WARNING LETTER
Light Age, Inc.
MARCS-CMS 544047 —
January 24, 2018
Recipient:
Recipient Name
Dr. Donald F. Heller
Light Age, Inc.
500 Apgar Drive
Somerset
,
NJ
08873-1177
United States
Issuing Office:
New England District Office
United States
Medical Devices and Radiological Health, Division 1 East
1 Montvale Ave
Stoneham, MA 02180
January 24, 2018
WARNING LETTER
CMS #544047
VIA UNITED PARCEL SERVICE
Dr. Donald F. Heller
Chief Executive Officer
Light Age, Inc.
500 Apgar Drive
Somerset, New Jersey 08873-1177
Dear Dr. Heller:
During an inspection of your firm located in Somerset, New Jersey on October 21, 2017 through November 17, 2017, an investigator from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that your firm manufactures Class II, medical lasers, including but not limited to EpiCare and Q-Clear. Under section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), 21 U.S.C. § 321(h), these products are devices because they are intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or to affect the structure or any function of the body.
This inspection revealed that these devices are adulterated within the meaning of section 501(h) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 351(h), in that the methods used in, or the facilities or controls used for, their manufacture, packing, storage, or installation are not in conformity with the current good manufacturing practice requirements of the Quality System regulation found at Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 820.
We received your response, dated December 8, 2017, concerning our investigator’s observations noted on the Form FDA 483 (FDA 483), List of Inspectional Observations, that was issued to your firm. We address this response below, in relation to each of the noted violations. These violations include, but are not limited to, the following:
1.    Failure to establish and maintain procedures to control product that does not conform to specified requirements, which shall address the identification, documentation, evaluation, segregation, and disposition of nonconforming product, as required by 21 CFR 820.90(a).
Specifically, you are not implementing your Non-conformance procedure, QSP-830-000, Rev 2, Effective Date: 06/13/2016 in that:
a.  Section 6.7.1 requires that all Non-conformances be documented.
1.  Of the
(b)(4)
Non-conformances (NC) reviewed from your Nonconformance Index, 4 NCs (#NC00029, NC00020, NC00015, NC00007) could not be located during the inspection.
2.  Per Quality Manager, Non-conformances have not been documented since August 2016.
b.  Section 6.9.1, requires that NC records be reviewed; and to monitor the actions and progression to closure for each NC. However, you were not able to provide documentation to demonstrate that each NC was reviewed. Examples include, but are not limited to: NC #00026, #00025, and #00022.
c.  Section 6.5, requires an investigation to determine the root cause or potential root cause; and section 6.6, requires risk assessment, for each NC. You were not able to provide documentation to demonstrate that an investigation nor risk assessment were conducted for the following open NCs, of which the devices have since been shipped:
1.  NC #00026, opened 06/16/2016, involved a Q-Clear, serial #701-16-525, which was mislabeled with incorrect serial number and incorrect voltage. There was no evaluation/investigation documented.
2.  NC #00025, opened 02/03/2016, involved a EpiCare Duo-C, serial #502-16-663-DUO-C for shutter failure twice during the final QA testing and other units were reported with failures in the field. There was no investigation, root cause, assessment, risk level, or risk rationale documented.
3.  NC #00022, opened 11/22/2015, involved a EpiCare Duo, serial #502-15-661-DUO-C with lack of proper indication of hand piece status, in/out of the calibration port. There was no evaluation/investigation, root cause, assessment, risk level, nor risk rationale documented.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that your response is not adequate. Your corrective actions do not include a retrospective review of all Non-conformances to ensure that they have all been investigated. It also did not include a retrospective review of device history records to assure that all out-of-specification results recorded since August of 2016 in the DHR and documented on a Non-conformance form, are investigated. Additionally, you have not provided any documentation to demonstrate that the Non-conformances listed above, were adequately investigated and appropriate corrective actions were taken. Further, your response states that your NC procedure requires more streamlining and mandatory training of appropriate personnel, however, you have not provided an updated SOP or associated training records. Please provide supporting documentation to demonstrate that your firm has a clear understanding of how to investigate and document NCs to ensure Non-conforming products are not distributed.
