The Medical Device Regulation (MDR) introduces a new level of (i) patient safety, (ii) product reliability and (iii) enhanced clinical performance criteria within the conformity assessment process. This, however, together with the COVID-19 pandemic-related impacts, also places a heavy burden on medical device innovation in Europe. It is expected that SMEs are particularly affected by MDR’s extensive documentation and report obligations and new clinical testing requirements, which leads to a loss of innovation and consequently to a reduced number of medical devices accessible to European patients.
To support SMEs and simultaneously enhance quality, regulatory compliance and patient safety, we establish the Medical Device Obligations Taskforce (MDOT), a network enabling conformity assessment proceedings and the transfer of technical and clinical performance data across Europe. In a 5-year project (2019-2023) a platform is developed including three demonstrator technologies in the fields of inhalers, neural implants, and orthopedic coatings. Through the MDOT platform manufacturers can be informed about the requirements that have to be fulfilled for their conformity assessment, compile the required documentation, receive access to advanced and upgraded testing methods and data.
The overall aim of MDOT is a push of innovation and economic strength in the European medical device industry by provision of expertise, test bed development and data by a consortium of medical device stakeholders.
