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Moderator: Irene Aihie

2-2-2017/1:00 pm ET 

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Final Guidance on Medical Device Accessories: Describing Accessories and Classification 

Pathway for New Accessory Types

Moderator: Irene Aihie

February 2, 2017 

1:00 pm ET 

Coordinator: Welcome, and thank you for standing by. At this time all lines are in listenonly mode for the duration of today’s presentation. This conference is being 

recorded. If you have any objections you may disconnect at this time. Today’s 

conference will feature a question and answer session. If you’d like to ask a 

question, please press star 1. Now we’ll turn the call over to our facilitator for 

today, Miss Irene Aihie. Ma’am, you may begin. 

Irene Aihie: Hello and welcome to today’s FDA webinar. I am Irene Aihie of CDRH’s 

Office of Communication and Education. On December 30, 2016, the FDA 

issued the final guidance on medical device accessories, describing 

accessories and classification pathways for new accessory types. This 

guidance document is intended to provide recommendations to industry about 

the regulation of accessories to medical devices. 

It recommends classifying accessories according to the level of risk when 

used as intended with a parent device to ensure their safety and effectiveness 

while reducing burden to manufacturers. The guidance also provides 

clarifications on the definition of a medical device accessory. 

Today’s presenter is Dr. Erica Takai, assistant director for guidance 

management here in the Centers for Devices and Radiological Health. 

Following the presentation, we’ll open the line for your questions related to 

topics in the final guidance only. Additionally, there are other (unintelligible) 
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subject matter experts available to assist with the Q and A portion of our 

webinar. Now, I give you Erica. 

Erica Takai: Good afternoon, my name is Erica Takai, I’m the assistant director for 

guidance management for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, 

and today I’ll be given an overview on our recently issued final guidance on 

medical device accessories. 

So for the agenda for today’s webinar I will be giving a highlight on the key 

takeaways from this guidance, an overview of the accessory’s guidance 

including the background on the guidance, the scope of the guidance as well 

as the classification policy regarding accessories, key definitions within the

guidance and how to apply the accessories’ policy and as mentioned earlier, 

we’ll have a Q and A session at the end.

So the key takeaways from this guidance are that FDA is taking a risk-based 

approach to classifying accessories when used as intended with the parent 

device. So this means that new types of accessories can be of a lower 

classification than the parent device, and we encourage manufacturers to use 

the de novo process to request risk-base classification of new types of 

accessories. And I’ll note here that this policy and the guidance is consistent 

with the recent 21st Century Cures Act. The guidance also provides 

clarification on the definition of a medical device accessory.

So for some background on the accessories guidance, the draft guidance was 

issued January 20 of 2015. We received ten sets of comments and there were 

no significant policy changes that resulted from the comments we received. 

I’ll note here that we did make some clarification changes to the guidance, 

including some clarification regarding how this applies to software as a 
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medical device, or SaMD. And the final guidance was then published 

December 30 of 2016. 

So what is the scope of the guidance? This guidance is only applicable to 

devices defined under Section 2018 of the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act, and 

therefore also for software as a medical device or SaMD, this guidance is 

applicable to the SaMD that meets the definition of a device under the Act. 

We also focus in this guidance on the use of the de novo classification process 

to classify accessories of a new type. 

So we’ve received a number of questions and comments about, what about 

existing accessories. So similar to any other device, existing accessories can 

still be classified under 513(e) and 513(f)(3) of the act, and the principles and 

the guidance apply to these existing accessories when they’re undergoing 

reclassification. And the reason for this is because through the medical device 

user fee amendment user fee negotiation, we along with industry have 

committed to working together to identifying appropriate reclassification 

pathways for existing Class III accessories. So this is still a work in progress. 

So historically how have we been regulating accessories? Historically 

accessories have been included automatically into the same classification as 

the parent device, and this may happen through 510(k) pre-market notification 

clearance of the accessory being found substantially equivalent to another 

accessory or to another 510(k) cleared device, or through pre-market 

application approval or through the explicit inclusion in the classification 

regulation or reclassification order for the parent device. 

I’ll note here that we do have some classification regulations that are split 

regulations, where the parent device is already a different, higher 

classification than the accessory. The other way is, the other way that 
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accessories have been classified is through the issuance of a unique, separate 

classification regulation for the accessory itself. 

So our approach moving forward is a risk-based classification of accessories. 

