GUIDELINES ON MEDICAL DEVICES - CLINICAL EVALUATION: A GUIDE FOR MANUFACTURERS AND NOTIFIED BODIES UNDER DIRECTIVES 93/42/EEC and 90/385/EEC – MEDDEV 2.7/1 revision 4 – june 2016

EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG 

Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Consumer, Environmental and Health Technologies 

Health technology and Cosmetics

ABSTRACT

1. Introduction 

Pursuant to 

- section 6a of Annex I to Directive 93/42/EEC (amended by Directive 2007/47/EC) and to 

- section 5a of Annex 1 to Directive 90/385/EEC (amended by Directive 2007/47/EC), 

the demonstration of conformity with Essential Requirements for a medical device must include a clinical evaluation, which is conducted in accordance with Annex X to Directive 93/42/EEC or with Annex 7 to Directive 90/385/EEC. 

This document promotes a common approach to clinical evaluation for medical devices regulated by directives 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC. It does not concern in vitro diagnostic devices. 

The depth and extent of clinical evaluations should be flexible and appropriate to the nature, intended purpose, and risks of the device in question. Therefore, this guidance is not intended to impose device-specific requirements. 

This document uses the terms "must", "shall", "have to" where these terms are used in the Directives. "Should" is used in other instances. 

2. Scope 

This guide is not legally binding; only the text of the Directives is authentic in law. It is recognised that under given circumstances, for example as a result of scientific developments, an alternative approach may be possible or appropriate to comply with the legal requirements. Nevertheless, due to the participation of interested parties and of experts from national Competent Authorities, it is anticipated that this guide will be followed within the Member States, thereby supporting uniform application of relevant provisions of EU Directives and common practices.

On certain issues not addressed in the Directives, national legislation may be different from this guide. 

This guide is regularly updated according to regulatory developments. The latest version of the guide should always be used. This version is a complete revision of the previous texts. 

The medical device legislation in Europe is currently being significantly revised. A new Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on medical devices will be published, which may result in changes to important concepts or definitions relating to clinical evaluation. Parts or all of this document are likely to be revised. Some contents (such as contents about notified bodies) are likely to be removed and integrated in other series of documents. 

Go to MEDDEV 2.7/1 revision 4 June 2016>ClickHere