2.    Failure to establish and maintain procedures for receiving, reviewing, and evaluating complaints by a formally designated unit, as required by 21 CFR 820.198(a). Specifically, Complaint Investigation Procedure, QSP-919-000, Rev: 1, dated 07/01/15, is not being implemented in that:
a.  Section 6.1.2 requires that complaints have a root cause investigation unless an investigation has already been performed; and Section 6.1.2.2. requires that if a root cause investigation is not conducted, a rationale should be included. Examples of complaint cases that did not include a root cause investigation nor rationale for not conducting the investigation, include but are not limited to: Case #00012, #00094, #00118.
b.  Of the
(b)(4)
complaints reviewed during the inspection, you were not able to provide or locate three of these complaints, including: Case #00070, #00077, and #00107.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. You have not provided documentation to demonstrate that you have conducted a retrospective review of complaints or that you have revised your complaint handling system to ensure that complaints are adequately identified and investigated. Your response states that your Product Realization, Customer Communication Procedure, QSP-723-000, Rev: H. also covers complaints, however, the procedure states that Sales and Service is responsible for handling customer complaints. Your response also did not provide the complaints which could not be located during the inspection or an explanation for the lack of records. Further, you state that for Case #00012 and #00118, that these were not complaints but rather, customer requests for information. Please note that a complaint means any written, electronic, or oral communication that alleges deficiencies related to the identity, quality, durability, reliability, safety, effectiveness, or performance of a device after it is released for distribution.
3.    Failure to establish and maintain procedures for implementing corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), a required by 21 CFR 820.100(a). Specifically, your Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) procedure, QSP-852-000, Rev 1, Effective Date: 07/15/2015 is not adequately implemented in that;
a.  Section 6.5 of your procedure requires that modifications to any previously approved CAPA Action Plan shall require a rationale. Your CAPA index included
(b)(4)
CAPAs that were opened from January 2015 through present of which you cancelled
(b)(4)
of these CAPAs with no documented rationale and no actions were implemented.
b.  Section 6.5 also requires that the CAPA Action Plan and Effectiveness Plan be documented with a target of no more than
(b)(4)
days of CAPA initiation. However,
(b)(4)
of the
(b)(4)
CAPAs that were opened, had no actions implemented. Examples include, but are not limited to CAPA 1255 (opened 08/16/2016) and 1258 (opened 09/07/2016).
c.  Section 6.11 of your procedure requires that the CAPA review board meets on a regular basis, however, you were not able to provide documentation to demonstrate that the meetings were held since 2015.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that the adequacy of the corrective action cannot be determined at this time. Your response states that you have opened a CAPA related to this issue, to identify root-cause analysis and effectiveness checks, however, while you have provided the CAPA 1263, dated 10/30/2017, the report lacked information as to who the CAPA was assigned, root cause, nor investigation. Additionally, your response states that the CAPA procedure and forms are in the process of being streamlined and revised and that training will be conducted related to when to open a CAPA. However, you have not provided the revised SOP or associated training records. Please provide this documentation, along with any other supporting documentation, to demonstrate that your firm understands when a CAPA should be open and how each CAPA should be investigated, and closed within a timely manner with appropriate effectiveness checks assigned.
4.    Failure to establish and maintain procedures which include requirements for analyzing processes, work operations, concessions, quality audit reports, quality records, service records, complaints, return product, and other sources of quality data to identify existing and potential causes of nonconforming product or other quality problems required by 820.100(a)(1). Specifically,
a.  Complaint Investigation Procedure, QSP-919-000, Rev: 1, dated 07/01/15, Section 6.1.3.2.1 requires that analysis of complaint trends will be continually monitored and formally reviewed at
(b)(4)
intervals, however, you were not able to provide documentation of complaint trending.
b.  Complaint Investigation Procedure, QSP-919-000, Rev: 1, dated 07/01/15Section 6.5 requires that complaint metrics will be maintained and formally reviewed on a
(b)(4)
basis by the Continuous Improvement Board. However, you were not able to provide documentation of these complaint metrics reviews.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that the adequacy of the corrective action cannot be determined at this time. We acknowledge that your firm provided a chart with the number of complaints received from April 2016 through March 2017, however, there was no data beyond March 2017 and no indication that complaint metrics are reviewed by the Continuous Improvement Board. Further, your response states that the Director of Product Operations trends product-related complaints based on feedback from Sales and reports findings to Executive Management
(b)(4)
, however, you provided no supporting documentation to demonstrate this trending data. Further, it is not clear if Sales personnel are trained in identifying complaints/MDRs and no indication that the quality department is involved in this process.