Now on December 13 of 2016, Section 513(b) of the Food, Drug and 

Cosmetics Act was amended by 21st Century Cures to state that the secretary 

shall classify an accessory based on the intended use of the accessory, 

notwithstanding the classification of any other device with which such 

accessory is intended to be used and the guidance is consistent with 21st 

Century Cures. 

So what does this mean, a risk-based classification of accessories? This means 

that the classification of accessories should reflect the risks of the accessory 

device when used as intended with the parent device. So some accessories 

may have a lower risk profile than the parent device, and these may be 

appropriate to be regulated in a lower class than the parent device. In other 

cases, some accessories can have the same risk profile as the parent device, 

and in these cases it would be appropriate to regulate these accessories in the 

same classification as the parent device.

So now for some key definitions in the guidance. Accessory is defined in the 

guidance as the finished device that is intended to support, supplement and/or 

augment the performance of one or more parent devices. Finished device as 

defined in 21 CFR 820 is any device or accessory to any device that is suitable 

for use or capable of functioning whether or not it is packaged, labeled or 

sterilized. 

We define a parent device in the guidance as a finished device whose 

performance is supported, supplemented and or augmented by one or more 

accessories. A component as defined in 21 CFR 820 is any raw material, 
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substance, piece, part, software, firmware, labeling or assembly which is 

intended to be included as part of the finished package and labeled device.

I’ll note here that earlier this week, on January 30, we updated the, we made a 

minor update to the accessories guidance to remove an imprecise statement 

regarding the definition of a finished device. 

So how do we apply the accessories classification policy? So we apply the 

policy by asking two key questions, which are, “Is the device an accessory?” 

and then we have some sub questions to help us answer that. Then we ask, 

“What are the risks of the accessory when used as intended with the parent 

device or devices, and what regulatory controls are necessary to provide a 

reasonable assurance of its safety and effectiveness?” 

So now when we look at the first question, “Is the device an accessory?” and 

ask the first sub-question, “Is the device intended for us with one or more 

parent devices?” we determine the answer to this question by looking at the 

labeling for the potential accessory device and not the parent device. Keep in 

mind here that articles used with the device that are not finished devices are 

not accessories. For example, off-the-shelf computer monitors or peripherals 

would not be accessories. So just because an article is packaged together with 

the device doesn’t automatically make it an accessory.

So if the answer to that first Part A question was yes, we move on to the next 

sub-question, which is, “Is the device intended to support, supplement, and/or 

augment the performance of one or more parent devices?” So we’re going to 

split this up into support, supplement and augment. So we ask, does the device 

support the performance of a parent device by enabling or facilitating that 

device to perform according to its intended use? 
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So examples of this include a tunneling tool for use with the neurostimulator 

to enable proper lead placement so that the neurostimulator can stimulate the 

intended target tissue. 

Another example is an infusion pump stand, where the infusion pump stand is 

holding up the infusion pump at a comfortable height for a health care 

provider to use the pump. So the next sub-part to this question is supplements. 

So does the accessory or, sorry, does the device supplement the performance 

of a parent device by adding a new function or a new way of using the parent 

device without changing the intended use of the parent device? 

Some examples of this is a new delivery system that expands the patient 

population in which the parent device can be used. More specifically, it could 

be a trans-catheter valve, a new delivery system for a trans-catheter valve that 

would allow the valve to be placed in patients with smaller anatomy. 

Another example would be input devices such as thermometer, such as a 

thermometer or a pulse oximeter to a multi-parameter monitor, which would 

allow the multi-parameter monitor to display more types of physiologic 

parameters. 

So the last subpart to this question is augment. Does the device augment the 

performance of a parent device by enabling the device to perform its intended

use more safely or effectively? An example of this includes bone cutting 

guides to assist in the positioning of total hip or knee arthroplasty 

components, or a color or contrast filter to enhance the raw images generated 

from the parent imaging device. 

Please keep in mind that the differences between support, supplement and 

augment may be subtle, and as long as the device is doing one or more of 
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these things we would consider the answer to this question to be yes. So if the 

answer to parts A and B were yes, then the answer to the question “Is the 

device an accessory?” would be yes.

So I’d like to provide some additional clarity regarding software as a medical 

device at this point. Through our collaborations with the International Medical 

Device Regulators Forum we have defined software as a medical device as 

software intended to be used for one or more medical purposes that performed 

these purposes without being part of a hardware medical device.

