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###### Department of Health and Human Services

###### Food and Drug Administration

          - [Docket No. FDA-2016-D-0363]

# AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

# ACTION:

Notice of availability.

# SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of the draft guidance entitled “Characterization of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Used in Orthopedic Devices”. The guidance identifies the types of UHMWPE currently in use in orthopedic implants, as well as the recommended information and testing that should be included in premarket submissions for such devices. This draft guidance is not final nor is it in effect at this time.

# DATES:

Although you can comment on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5)), to ensure that the Agency considers your comment of this draft guidance before it begins work on the final version of the guidance, submit either electronic or written comments on the draft guidance by May 12, 2016.

# ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments as follows:

### Electronic Submissions

Submit electronic comments in the following way:
      - Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.                      Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to                      http://www.regulations.gov                      will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone else's Social Security number, or confidential business information, such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in the body of your comments, that information will be posted on                      http://www.regulations.gov. 
      - If you want to submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner detailed (see “Written/Paper Submissions” and “Instructions”).

### Written/Paper Submissions

Submit written/paper submissions as follows:
      - Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for written/paper submissions): Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
      - For written/paper comments submitted to the Division of Dockets Management, FDA will post your comment, as well as any attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, as confidential, if submitted as detailed in “Instructions.”

*Instructions:*                     All submissions received must include the Docket No. FDA-2016-D-0363 for “Characterization of                           ( print page 7544)                        Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Used in Orthopedic Devices.” Received comments will be placed in the docket and, except for those submitted as “Confidential Submissions,” publicly viewable at                     *http://www.regulations.gov*                     or at the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.                
      - Confidential Submissions—To submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states “THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION”. The Agency will review this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in its consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the claimed confidential information redacted/blacked out, will be available for public viewing and posted on http://www.regulations.gov.                      Submit both copies to the Division of Dockets Management. If you do not wish your name and contact information to be made publicly available, you can provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body of your comments and you must identify this information as “confidential.” Any information marked as “confidential” will not be disclosed except in accordance with  21 CFR 10.20  and other applicable disclosure law. For more information about FDA's posting of comments to public dockets, see  80 FR 56469 , September 18, 2015, or access the information at:                      http://www.fda.gov/​regulatoryinformation/​dockets/​default.htm. 

*Docket:*                     For access to the docket to read background documents or the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to                     *http://www.regulations.gov*                     and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this document, into the “Search” box and follow the prompts and/or go to the Division of Dockets Management, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.                

                    An electronic copy of the guidance document is available for download from the Internet. See the                     **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION**                     section for information on electronic access to the guidance. Submit written requests for a single hard copy of the draft guidance document entitled “Characterization of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Used in Orthopedic Devices” to the Office of the Center Director, Guidance and Policy Development, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave. Bldg. 66, Rm. 5431, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist that office in processing your request.                

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Peter Allen, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave. Bldg. 66, Rm. 1512, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-796-6402.

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## I. Background

                    FDA is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry and FDA staff entitled “Characterization of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Used in Orthopedic Devices”. FDA has developed this guidance document for members of industry who submit, and FDA staff who review, information regarding orthopedic devices using UHMWPE material. This guidance is intended to provide recommendations when finalized regarding the characterization and testing of orthopedic devices that use UHMWPE materials such as conventional UHMWPE, highly crosslinked UHMWPE, and highly crosslinked UHMWPE containing vitamin E. This document also outlines the information FDA recommends industry include in a submission to FDA to characterize the UHMWPE material (                    *e.g.,*                     material description, sterility, biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and chemical properties).                

## II. Significance of Guidance

This draft guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The draft guidance, when finalized, will represent the current thinking of FDA on UHMWPE used in orthopedic devices. It does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations.

## III. Electronic Access

                    Persons interested in obtaining a copy of the draft guidance may do so by downloading an electronic copy from the Internet. A search capability for all Center for Devices and Radiological Health guidance documents is available at                     *http://www.fda.gov/​MedicalDevices/​DeviceRegulationandGuidance/​GuidanceDocuments/​default.htm.*                     Guidance documents are also available at                     *http://www.regulations.gov.*                     Persons unable to download an electronic copy of “Characterization of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Used in Orthopedic Devices” may send an email request to                     *CDRH-Guidance@fda.hhs.gov*                     to receive an electronic copy of the document. Please use the document number 1300006 to identify the guidance you are requesting.                

## IV. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

The guidance document “Characterization of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Used in Orthopedic Devices” refers to previously approved information collections found in FDA regulations and guidance. These collections of information are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The collections of information in 21 CFR part 807, subpart E, are approved under OMB control number 0910-0120; the collections of information in 21 CFR part 812 are approved under OMB control number 0910-0078; the collections of information in 21 CFR part 814, subparts B and E, are approved under OMB control number 0910-0231; the collections of information in 21 CFR part 814, subpart H, are approved under OMB control number 0910-0332; and the collections of information in the guidance document entitled “Requests for Feedback on Medical Device Submissions: The Pre-Submission Program and Meetings with Food and Drug Administration Staff” are approved under OMB control number 0910-0756.

Dated: February 8, 2016.

Leslie Kux,

Associate Commissioner for Policy.

[FR Doc. 2016-02879 Filed 2-11-16; 8:45 am]

 BILLING CODE 4164-01-P