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Technical Considerations for Medical Devices with Physiologic Closed-Loop Control Technology: Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff

FinalCenter for Devices and Radiological Health09/29/2023

Description

This guidance document provides the FDA’s recommendations on design considerations, non-clinical testing, animal studies, and labeling to support premarket submissions for medical devices with physiologic closed-loop control technology. This guidance applies to the design and testing of a device incorporating physiologic closed-loop control technology. The design and testing will depend on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the energy or article being delivered, environment of use, level of automation, training of the user population, patient population, properties of the physiologic-measuring sensor, method of control algorithm design, and properties of the delivery system.  The recommendations are intended to promote consistency and facilitate efficient review of medical devices with physiologic closed-loop control technology submissions.

Scope & Applicability

Product Classes

6
Physiologic Closed-Loop Controlled Device

A system consisting of sensors, actuators, and control algorithms that adjusts or maintains a physiologic variable

Physiologic Closed-Loop Control Technology

The primary subject of the guidance regarding technical considerations.

Infusion pumps

verifying the EDDO of flow rate accuracy should account for any before-use instructions

Ventilators

Host medical device for PCLC technology

PCLC medical devices

Physiologic Closed-Loop Control medical devices providing automated titration or adjustment of therapy.

PCLC device

Physiologic Closed-Loop Control technology medical devices; medical devices with physiologic closed-loop control technology; Physiologic Closed-Loop Controlled medical devices discussed throughout the guidance

Stakeholders

2
medical device manufacturers

the terms you and yours refer to medical device manufacturers

manufacturer

Entity required to conduct postmarket surveillance; entity responsible for submitting postmarket surveillance plans; Entity holding the approved PMA, HDE, or cleared 510(k); The entity responsible for conducting postmarket surveillance and submitting reports.; Entity that can use the checklist as a reference for submissions.

Regulatory Context

Attributes

4
inter-patient variability

response differences between patients; range of responses expected from different patients

Fallback Mode

A safety state the device enters during faults or unsafe conditions.

accuracy

Sensor performance characteristic

intra-patient variability

response differences within an individual patient over time; degree to which an individual response can change over time

Identified Hazards

Hazards

10
Automation bias

Potential automation-induced hazard; Tendency for users to give greater belief to information from automation without verification.; Automation-related hazard where users over-rely on automated systems

complacency

Automation-related hazard involving reduced vigilance

Hypoxic Mixtures

Safety risk in oxygenation devices if oxygen delivery falls below 21%.

mode confusion

Risk related to user interaction with multiple control modes

Use-related hazards

hazards related to human-automation interactions and cognitive limitations

Cybersecurity threats

Threats to the healthcare sector that can lead to patient harm; Technological characteristics that could be vulnerable; Threats that could negatively impact safety and effectiveness

Device-related hazards

hazards resulting from the PCLC device and its components

Algorithm flaws

Potential automation-induced hazard

Loss of situational awareness

Reduction of user awareness due to automation of clinical decisions.

Skill degradation

Reduction of decision-making ability due to consistent execution by automation.

Related CFR Sections (2)

Related Warning Letters (10)

  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated

    Envoy Medical Inc.

    2025-12-09
  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated

    Hong Qiangxing Shenzhen Electronics Limited

    2025-11-25
  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated

    Contec Medical Systems Co., Ltd.

    2025-10-28
  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated/Misbranded

    Royal Philips

    2025-10-28
  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated/Misbranded

    Qianjiang Kingphar Medical Material Co Ltd.

    2025-10-28
  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated

    LEVO AG

    2025-10-21
  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated

    Technological Medical Advancements LLC

    2025-10-07
  • Medical Device/Adulterated/Misbranded/Lacks PMA and/or 510(k)

    The Richline Group, Inc.

    2025-09-23
  • Investigational Device Exemptions (IDE)/Premarket Approval Application (PMA) Adulterated Device

    SeniorLife Technologies, Inc.

    2025-09-16
  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated

    Miach Orthopaedics

    2025-08-26

See Also (8)