94-3399. Medical Devices; Classification of Temporomandibular Joint Implants  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 30 (Monday, February 14, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page 0]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-3399]
    
    
    [[Page Unknown]]
    
    [Federal Register: February 14, 1994]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
    21 CFR Part 872
    
    [Docket No. 93N-0470]
    
     
    
    Medical Devices; Classification of Temporomandibular Joint 
    Implants
    
    AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
    
    ACTION: Reproposed rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reproposing to 
    classify two temporomandibular joint (TMJ) implants, the Mandibular 
    Condyle Prosthesis and the Glenoid Fossa Prosthesis, into class III 
    (premarket approval). The agency is issuing this reproposal to reflect 
    the recommendation of the Dental Products Panel with respect to the 
    classification of these devices. All comments received on the original 
    proposal remain part of the record for this proposal. These actions are 
    being taken under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act), 
    as amended by the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 (the amendments) 
    and the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990 (the SMDA).
    
    DATES: Written comments by April 15, 1994. The Commissioner of Food and 
    Drugs proposes that the final regulation based on this proposal become 
    effective 30 days after the date of its publication in the Federal 
    Register.
    
    ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Branch 
    (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, rm. 1-23, 12420 Parklawn Dr., 
    Rockville, MD 20857.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph M. Sheehan, Center for Devices 
    and Radiological Health (HFZ-84), Food and Drug Administration, 2094 
    Gaither Rd., Rockville, MD 20850, 301-594-4765.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    I. Background
    
        The act, as amended by the amendments (Pub. L. 94-295) and the SMDA 
    (Pub. L. 101-629), established a comprehensive system for the 
    regulation of medical devices intended for human use. Section 513 of 
    the act (21 U.S.C. 360c) established three categories (classes) of 
    devices, depending on the regulatory controls needed to provide 
    reasonable assurance of their safety and effectiveness. The three 
    categories of devices are: Class I, general controls; class II, special 
    controls; and class III, premarket approval.
        Devices that were in commercial distribution before May 28, 1976 
    (the amendments) are classified under section 513 of the act after FDA 
    has done the following: (1) Received a recommendation from a device 
    panel (an FDA advisory committee); (2) published the panel's 
    recommendation for comment, along with a proposed regulation 
    classifying the device; and (3) published a final regulation 
    classifying the device. A device that is first offered in commercial 
    distribution after May 28, 1976, and is substantially equivalent to a 
    device classified under this scheme, is also classified into the same 
    class as the device to which it is substantially equivalent.
        A device that was not in commercial distribution prior to May 28, 
    1976, and that is not substantially equivalent to a preamendments 
    device, is classified by statute into class III without any FDA 
    rulemaking proceedings. The agency determines whether new devices are 
    substantially equivalent to previously offered devices by means of the 
    premarket notification procedure in section 510(k) of the act (21 
    U.S.C. 360(k)) and part 807 of the regulations (21 CFR part 807).
        Based upon the recommendations of FDA's Dental Device 
    Classification Panel, the agency published a final regulation 
    classifying 110 preamendments dental devices on August 12, 1987 (52 FR 
    30082). The TMJ prostheses were inadvertently omitted from the dental 
    devices considered for reclassification by the panel and the agency. 
    Based upon the recommendations of the Dental Products Panel, following 
    its April 21, 1989 meeting, FDA proposed on September 18, 1992 (57 FR 
    43165), to classify the Interarticular Disc Prosthesis, the Mandibular 
    Condyle Prosthesis, the Glenoid Fossa Prosthesis, and the Total 
    Temporomandibular Prosthesis into class III.
        At the April 1989 meeting of the Dental Products Panel, the Panel 
    did not make a recommendation regarding the classification of the 
    glenoid fossa prosthesis or the mandibular condyle prosthesis. The 
    Panel noted, however, that an implanted glenoid fossa should not be 
    used with a naturally occurring mandibular condyle, and an implanted 
    mandibular condyle should not be used with a naturally occurring 
    glenoid fossa. At the February 11, 1993 meeting, the Dental Products 
    Panel recommended that the mandibular condyle prosthesis and the 
    glenoid fossa prosthesis be classified into class III. Based upon these 
    recommendations, FDA is reproposing the classification of these two 
    devices into class III.
        The effect of classifying a device into class III is to require 
    each manufacturer of the device to submit to FDA a premarket approval 
    application (PMA) by a date to be set in a future regulation under 
    section 515(b) of the act (21 U.S.C. 360e(b)). Each application must 
    include sufficient valid scientific evidence to provide reasonable 
    assurance that the device is safe and effective under the conditions of 
    use prescribed, recommended, or suggested in its proposed labeling. 
    PMA's for class III preamendments devices must be submitted within 30 
    months after final classification, or 90 days after the agency 
    publishes a final regulation under 21 U.S.C. 360e(b) requiring PMA's 
    for the device, whichever is later.
        FDA advises manufacturers of the devices being classified that, if 
    the devices are classified into class III, the agency intends to 
    require PMA's to be filed for these devices at the earliest date 
    allowed under the statute. Therefore, PMA's (or approved 
    investigational device exemptions) would be required for these devices 
    on the last day of the 30th month following final classification into 
    class III.
    