So software or SaMD that meets the definition of a device under the Act 

similar to other stand-alone devices are classified according to their risk. The 

other point I want to note is that SaMDs using data from another device don’t 

automatically become an accessory if they are not considered to support, 

supplement, and/or augment the performance of a parent device. 

So the example for this is a stand-alone software program that is intended to 

analyze radiological images is not considered an accessory. So SaMDs are 

considered an accessory when they’re used in combination, for example as a 

module with other devices and support, supplements and/or augments the 

performance of these parent devices. So the takeaway here is the accessories 

policy applies to software as long as they meet the definition of an accessory. 

So I’d like to now give an example of how we think through whether or not 

something is an accessory by using the example of a pulse oximeter. A standalone pulse oximeter that’s not intended to be used with the parent device and 

is not intended to support, supplement or augment a parent device would not 

be an accessory.
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On the other hand, a pulse oximeter that’s intended to be used with a multiparameter monitor, therefore to be used with the parent device, and as 

intended to supplement the multi-parameter monitor to display oxygen 

saturation without changing the intended use of the multi-parameter monitor 

would be considered an accessory to the multi-parameter monitor.

So once we establish that a device is an accessory, then we move on to the 

next question to assess the risk of the accessory when used with the parent 

device and what the necessary regulatory controls are to ensure safety and 

effectiveness.

So the first subpart of this question is we ask, “Is it a new type of accessory?” 

The answer to this question is yes if the accessory has not been classified by 

an existing classification regulation, and it has not been cleared in any 510(k), 

and it has not been approved in any PMA. Now note that any new intended 

use for an already cleared or approved accessory may be considered a new 

type of accessory. So if you’re not sure whether or not your device is a new 

type of accessory, you can contact the appropriate review division for further 

consultation. 

So also, if you find that your accessory is not a new type of accessory the 

current options are to request a reclassification under 513(e) or 513(f)(3). 

So if your accessory is a new type of accessory, then you would assess the 

eligibility for classification into Class I or Class II using the de novo process. 

So to asses this, we ask “Does the accessory pose low to moderate risk to 

health?” and we also ask “Can general controls, or special and general 

controls provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness?” And if 

the answer to these questions is yes, then your device, or your accessory may 

be eligible for de novo. 
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So I want to reiterate the key takeaway messages again. So in this guidance, 

FDA is stating that we are taking a risk-based approach to classifying 

accessories when used as intended with the parent device. So this means that 

new types of accessories can be a lower classification than the parent device, 

and we encourage manufacturers to use the de novo process to request a riskbased classification for new types of accessories. And accessory guidance 

provides clarification on the definition of medical device accessories.

So for additional information on device determination, you can refer to our 

device advice page on this particular topic. If you’re not sure if your device is 

a new type of accessory, you should contact the relevant review division. If 

you have questions about, related to SaMD, please e-mail the digital health 

mailbox and for general inquiries, you can contact our Division of Industry 

and Consumer Education through this e-mail address.

So for our panel Q-and-A discussion, I’m going to introduce our panelists. We 

have Angie Krueger, who’s our acting deputy director in the Office of Device 

Evaluation, and we have Scott McFarland, he is an associate director in the 

Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health. We have Bakul Patel, 

he is our associate director for digital health, and Joni Foy, our acting 

associate director for policy and myself. We’ll now take questions. Operator, 

are you there?

Coordinator: Yes, if you’d like to ask a question, please press star 1. To withdraw your 

question, you may press star 2. Once again, if you’d like to ask a question, 

please press star 1. You will be prompted to record your name. Please do so 

clearly at the prompt. One moment while we wait for the incoming questions. 

Our first question is from (Anderson Giraldo). Your line is open. 
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(Anderson Giraldo): Hello, how are you? 

Erica Takai: Great. 

(Anderson Giraldo): Hi, so we develop orthopedic implants. And we have instruments which 

we consider accessories. However, they are system-specific, they’re specific 

to our implants. So no one else can use them. Can they be classified under 

Class 1 devices?

Joni Foy: Joni Foy, so for orthopedics, you know, you’ve mentioned that the product is 

specific to be used with the parent product. So in this situation and since 

you’ve indicated that it’s part of the system, this would fall under this 

guidance document. If you’re wanting to separate out the instruments from 

the parent based upon the risk, you should consider submitting a de novo. 

There is a separate classification for manual orthopedic instruments that is 

intended for general instruments, and those are Class I. So just to clarify, if 

you were really intending yours to be a specific instrument that’s used 

specifically with your implants, then a potential option would be a de novo. 