5.    Failure to review, evaluate, and investigate complaints involving the possible failure of a device to meet its specifications, as required by 820.198(c).
Specifically, Advisory Notice and Recalls Procedure, QSP-915-000, Rev: F, dated 01/16/2014, requires that each complaint received must be reviewed by the Management Representative for possible medical device report and adverse event action or recall. However, your customer complaint forms for the following cases, of which involve possible injury, Cases #00012 (Keloid scarring), #00094 (burn), and #00118 (rash), lacked adequate documentation to demonstrate that this review was conducted.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. While your response provides your investigation into each of these complaints, it did not address conducting a retrospective review of all complaints to evaluate possible injury or that you have revised your complaint handling system to ensure that complaints, which involve possible injury are adequately identified and investigated. Please provide supporting documentation to demonstrate your complaint handling procedures and processes have been evaluated and revised to ensure that complaints are being adequately identified and investigated by personnel that are trained in the requirements of complaint handling and MDR reporting.
6.    Failure of management with executive responsibility to review the suitability and effectiveness of the quality system at defined intervals and with sufficient frequency according to established procedures, to ensure the quality system satisfies the requirement of part 820, as required by 21 CFR 820.20(c).
Specifically, your Management Review Procedure, QSP-561-000, Rev 2, dated 04/25/2017, requires that management review meetings are held at least once a year. However, there were no management reviews documented for 2015 and 2016.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that the adequacy of the corrective action cannot be determined at this time. While your response provided a training record, dated 02/03/2015, on How to Conduct an Effective Management Review, in addition to an attendance record for the Management Review, dated 04/12/2016, your Quality Manager was not able to provide information related to these meetings during the inspection.
7.    Failure to establish procedures for quality audits and conduct such audits to assure that the quality system is, in compliance with, established quality system requirements and to determine the effectiveness of the quality system required by 21 CFR 820.22.
Specifically, Internal Audit Procedure, QSP-822-00, Rev G, dated 06/30/2016, requires that internal audits are conducted at planned intervals, however, the frequencies have not been defined. Additionally, your firm was not able to provide documentation to demonstrate that you conducted an internal audit of your quality system since 2015.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. While we acknowledge that your firm opened CAPA 1262, dated 10/30/2017, to address the lack of documentation for internal audits and frequency, the CAPA report lacks information as to who the CAPA was assigned, root cause, nor investigation. Further, you state that internal audits were conducted in 2015, 2016, and 2017, however, you have not provided supporting documentation to demonstrate that they were conducted by individuals who do not have responsibility for the area being audited. For example, your response states that the Quality Director conducted a high-level audit of the quality system in 2016. Please provide supporting documentation to demonstrate that management has ensured that the adequacy of your quality system has being adequately assessed by appropriate personnel at defined frequencies.
8.    Failure to maintain a device master record (DMR), as required by 21 CFR 820.181.
Specifically, your firm failed to establish and maintain a device master record for the EpiCare Zenith device, that includes or refers to the location of all device, quality, production and process, packaging, labeling, and installation specifications.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Your response states that an updated DMR was under review during the inspection, however, the EpiCare Zenith has been on the market since at least 2012, and you have not maintained an approved DMR for this device. Further, while you have provided an updated DMR for EpiCare Zenith, the record does not reference where the labeling could be located for this device. Please provide documentation to demonstrate that you have manufactured this device in accordance with established specifications for the EpiCare Zenith devices that have been, and will be, distributed.
9.    Failure to establish and maintain procedures to ensure that equipment is routinely calibrated, inspected, checked and maintained as required by 21 CFR 820.72(a). Specifically, you have not calibrated or maintained calibration records for the following, including but not limited to:
a.  The
(b)(4)
, serial #
(b)(4)
, model:
(b)(4)
. This test unit was used during the production of EpiCare Zenith, serial # 504-17-718 ZTH.
