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Humanitarian Use Devices

Overview

A Humanitarian Use Device (HUD) is a device that is intended to benefit patients by treating or diagnosing a disease or condition that affects fewer than 4,000 individuals per year in the United States. FDA regulations (21 CFR 814.124) provide for the submission of a Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) in which the manufacturer is not required to provide the results of scientifically valid clinical investigations demonstrating that the device is effective for its intended purpose prior to marketing. This regulation was developed to provide an incentive for the development of devices for use in the treatment or diagnosis of diseases affecting these populations.

When the manufacturer submits the HDE it must provide sufficient information in order for the FDA to determine that the device does not pose an unreasonable or significant risk of illness or injury to the patient and that the probable benefits to health outweigh the risk of injury or illness from its use.

Physician Responsibilities for the Use of a HUD

A physician may utilize a HUD when agreeing to the following:

IRB Submission Requirements for Use of a HUD

Regardless of the intended use, a HUD requires prospective IRB review and approval by the full Committee. The use of a HUD does not constitute research unless the physician or health care provider intends to collect data from its use.

The physician must submit an IRB Application for review at a convened meeting. The physician must include the following information in the application:

Continuing Review Requirements

The physician is responsible for fulfilling continuing review requirements to the IRB at least annually. At the time of continuing review, the physician must report the HUD activities for the previous 6 months for all non-UCI performance sites. In addition, the following information must be provided to the IRB in summary form for each HUD at UCI or affiliated sites. This report must include the following:

Adverse events and unanticipated problems

Adverse events and unanticipated problems that results from the use of a humanitarian device are subject to UCI IRB AE/Unanticipated Problems reporting requirements.

FDA regulations require that if a physician or health care provider receives or otherwise becomes aware of information, from any source, that reasonably suggests that a HUD has or may have caused or contributed to the death or serious injury of a patient, the physician or health care provider must report such findings to the FDA as soon as possible, but no later than 10 working days after the Investigator first learns of the effect or problem. This reporting is in addition to, not a substitute for, FDA and/or manufacturer reporting requirements in accordance with 21 CFR 803.30.

The physician or health care provider is required to promptly report any FDA action(s) regarding the HUD to the IRB.

Modifications to the HUD

Modifications to the HUD or the clinical use of the HUD are to be promptly reported to the UCI IRB in accordance with the IRB policy for modifications to approved protocols.

Emergency Use of a HUD

Off-label use of a HUD in an emergency situation that cannot wait for IRB review and approval may be handled under the Emergency Use of an Unapproved Drug, Biologic or Device provision provided that the situation meets the FDA criteria under 21 CFR 56.104 (d) and the HUD is used not used outside its approved labeling.