(Anderson Giraldo): I’m sorry, it’s just that the connection is not very good; I could only hear 

half of it. So I guess is it a Class 1 device, or not? 

Joni Foy: I’m not going to repeat everything, can you hear me?

(Anderson Giraldo): Yeah, now it’s a little better, I’m sorry. But I couldn’t hear you before. 

Joni Foy: That’s okay, sorry; I may not have been close enough to the microphone. So 

you know, if this is the situation where you have a specific instrument that is 

used specifically with an implantation type system, it sounds like this, you 
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know, guidance would actually encourage you to come in for a de novo 

classification process. 

There is a separate classification regulation for manual surgical instruments 

when the instrument in and of itself is not intended to be used with a specific 

system. One sort of caution which I didn’t mention before for those that may 

have been able to hear me previously was that if you’ve already gotten 

clearance for your product, you know, this utilization of a de novo pathway is 

not the appropriate pathway for you to utilize. So I don’t know the specifics of 

your situation and if you do have specific questions for your particular 

situation, I would refer you to the division of orthopedic devices... 

(Anderson Giraldo): Yes, so actually we did receive prior clearance. They’ve already been 

cleared. But now... 

Joni Foy: You’re in a situation where, especially if it went through the 510(k) process, 

your product has already been classified through that mechanism, and so this 

is not what this guidance document focuses on. We already have existing 

classification or reclassification processes for those that Erica mentioned as 

part of the presentation through either 513(e) or through 513(f)(3). 

(Anderson Giraldo): Okay, thank you very much, appreciate it. 

Coordinator: The next question is from Miss (Birach), your line is open. 

(Lugene Birach): Hi, this is (Lugene Birach), I have a question about accessories and 

classification in the GUDID database. Do accessories have to be entered into 

the GUDID database, and if so do they use the 510(k) number for the medical 

device for which it’s an accessory?
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Erica Takai: So for UDI inquiries, we recommend that you contact the UDI help desk 

because there may be complexities in your case that we wouldn’t be able to 

answer in an accurate manner in a case-by-case situation. So we recommend 

that you ask this question to the UDI help desk with the specifics of your 

specific case. 

(Lugene Birach): Okay, thank you. 

Woman: We’ll take our next question. 

Coordinator: The next question is from (Joseph Chmieliski). Your line is open. 

(Joseph Chmieliski): Hi, everyone, I hope you’re having a great day. We have a Class II 510(k)

nuclear medical device, already cleared, and we’re looking to make actually, 

relatively substantial design changes and as a result submitting a new 510(k). 

As part of the design changes we’re introducing, the design change of the 

parent device, introducing additional, okay I guess optional components or 

accessories to that that will be, the labeling will be directed in the parent 

device. 

Is the agency still accepting based on 510(k) submission for a system where 

we’re looking for significant changes to the parent device in addition to 

identifying and showing substantial equivalence for, you know the accessories 

or other components contained within that? 

Erica Takai: Yeah, so this guidance wouldn’t change the way of how you can come in with 

the pre-market submission, you can still come in as a system. So whether it be 

an accessory or stand-alone device as part of a system with another device, 

you can still just come in with one 510(k) for the whole system. 
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(Joseph Chmieliski): And then just utilizing the parent classification for the whole system?

Erica Takai: So if you are choosing to say that, if your particular accessory is not a new 

type of accessory or even if it is a new type of accessory, if you believe that it 

should be in the same classification of the parent device, then you know you 

put it in with your parent device and when we clear it it’ll be in the same 

classification as your parent device.

(Joseph Chmieliski): Thank you very much. 

Coordinator: The next question is from (Ben Curson). Your line is open. 

(Ben Curson): Hi, thank you, good afternoon. First off, thank you very much for the 

presentation and the opportunity to ask some questions. My question is around 

existing accessories that are supplementing and/or augmenting performance of 

the parent device, where the parent device actually has multiple 

classifications. 

So depending on its intended use and how it’s used in the field it could either 

be Class 2 or Class 3, that accessory is included in both of those submissions. 

Is FDA taking a risk-based approach with those types of accessories as well, 

where the manufacturer would be able to justify that the accessory would take 

on a lower classification, or does it automatically take on the highest 

classification of the parent device for which it’s intended to be used? 

Erica Takai: So ... 

