in North Park. This walk is to raise awareness for Congenital Heart Defects, America’s #1 birth defect. Regulatory and Quality Solutions is a sponsor of this event; it is very...
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Software System | Regulatory Focus | Www.fda.gov | Fda | Fda Website | Maude Database | Software | Regulatory | Graematter | Regulatory Intelligence
Regulatory Intelligence
on 14 June 2013 | By Ryan Kasun
How much time to you spend searching FDA’s website? Looking for predicates, collecting adverse event reports from the MAUDE database, searching for guidance documents, etc. I’m sure I don’t need to dig into the details, you have felt this pain too if you have spent any...
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