In this Medtech Matters podcast episode of Mike on Medtech with Mike Drues, president of Vascular Sciences, we’re revisiting real-world evidence (RWE), which is a topic that’s been getting some attention. So today, we’re going to look at what’s driving that attention and discuss the reasons behind it. We’ll also talk about how the FDA is seeking to use real-world evidence. Specifically, the following questions are addressed: We’ve discussed real-world evidence previously, in podcasts from 2017 and 2020, but what’s the cause for us to do so today? Without requiring people to go back and relis ..read more

In this Medtech Matters podcast episode of Mike on Medtech with Mike Drues, president of Vascular Sciences, we’re taking a look at several devices that unfortunately ended up being quite dangerous even though they made it to the market and were used by healthcare professionals. Some of these may have been brought up previously the Netflix documentary, The Bleeding Edge, was discussed but others are new. Specifically, the following questions are addressed: First Mike, can you provide a definition of what a dangerous device is? As I mentioned in the introduction, we previously discussed the 20 ..read more

In this Medtech Matters podcast episode of Mike on Medtech with Mike Drues, president of Vascular Sciences, we’re reviewing a few stories in the news that tie into the safety of medical devices. First, a story regarding plastic syringes made in China that were deemed not to be used by the FDA. The other story is about a report indicating third-party testing lab data may be unreliable and, in some cases, falsified. Specifically, the following questions are addressed: Can you give some additional insights into each of these news items and explain how they are connected? Given the medtech unive ..read more

In this Medtech Matters podcast episode of Mike on Medtech with Mike Drues, president of Vascular Sciences, we’re looking at the latest annual list put out by ECRI, an independent authority on healthcare technology and safety, on their top 10 health technology hazards for 2024. The full list is available at the organization’s website, which is at www.ecri.org. Specifically, the following questions are addressed: What is ECRI and what is the purpose of this list? Number one on the list is medical devices for the home. Specifically, they indicate medical devices may pose usability challenges f ..read more

In this Medtech Matters podcast episode of Mike on Medtech with Mike Drues, president of Vascular Sciences, we’re looking at IRBs, or institutional review boards. We’re taking a look at what these are, how they relate to medical device approvals, and why they are important. Specifically, the following questions are addressed: Could you please explain what an IRB or institutional review board is? If I’m a device maker and am looking to conduct a clinical trial for one of my devices, do I need IRB approval? Are there situations in which I would not need an IRB approval prior to a clinical tria ..read more

In this Medtech Matters podcast episode of Mike on Medtech with Mike Drues, president of Vascular Sciences, we examine the journey that’s occurred with regard to getting reimbursement tied to the FDA’s Breakthrough Designation Program (BDP). It’s been planned, called off by CMS, put into proposed legislation, but we still don’t have a definitive solution. Specifically, the following questions are addressed: Can you please explain what the Breakthrough Device Designation program is? When did the reimbursement component come into play with regard to the BDP? Why is it important for a BDP devic ..read more

In this Medtech Matters podcast episode of Mike on Medtech with Mike Drues, president of Vascular Sciences, we take a look at guidances published by FDA regarding the 510k regulatory pathway. The subject matter of the three were: best practices for selecting a predicate device, the need for clinical data in a submission, and evidentiary expectations with implanted devices. Specifically, the following questions are addressed: Can you please provide a brief explanation of the 510k pathway? Why is the agency attempting to strengthen the program? What is their ultimate goal? With the predicate d ..read more

In this Medtech Matters podcast episode of Mike on Medtech with Mike Drues, president of Vascular Sciences, we examine the FDA policy regarding the use of a recalled device as a predicate in a 510k submission. Is it a good idea? What considerations are there for doing so? Specifically, the following questions are addressed: First, would you please explain the various levels of a recall as it relates to a medical device and what each level means? Can you quickly remind us of how a predicate device is used in a 510k submission? Given we’ve laid the groundwork, can you now please explain how a ..read more

In this Medtech Matters podcast episode of Mike on Medtech with Mike Drues, president of Vascular Sciences, we look at the 483s and warning letters that resulted from FDA inspections in 2022. The list is alarmingly similar to previous years and the discussion explores why that’s the case. The discussion also centers around ways device manufacturers can avoid making many of these same mistakes that get other companies into trouble with the agency. Specifically, the following questions are addressed: Can run through the top reasons for 483s and warning letters? Can you provide some examples of ..read more

In this Medtech Matters podcast episode of Mike on Medtech with Mike Drues, president of Vascular Sciences, we look at the debate over lab developed tests (LDTs) and whether or not the FDA should have the authority to regulate them. What would this type of oversight do to the need for speed with these types of tests? Would FDA supervision make things safer and also avoid future situations like the Theranos debacle? Specifically, the following questions are addressed between the two parts of this podcast presentation: Can you start today’s conversation by explaining why we’ve selected this to ..read more