Scott McFarland: I think in that situation it would be risk-based. You’re indicating it for such a 

purpose. Like if you represent that one of them is very high risk, and we’d 
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have to consider that in how we end up classifying the accessory. My 

understanding is, was this an already classified accessory? 

(Ben Curson): Yes, so... 

Scott McFarland: If it’s already been classified, then it wouldn’t change unless you were coming 

in via reclassification mechanism, as Joni indicated, which would be either 

513(e), which is most likely the case, or 513(f)(3) if it was a post-amendments 

device that was approved in a PMA.

(Ben Curson): Right, and in this instance we would have first had clearance through 510(k) 

for the parent device as well as the accessories for, in this example it’s a fixedbearing knee, I guess would be a great way. But the femoral component can 

also be used in a rotating platform application, which is Class 3. The 

accessory can be used in either one, and does that automatically make it a 

class three accessory, or can we make it a rationale as to why it really has the 

same risk classification as the Class 2 device?

Erica Takai: So it’s based on the risk of the accessory when used as intended with the 

parent device. So if we determine that the risk of the accessory when used 

with that Class 3 indication is Class 3 type of risk, then it would still be 

appropriate to be in Class 3. So you have to base it on the risk of the accessory 

when used with the parent device as intended. 

(Ben Curson): Okay, thank you. 

Coordinator: Our next question is from (Richard Tucker), your line is open 

(Richard Tucker): Ah, thank you for the opportunity to ask a question. My question is primarily 

rooted in some things that I learned having conducted, recently finished a risk-
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based work inspection assignment addressing orthopedic manual surgical 

instrument devices. And my assignment was assigned to be conducted at a 

contract manufacturer, a pure contract manufacturer; they don’t make any 

finished devices of their own. 

The example that I’d like to use for my question are torque-limiting drivers, 

including screwdrivers and these torque-limiting driver devices that can be 

used with interchangeable instrument tips, so to speak. Clearly these do 

support and augment finished devices; I’ll use the example of drivers that are 

being used during C-spine and/or spinal orthopedic surgeries. And typically 

and historically these drivers have been identified as Class 1. 

The root of my question is, now that we know that that’s going to change, 

how does, how does the contract manufacturer come into play here? Because 

frequently they just simply receive a specification from the original equipment 

manufacturer, and they’re not specifying classification and they’re not 

indicating, there’s currently, and this is common practice across the industry, 

there is no indication of who if anybody is responsible for design control if 

that class one device will now be reclassified into either Class 2 or Class 3. 

Angie Krueger: This is Angie Krueger, acting as deputy director in ODE. 

(Richard Tucker): I’m sorry, I can’t hear.

Angie Krueger: Okay, sorry, can you hear me now? 

(Richard Tucker): It’s slightly better. 

Angie Krueger: Okay, this is Angie Krueger, acting as deputy director in ODE. It sounds like 

the specific devices that you’re talking about here, at least to the orthopedic 
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accessories, are already classified in Class 1. And so this guidance, the final 

accessories guidance, doesn’t change the paradigm and the class for this 

product. 

(Richard Tucker): That conflicts with the assignment information that I’ve been given. It’s 

clearly indicated within the scope of the assignment that these accessories 

would in fact take on the classification of the finished device, which might be 

the implant or the implant kit when and if use of that accessory is in any way 

included in the IFUs, or referenced in the IFUs. 

Angie Krueger: So I think in the particular example that you’re bringing up it sounds very 

specific to specific regulations and specific issues that it sounds like we’d 

have to work through, and I think that may be better for that question to be 

coordinated through, the division here, in ODE if it’s ortho, orthopedicrelated. We could certainly send you appropriate contact information if you 

don’t know who to contact. 

(Richard Tucker): I would much appreciate that, and I would also venture to say that those 

contract manufacturers that are in this industry of supporting orthopedic 

surgical implants, there’s a huge question here. And we’re looking at tens of 

thousands of MDRs over the last couple of years and ten deaths, and 

everybody’s pointing the finger at everybody else indicating that they’re not 

responsible for design control. 

Angie Krueger: So I think at this point I’d encourage you to reach out to DICE, their e-mail 

address is dice@fda.hhs.gov, and they’d be happy to route your question to 

the appropriate folks within the agency. 

(Richard Tucker): Thank you. 
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Angie Krueger: Thank you. 

Coordinator: The next question is from (Chadra Moray), your line is open. 