(b)(4)
serial #
(b)(4)
, requires an
(b)(4)
calibration, however, there were no calibration records for 2014, 2015, and 2016.
b.  The
(b)(4)
serial #
(b)(4)
, was used during the production of EpiCare Zenith, serial # 504-17-718 ZTH. The
(b)(4)
, serial #
(b)(4)
, requires an
(b)(4)
calibration, however, there were no calibration records for 2015 and 2016.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. While your response included calibration certificates for 2014, 2015, 2016 for the
(b)(4)
serial #
(b)(4)
, you were not able to produce these records during the inspection. Additionally, your response provided a calibration certificate for
(b)(4)
, serial #
(b)(4)
, for 2016, however, you were not able to locate the certificate for 2015. Further, your response did not include revised a calibration SOP and does not indicate whether you have retrospectively reviewed all your test equipment to ensure calibration is current and associated calibration certificates are maintained.
10.    Failure to maintain device history records to demonstrate that devices are manufactured in accordance with 21 CFR 820, as required by 21 CFR part 820.184. For example, the following DHRs lacked critical manufacturing and the devices have since been distributed, including but not limited to:
a.  EpiCare Zenith, Serial #504-17-718-ZTH
1.  The Optical Module Final Test Report lacked established specifications for before and after out power and calibration check; final burn in test was not completed or reviewed; final system pictures were not reviewed; overall efficiency for ALEX 755 nm and YAG 1064 nm percentage were not calculated; and failure to include measured diameter for spatial profile of headpiece.
2.  The User Mode Test and Inspection had changes to before/after output power, pump chamber burn in tests, and set pulse rate without any justification.
b.  EpiCare, Serial #504-17-719-ZTH
1.  The Optical Module Final Test Report had two different values listed in the optical measurements section, for the ALEX pump chamber pressure values; lacked established specifications for the ALEX 755 nm and YAG 1064 nm rate specification; final burn in test was not reviewed; and final system pictures were not reviewed.
2.  The User Mode Test and Inspection max fluence (LPX and DUO) at laser setting 15mm and meter setting 755nm is below the valid fluence range of 20-40 joules/cm². Further, the associated QA checklist was not completed, therefore, the device was released without QA approval.
c.  EpiCare, Serial #504-17-721-ZTHA
1.  The Optical Module Final Test Report lacked established specifications for pulse rates; overall efficiency for ALEX percentage was not calculated; and final burn in test and number of shots was not completed.
2.  The User Mode Test and Inspection had an out of calibration result for the ALEX pd/calibration value.
3.  The Prepare for Packing section failed to include completion of final inspection of documentation, quality assurances review, and authorization to ship approvals.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Your response states that to address any residual non-conformances in the DHRs, Quality met with the department personnel involved in the completion of DHRs to identify where current processes may be streamlined to increase efficiency. However, you have not provided completed DHRs for the examples listed above. Further, your response does not indicate whether your firm has retrospectively reviewed all DHRs for devices which remain on the market to ensure they are complete and that Non-conforming results have been adequately investigated.
11.    Failure to establish and maintain procedures for the identification, documentation, validation, or where appropriate verification, review and approval of design changes before their implementation required by 21 CFR 820.30(i).
Specifically, your firm implemented Engineering Change Notice (ECN) 11-006, dated 01/17/2011, which changed the
(b)(4)
in
(b)(4)
and changed
(b)(4)
for safety reasons for the EpiCare family of devices. There was no documentation to demonstrate that this design change was verified or validated and no indication that devices were manufactured against the revised
(b)(4)
.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Your response states that you made
(b)(4)
the to comply with international and US standards, and your ECN stated that you conducted the design change for safety reasons. While your response provided an example picture of a unit with the updated
(b)(4)
, you did not provide evidence of validation or verification testing for this design change.
