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A novel method for conformity assessment testing of infant incubators for post-market surveillance purposes
Almir Badnjevic1,2,3,4, Lemana Spahic1, Naida Babic Jordamovic1
1Verlab Research Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Medical Devices and Artificial Intelligence, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Insights
A new conformity assessment testing method for infant incubators improves device accuracy and reliability during post-market surveillance (PMS). This standardized approach is key for digital transformation in healthcare device management.
Area of Science:
- Medical Device Engineering
- Neonatal Care Technology
- Regulatory Compliance
Background:
- Infant incubators are critical for premature and sick newborns, requiring consistent performance.
- Post-market surveillance (PMS) is essential for ensuring infant incubator safety and performance.
- Current PMS methods lack standardized conformity assessment testing, a gap highlighted by the Medical Device Regulation (MDR).
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel method for conformity assessment testing of infant incubators.
- To enhance post-market surveillance (PMS) for infant incubator devices.
Main Methods:
- Methodology developed based on International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML) guidelines for measurement devices.
- Validation conducted over four years (2018-2021) across various healthcare institutions.
Main Results:
- The developed conformity assessment testing method was validated successfully.
- Results indicate significant improvements in infant incubator accuracy and reliability through PMS testing.
Conclusions:
- Standardized conformity assessment testing enhances infant incubator reliability.
- This standardization is a foundational step towards digital transformation and AI integration in healthcare device management.
Background:
Premature born infants or infants born sick require immediate medical attention and decreasing the stress imposed onto their body by the environment. Infant incubators provide an enclosed environment that can be controlled to fit the needs of the infant. As such, their performance must be consistent and without significant deviations. The only manner to ensure this is by post-market surveillance (PMS) focused on evaluation of both safety and performance. The new Medical Device Regulation (MDR) defines medical device post-market surveillance (PMS) as performed by independent, third-party, notified bodies more strategically in hope to improve traceability of device performance. However, there is still an apparent gap in terms of standardised conformity assessment testing methods.
Objective:
This paper proposes a novel method for conformity assessment testing of infant incubators for post-market surveillance purposes.
Method:
The method was developed based on guidelines for devices providing measurements laid out by the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML). The methodology was validated during a four year period in healthcare institutions of all levels.
Results:
The developed method was validated between 2018 and 2021 in healthcare institutions of all levels. The results obtained during validation suggest that conformity assessment testing of infant incubators as a method used during PMS contributes to significant improvement in devices' accuracy and reliability.
Conclusion:
A standardized approach in conformity assessment testing of infant incubators during PMS, besides increasing reliability of the devices, is the first step in digital transformation of management of these devices in healthcare institutions opening possibility for use of artificial intelligence.