(Chadra Moray): Hi, yeah, thank you for taking my question. This is also a pretty specific 

question but I would try to make it as generic as possible. One of the 

mechanisms to classify the accessory is that we have been using traditionally, 

its 21 CFR descriptions of the products. So for example, for endoscope 

accessories, the endoscopes are mostly classified as Class 2, while the 

accessories such as cleaning brushes and the walls are classified as Class 1 

clearly under the endoscope regulations. 

However, when we have a very traditionally based, other accessories which 

go along with the Class 2 parent device, there is not a clear regulation on 21 

CFR, so we have been doing that, as the agencies guide, based on the risk of 

the accessory. One of those accessories is a jet wallet, which basically is used 

to (unintelligible) the backflow, and in a recent guidance document that was 

issued by agency on the irrigation system validation, it seemed that not only 

the jet water channel but as well as the air water channel and the forcep 

channel are part of the irrigation system, and the agency’s requesting to 

provide appropriate validation data for it. 

That sort of changes the classification status for other accessories which have 

been traditionally classified as Class 1, and we were wondering if we have to 

reclassify the accessories which are being affected by that particular guidance, 

as well as are there any specific channel that we can use for the accessories 

which hasn’t been mentioned in the endoscope regulation. 

Erica Takai: So thank you for your question. So I do want to reiterate that this guidance 

doesn’t change the classification of accessories that have already been 
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classified in a classification regulation or have already been cleared in a 

510(k) already. So, whatever classification your accessory is in now is what it 

will continue to be in unless you come in with a reclassification petition. But 

if you want to have further discussion on your particular topic, then you 

should come in and you could contact DICE and we would route internally to 

the right review division. 

(Chadra Moray): Okay, that sounds great, thank you. 

Coordinator: The next question is from (Dan O’Leary). Your line is open. 

(Dan O’Leary): Hi, the draft guidance document included batteries as accessories rather than 

components, especially in an example of a battery in an automated external 

defibrillator. This isn’t in the final guidance, so what is the current view on 

batteries and the role of accessories?

Erica Takai: So we took that example out because we thought it may be ambiguous, the 

differences between accessories and components. So I will say that if the 

battery is part of the original defibrillator, we do consider those to be a 

component. 

(Dan O’Leary): Okay, great, thank you. 

Coordinator: The next question is from (Charles Sing), your line is open. 

(Charles Sing): Hi, I have a question regarding using of a commercially available, like a PDA 

or mobile devices, and how would you classify this if I wanted to include it as 

part of the instrument? 
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Bakul Patel: This is Bakul Patel. Can you just repeat the last part; you said you wanted to 

include the mobile devices... 

(Charles Sing): As part of an instrument. A medical device. 

Bakul Patel: Your question is what part of it, you’re wondering, is an accessory? 

(Charles Sing): If the commercially available device should be submitted and classified as 

part, when it comes with the software. 

Bakul Patel: Let me see if I can again repeat this back to you and see if I got your question 

right. Are you wondering if there’s a product that you’re considering and 

wanting to use a off-the-shelf, mobile platform that they’re pretty much an 

computer in the product, how would that be considered? 

(Charles Sing): Right and we are designing software to run on it. And that may be part of a 

larger instrument that we consider a parent device.

Bakul Patel: Yeah, so in this case what we are calling, what we’ve said in the past is 

computing platforms are not necessarily classified as part of the product that 

you’re making, so it is part of the product and how you control the risk of that 

and how you think about it as a system, as a product itself, is what you should 

think about. This may not be something that this guidance really applies to 

this particular example that you’re bringing up.

(Charles Sing): Okay, so it wouldn’t really be considered as an accessory. 

Bakul Patel: Would not be considered as an accessory, but it would be the product, the 

component of the product itself. The entire product. 
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(Charles Sing): Okay, thank you. 

Coordinator: The next question is from (Charles Agbanah), your line is open. 

(Charles Agbanah): Thank you for taking my call. My question is regarding embedded 

software. Let’s say you got an approval on embedded software in a system, 

and then you decide to upgrade the software for the system to do couple of 

other things, from what you said basically the embedded software is not an 

SaMD, am I correct?

Bakul Patel: This is Bakul again, I think in your example, the purest example was talking 

about a mobile phone being part of a testing product or some sort of in vitro

product. In that case, the mobile platform itself is part of the IVD or whatever 

product that the gentleman was talking about. 

