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Aqueous Shunts for Glaucoma Treatment - Testing and Documentation Requirements

This guidance serves as a special control for the regulation of aqueous shunts through 510(k) submissions. It applies to implantable devices intended to reduce intraocular pressure in the anterior chamber of the eye, specifically for neovascular glaucoma or glaucoma where medical and conventional surgical treatments have failed.

  1. Develop comprehensive test plan covering all physical, chemical and biological requirements
  2. Design and execute clinical study with minimum 50 subjects
  3. Establish sterilization validation protocol
  4. Prepare detailed packaging validation plan
  5. Create complete labeling documentation
  6. Develop biocompatibility testing strategy
  7. Establish shelf-life validation program
  8. Prepare pressure/flow characterization testing protocol
  9. Document all dimensional and surface quality inspections
  10. Create detailed adverse event tracking system for clinical study

Key Considerations

Clinical testing

  • Minimum 50 subjects with one-year follow-up
  • Standardized evaluation criteria for adverse events, IOP, visual acuity
  • Specific reporting periods required (1-3 days, 7-35 days, 150-210 days, 330-420 days post-op)
  • Detailed tracking of intraoperative and postoperative adverse events

Non-clinical testing

  • Physical stability testing after 14 days immersion at 37°C
  • Pressure/flow characteristics testing
  • Structural integrity testing (0.5N force resistance)
  • Chemical testing for residual monomers
  • Aqueous aging test for one-year stability
  • Dimensional and surface quality inspection at 6x magnification

Labelling

  • Name of manufacturer and trade name
  • Device description and dimensions
  • Lot/batch number
  • Indications for use
  • Instructions for use
  • Clinical results including adverse events
  • Sterilization warning
  • Handling precautions
  • Single use statement

Biocompatibility

  • Intramuscular implantation testing
  • Animal ocular implantation (6 animals, 6-month data)
  • Cytotoxicity testing
  • Sensitization testing
  • Intracutaneous testing
  • Mutagenicity testing

Safety

  • Sterilization validation required
  • Package integrity testing
  • Shelf-life validation

Other considerations

  • ANSI/AAMI/ISO 11134-1993: Sterilization of health care products - Requirements for validation and routine control - Industrial moist heat sterilization
  • ANSI/AAMI/ISO 11135-1994: Medical devices - Validation and routine control of ethylene oxide sterilization
  • ISO 10993-7 (1995): Biological evaluation of medical devices - Part 7: Ethylene oxide sterilization residuals
  • ANSI/AAMI/ISO 11137: Sterilization of health care products - Requirements for validation and routine control - Radiation sterilization
  • ISO 11607: Packaging for terminally sterilized medical devices

Original guidance

  • Aqueous Shunts for Glaucoma Treatment - Testing and Documentation Requirements
  • HTML / PDF
  • Issue date: 1998-11-15
  • Last changed date: 2020-03-18
  • Status: FINAL
  • Official FDA topics: Medical Devices, Premarket
  • ReguVirta summary file ID: ff1c6355cdb6f22e328747d02d44c289
This post is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by the author.