Our inspection also revealed that your firm’s EpiCare LPX is misbranded under Section 502(t)(2) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 352(t)(2), in that your firm failed or refused to furnish material or information with respect to the device that is required by or under Section 519 of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360i, and 21 CFR Part 803 - Medical Device Reporting. Significant deviations include, but are not limited to:
12.    Failure to adequately develop, maintain and implement written MDR procedures, as required by 21 CFR 803.17. For example, after reviewing your firm’s MDR procedure titled: “Assessing and Reporting Complaints for Reportability”, QSP-918-000, Rev 1, dated July 1, 2015, the following deficiencies were noted:
a.  The procedure does not establish internal systems that provide for a standardized review process to determine when an event meets the criteria for reporting under this part, as required by 21 CFR 803.17(a)(2). For example:
1.  There are no instructions for conducting a complete investigation of each event and evaluating the cause of the event.
2.  The procedure, as written, does not specify who makes the decision for reporting events to FDA.
b.  The procedure does not establish internal systems that provide for timely transmission of complete medical device reports, as required by 21 CFR 803.17(a)(3). Specifically, the following are not addressed:
1. The circumstances under which your firm must submit supplemental reports and the requirements for such reports.
2.  The procedure does not include a reference for the submission of MDR reportable events using the mandatory 3500A or electronic equivalent.
3.  How your firm will submit all information reasonably known to it for each event. Specifically, which sections of the 3500A will need to be completed to include all information found in your firm’s possession and any information that becomes available as a result of a reasonable follow up within your firm.
c.  The procedure does not describe how your firm will address documentation and recordkeeping requirements, as required by 21 CFR 803.17(b), including:
1.  Documentation of adverse event related information maintained as MDR event files.
2.  Information that was evaluated to determine if an event was reportable.
3.  Documentation of the deliberations and decision-making processes used to determine if a device-related death, serious injury, or malfunction was or was not reportable.
4.  Systems that ensure access to information that facilitates timely follow-up and inspection by FDA.
We reviewed your firm’s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Your response did not provide updates to your MDR procedures. If your firm wishes to discuss the MDR related issues noted above, please contact the Reportability Review Team by email at
ReportabilityReviewTeam@fda.hhs.gov
.
Your firm should take prompt action to correct the violations addressed in this letter. Failure to promptly correct these violations may result in regulatory action being initiated by the FDA without further notice. These actions include, but are not limited to, seizure, injunction, and civil money penalties. Also, federal agencies may be advised of the issuance of Warning Letters about devices so that they may take this information into account when considering the award of contracts. Additionally, premarket approval applications for Class III devices to which the Quality System regulation violations are reasonably related will not be approved until the violations have been corrected. Requests for Certificates to Foreign Governments will not be granted until the violations related to the subject devices have been corrected.
Please notify this office in writing within fifteen business days from the date you receive this letter of the specific steps your firm has taken to correct the noted violations, as well as an explanation of how your firm plans to prevent these violations, or similar violations, from occurring again. Include documentation of the corrections and/or corrective actions (which must address systemic problems) that your firm has taken. If your firm’s planned corrections and/or corrective actions will occur over time, please include a timetable for implementation of those activities. If corrections and/or corrective actions cannot be completed within fifteen business days, state the reason for the delay and the time within which these activities will be completed.
Your firm’s response should be comprehensive and address all violations included in this Warning Letter.
Your firm’s response should be sent electronically to: Gina Brackett, Acting Director of Compliance Branch at
oradevices1actingdcb@fda.hhs.gov
. Refer to the Unique Identification Number (CMS case #544047) when replying. If you have any questions about the contents of this letter, please contact: Stephanie Durso, Compliance Officer, at 973-331-4911 or email at
stephanie.durso@fda.hhs.gov
.
Finally, you should know that this letter is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the violations at your firm’s facility. It is your firm’s responsibility to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations administered by FDA. The specific violations noted in this letter and in the Inspectional Observations, FDA 483, issued at the close of the inspection may be symptomatic of serious problems in your firm’s manufacturing and quality management systems. Your firm should investigate and determine the causes of the violations, and take prompt actions to correct the violations and bring the products into compliance.
Sincerely yours,
/S/
Joseph Matrisciano, Jr.
Program Division Director
Office of Medical Devices and Radiological Health
Division 1 East
Content current as of:
01/30/2018