In your case, what you’re referring to is software that is driving the hardware 

product, for example if it’s an infusion pump or some other product that has 

an embedded piece of software in it. To me that is not software as a medical 

device as defined by the international Medical device regulators forum 

(IMDRF) and what we adopted as international regulatory forum in what we 

call SaMDs. SaMDs are those that are purely products stand-alone software 

that can run on its own and fulfill a medical purpose on its own. It isn’t 

required to drive, control or anything else, it’s just about computing data and 

providing some things that is meant for a medical purpose. 

(Charles Agrabah): Thank you.

Coordinator: The next question is from (Jan Zorn), your line is open. 
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(Jan Zorn): Thank you very much. I actually have two questions. My first is if there is a 

component in the flow path of a durable medical piece of equipment, and that 

component is replaceable by the user, does that require any additional separate 

filing?

Erica Takai: So without details of the particular case, we really couldn’t answer this 

particular question. For questions asking about specific cases, I would 

recommend that you route your questions through DICE, because we’re not 

going to be able to give a regulatory response to specific cases in this Q-and-A 

session.

(Jan Zorn): So perhaps the answer to my second question, that is if you have a cartridge 

that is designed to introduce a specific chemical into the flow path of a 

durable piece of medical equipment for the purposes of disinfection, strictly 

disinfection, is that considered an accessory? 

Erica Takai: Again, you know, it really depends on the specifics of your particular device, 

so we’re not able to provide an answer to that question. We do recommend 

you come in and ask; send your question to DICE so we can have a 

conversation with you about your specific case. 

(Jan Zorn): Okay, thank you. 

Coordinator: The next question is from (John Williams), your line is open. 

(John Williams): Thank you and I appreciate the opportunity to ask this question. We have an 

approved medical device for which we have an approved accessory. We want 

to add another accessory, and we know that for this additional accessory, that 

we have a predicate device and we have a reference device, namely that we 

have a reference device which operates by the same mechanism but doesn’t 
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have the same indication. But I would like to ask you is, is it your 

recommendation that we pursue either a 510(k) pathway to gain approval, or 

that we pursue the de novo pathway? 

Erica Takai: So if you already have a predicate device, then a 510(k) would be the 

appropriate pathway. 

(John Williams): Okay, but this predicate device, even though it has the same indication, it has 

a different mechanism.

Joni Foy: So right, this is Joni Foy, just to clarify, you know, 510(k)’s appropriate if you 

have a predicate that also translates into having the same intended use and the 

technological characteristics don’t raise different questions of safety and 

effectiveness.

(John Williams): Okay, so if I... 

Jonie Foy: Seems like you may have been going with the second clarification.

(John Williams): Okay, thank you. 

Coordinator: Our next question is from (Westev Banyati), your line is open. 

(Westev Banyati): Hi, this is (Westev Banyati) and thank you for taking my question. I have an 

exempt device, a (unintelligible) device, sorry, that is, has a software, but we 

need a monitor, it’s an interactive monitor that in order for us to run the 

software and it has a stand. Would the monitor be considered an accessory in 

this case?
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Bakul Patel: This is Bakul again. I mean, general purpose products are not something that 

we’re considering as accessories, at least for this discussion today.

(Westev Banyati): Even though we need that particular accessory in order for the software to, 

you know, to be abused to the client, to the patient, right?

Bakul Patel: If that’s one of the requirements for your product, that’s something you should 

consider how you’re controlling whatever things you need to have your 

product meet the intended use. 

(Westev Banyati): Okay, thank you. 

Coordinator: The next question is from (Carol Gonzalez), your line is open. 

(Carol Gonzalez): Thank you so much, I appreciate the opportunity. This is in reference to webbased or cloud-based software uses support a service activity or a workflow, 

to support a medical device activity, but the software is not directly connected 

to the medical device. My question is whether that particular software is 

considered, should be considered an accessory to the medical device or not. 

Bakul Patel: So first of all let me bring your attention to the definition of software as a 

medical device. I think what Erica had pointed out earlier was, and I’m not 

quite understanding the utility of the cloud-based software that you just 

mentioned in association with the medical device, but just because you’re 

using a technology or a platform that is just touching a medical device does 

not make it an accessory. 

That was the point of software as a medical device, just like if pulse oximeter

being used with a multi-parameter monitor is an accessory, but pulse oximeter 
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by itself can also be a medical device. Software as a medical device should be 

used in the same concept.

(Carol Gonzales): Okay, so for example, this particular service or functionality supports some 

sort of a service activity or business activity required to support the medical 

device. So for example, it will be transferring the images or dicon images 

from one location to another, and so in a way it supports the service or 

functionality of the medical device, so. 

