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Glossary
EUDAMED stands for the EUropean DAtabase on MEdical Devices. This is a database that monitors the safety and performance of medical devices. EUDAMED’s main goal is to enhance overall transparency by providing better access to information for the public and health care professionals.
To register a medical device in Europe, the manufacturer of the medical device must attach a Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDH) code which notifies EUDAMED. The EUDAMED database stores the registration of manufacturers' devices, the device, and the authorized representative (the manufacturer). You can search for the manufacturer certificates on EUDAMED’s public domain.
EUDAMED provides centralized management of data that can be readily accessed. EUDAMED ensures the legibility and safety of devices by requiring documentation and certificates. In 2010, an implant company named Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP) illegally manufactured and sold breast implants. The company used cheaper industrial-grade silicone rather than the mandated medical-grade silicone to manufacture their implants. These implants were found to have a 500% higher risk of rupturing and or leaking leading to several deaths and cases of breast cancer. Unfortunately, these implants were sold and distributed for 9 years before a full recall was initiated. At the time, there were no regulated bodies to assess medical devices and share reported incidents efficiently. EUDAMED was formed shortly after with the purpose of strengthening market surveillance and transparency so companies like the Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP) could be held liable.
Since the database requires all European medical devices to be registered through EUDAMED, it becomes quite large, as you can imagine. Therefore, it has been split up into 6 different modules: each with its own focus. The first two modules are specifically for manufacturers – registration of economic operators (actor registration) and devices and systems and procedure packs (UDI). The other four modules are notified bodies and certificates, certain aspects of conformity assessment, clinical investigations, vigilance, and market surveillance as well as post-market surveillance.
Allows manufacturers to register their devices and information.
Maintains information regarding registered devices 2.
Stores certificates for each device. This module is publicly available.
Maintains information regarding clinical data. Manufacturers must disclose what they would like to achieve before starting the clinical investigation. Most of these studies are visible to the public.
Maintains all serious incidents and adverse events. As a healthcare professional, I find this module to be most important for the safety of our patients. EUDAMED mandates manufacturers to report any of the below circumstances
Stores post-marketing surveillance of registered devices. It is in the best interest of the manufacturer to register for this module. Market surveillance helps maintain an even playing field for companies that comply with the standards set forth by the EU and identify rogue traders. The authorities help prevent non-compliant products from entering the European market. Additionally, if a medical device is deemed unsafe, the EUDAMED authorities will report it on the safety gate which allows proper dissemination of information to all national authorities. This will help quickly identify the non-compliant products in the market and take measures quickly.
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EMEA Office
Groenenborgerlaan 16
2610 Antwerpen
Belgium
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EMEA Office
Groenenborgerlaan 16
2610 Antwerpen
Belgium
US Office
Scilife Inc.
228 E 45th St. RM 9E
New York, NY 10017
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