Food and Drug Administration's perspectives on pediatric cardiac assist devices

Dual missions of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are 1) promoting public health by promptly reviewing and taking appropriate, timely action regarding the marketing of regulated medical devices while at the same time, and 2) protecting public health by ensuring a reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of medical devices deemed appropriate for human use. In the past, clinicians have used cardiac assist devices intended for adults to treat pediatric heart failure patients. However, because of the larger size of the approved devices, many pediatric patients are underserved by this approach. Currently, several cardiac assist devices intended for use in pediatric patients are being developed. FDA believes that clinical data used to support such safety and probable benefit may be derived from a small focused clinical trial in this target population, and developers may want to consider this approach for approval of the humanitarian device exemption application. Pediatric device development is challenging and early communication with FDA to develop an appropriate regulatory and scientific pathway for device submission is advised and warranted. This early interaction can facilitate the development of a small but necessary trial for these life-sustaining pediatric cardiac assist devices.