Bakul Patel: Yeah, so I think you may be referring to what we used to define as medical 

device data systems, as defined in the current regulations as products that 

transfer, store, display or convert from one format to another, the maker 

device data. And that’s really if you’re referring to that, and that’s not 

something that we are enforcing right now and under 21st Century Cures that 

provision, that definition is not a medical device.

(Carol Gonzales): Okay, okay, perfect. And because actually the regulation says or the 

guidelines say that if you’re not connected to the medical device, perhaps 

you’re not an accessory, so that wasn’t clear. And the other question I have is 

in reference to health IT and the involvement with the medical device. So 

there is no clarity other than a guidance for mobile applications to the 

implementation of systems that can support again the medical device. So are 

there any plans...

Bakul Patel: So, may I just interject for a second. I think we may be off topic here for a 

second. The topic of health IT and the work that we’re doing, that should be 

directed somewhere else. This seminar today we are discussing our final 

policy on accessories. So appreciate your point but if you want to write to 

FDA, you should contact digitalhealth@fda.hhs.gov, and we can get back to 

you or consider your input as we look through these issues. 
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(Carol Gonzales): Thank you.

Coordinator: Our next question is from (Yayo Fujimaki), your line is open. 

(Yayo Fujimaki): Hello, so.... 

Coordinator: Yes, your line is open. 

(Yayo Fujimaki): Okay, thank you. So we make orthopedic implants and implant-specific 

instruments as well as general orthopedic instruments. And before, several 

years before, we classified orthopedic implant specific or original as a Class 1. 

However, in recent 510k submissions, we are encouraged to include devicespecific instruments. So we consider the implants and the specific instruments 

overall Class 2. However, after this guidance came, I have two questions. 

So can such implant-specific instrument, manual instrument be considered as 

Class 1 because the risk level is similar to general orthopedic instruments, and 

the second question, if that is yes, does FDA continuously expect us to include 

implant-specific Class 1 instrument in 510(k)? 

Joni Foy: This is Joni Foy again, so we’ve already answered a similar question 

regarding this earlier. You know, currently the way that they have been done 

is they have been cleared through the 510(k) if it’s specific for utilization with 

insertion or implantation in the orthopedic implant, so they’ve been 

technically classified as Class 2. If it’s a generic type of instrument, that is 

classified under our Class 1 regulation. Don’t have the regulation number 

right in front of me, but manual orthopedic surgical instruments that are 

generic have been classified as a Class 1. 
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This is the third question we’ve received on orthopedic instruments, so it 

sounds like we may want to have additional internal dialogue regarding this 

particular matter so we can provide some additional clarification going 

forward. But as we’ve also articulated, we’re not changing the classification 

of products that have already been classified or have a specific classification 

regulation through issuance of this guidance. 

(Yayo Fujimaki): Okay, I understand, thank you. 

Joni Foy: Thank you.

Coordinator: Our last question comes from (Carly Desmond), your line is open. 

(Carly Desmond): Hi, so I have a question about product labeling. We’re the manufacturers of an 

electronic instrument that is intended to read rapid diagnostic tests. We don’t 

actually manufacture any rapid diagnostic tests, our goal would be, to be able 

to list in our labeling which particular tests we’re compatible with, and then to 

register with the FDA as appropriate as a system.

My question is, does the labeling of the parent device need to mention our 

device, or is it only through our labeling that we’re defined as an accessory?

Man: So I think, it sounds like that’d be a pretty device-specific question. I’d 

definitely recommend that you submit it to the DICE e-mail that Erica’s

mentioned a few times so we can look at the specifics. 

(Carly Desmond): Okay, thank you very much. 

Coordinator: We now conclude our question and answer session, thank you. 
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Irene Aihie: Thank you. This is Irene Aihie; we appreciate your participation and 

thoughtful questions. Today’s presentation and transcript will be made 

available on the CDRH Learns webpage at www.fda.gov/training/cdrhlearns, 

by Friday, February 10. If you have additional questions about the final 

guidance document, please use the contact information provided at the end of 

the slide presentation. As always, we do appreciate your feedback. 

Please complete a short survey related to today’s webinar. The survey can be 

found at www.fda.gov/cdrhwebinar. Again, thank you for participating, this 

concludes today’s webinar. 

Coordinator: Thank you for your participation in today’s conference, all participants may 

disconnect at this time.

END