IEC 60601 – Essential Performance, Safety and Risk Management
Background IEC 60601 is a series of technical standards for the safety and essential performance of medical electrical equipment. Although if focuses primarily on electromechanical devices, it also applies to aspects of the software components. It is a widely recognized standard that most, if not all, medical device companies have to comply with. The concept […]
What is FMEA?
FMEA stands for Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, it is a step-by-step approach for identifying all possible failures in a design, a manufacturing or assembly process, or a product or service. From ISO 14971: “FMEA is a technique by which the consequences of an individual fault mode are systematically identified and evaluated. It is an […]
Hazard Analysis & FME(C)A on Jira – SoftComply Risk Manager PLUS is out now!
We are happy to inform you that our Risk Management solution for Jira has gotten an upgrade for Jira Server users – the SoftComply Risk Manager Plus focusing specifically on safety-critical product/device/system risks. SoftComply Risk Manager Plus supports both Hazard Analysis as well as FME(C)A, including FME(C)A with Detectability and RPN (Risk Prioritization Number). Although […]
What is a Risk Mitigation Requirement and How to Write It?
Medical device risk mitigation actions aim at reducing the occurrence and/or the severity of the potential harm. Risk mitigations are equivalent to requirements. But unlike requirements coming from user needs or other higher level requirements, risk mitigations need special attention. Of course “Requirements shall be complete, unambiguous, able to be verified or validated, and not […]
What is Probability of Failure of Medical Device Software?
One of the more controversial requirements of IEC 62304 is the probability of failure of medical device software during Risk Analysis. EN 62304:2006 paragraph 4.3 “Software Safety Classification” states “If the HAZARD could arise from a failure of the SOFTWARE SYSTEM to behave as specified, the probability of such failure shall be assumed to be […]
Risk Management for JIRA. Why?
Compliant Risk Management is a mandatory regulatory requirement for companies in medical device and other safety-critical domains. It is a specific aspect of safety-critical system development that requires linking risks to system/software design and testing to ensure the system is safe to use. Various standalone solutions exist today for safety-critical system developers that help automate […]
FME(C)A or FMEA?
FMEA or FMECA? Criticality or not? Which one is better? Which one should you use? The answer is simple: it depends. You are probably fed up with the “it depends” answers you get in this sector. But in this case it means “It depends on YOU”. First the compliance bit: there is no requirement, in […]
What is a Risk/Benefit Analysis & How To Do It?
Introduction The Benefit-Risk analysis is one of the most misinterpreted areas of the Risk Management process. And consequently one of the preferred digging points for the Notified Bodies. The spirit of the regulations and standards is “the benefit provided by the use of the device must outweigh the associated risk”. That sounds simple doesn’t it? […]
What is FMEA and how is it different from Hazard Analysis?
From ISO 14971: “FMEA is a technique by which the consequences of an individual fault mode are systematically identified and evaluated. It is an inductive technique using the question “What happens if … ?”. Components are analysed one at a time, thus generally looking at a single-fault condition. This is done in a “bottom-up” mode, […]
New Medical Devices Regulation & Risk Management
The revised Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) will change the regulatory environment of medical devices in Europe to a more stringent one. Compared to the MDD, the MDR promotes a life-cycle approach similar to what the US FDA and many international standards advocate. MDR highlights the importance of medical device risk management. Although risk management has […]