    II. The Dental Products Panel Recommendations
    
    A.  Glenoid Fossa Prosthesis
    
        The Dental Products Panel, an FDA advisory committee, made the 
    following recommendation regarding the classification of the glenoid 
    fossa prosthesis:
        1.  Identification: A glenoid fossa prosthesis is a device that is 
    intended to be implanted in the temporomandibular joint to augment a 
    glenoid fossa, and provide an articulation surface for the head of a 
    naturally occurring mandibular condyle.
        2.  Recommended classification:  Class III (premarket approval). 
    The Dental Products Panel recommended that premarket approval of the 
    glenoid fossa prosthesis be high priority.
        3.  Summary of reasons for recommendation: The Dental Products 
    Panel recommended that the glenoid fossa prosthesis be classified into 
    class III because the Panel believed that premarket approval is 
    necessary to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and 
    effectiveness of the device. The Panel also believed that the device 
    presents a potential unreasonable risk of illness or injury to the 
    patient and that insufficient information exists to determine that 
    general controls, either alone or in combination with the special 
    controls applicable to class II devices, are sufficient to provide 
    reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device. 
    Therefore, the device should be subject to premarket approval to ensure 
    that each manufacturer of this device develop sufficient information to 
    provide reasonable assurance that it is safe and effective.
        4.  Summary of data on which the recommendation is based:  The 
    Dental Products Panel based its recommendation on the Panel members' 
    personal knowledge of, and clinical experience with, the device and 
    presentations by Panel members and interested parties (Ref. 1).
        5.  Risks to health: The following risks are associated with the 
    glenoid fossa prosthesis: (a) Implant loosening or displacement. The 
    screws used to anchor the implant may loosen, resulting in implant 
    loosening or displacement causing changes in bite, difficulty in 
    chewing, limited joint function, and unpredictable wear on implant 
    components (Refs. 2 through 5); (b) Degenerative changes to the natural 
    articulating surfaces. Implant breakdown may result in erosion or 
    resorption of the head of the mandibular condyle or the glenoid fossa. 
    The erosion or resorption may result in intense pain, changes in bite, 
    difficulty in chewing, limited joint function, and perforation into the 
    middle cranial fossa (Refs. 2 through 5); (c) Foreign body reaction. 
    Implant deterioration and migration may result in a foreign body 
    reaction characterized by multinucleated giant cells (Refs. 2 through 
    5); (d) Infection. If the implant cannot be properly sterilized, 
    infection may result; (e) Loss of implant integrity. If the implant 
    materials are unable to withstand mechanical loading, the implant can 
    be torn, perforated, delaminated, fragmented, fatigued, or fractured, 
    resulting in failure of the device to function properly (Refs. 2 
    through 5); (f) Corrosion. If the implant materials are subject to 
    corrosion, toxic elements may migrate to various parts of the body; (g) 
    Chronic pain. Degenerative changes within the articular surfaces and 
    components of the temporomandibular joint due to implant breakdown may 
    result in chronic pain (Refs. 2 through 5); (h) Changes to the 
    contralateral joint. Unilateral placement of the implant may result in 
    deleterious effects to the contralateral joint; and (i) Malocclusion. 
    Placement of the device may produce an improper occlusal relationship.
        FDA agrees with the Dental Products Panel's classification 
    recommendation and is proposing that the glenoid fossa prosthesis be 
    classified into class III (premarket approval). FDA believes that 
    insufficient information exists to identify the proper materials or 
    design for the glenoid fossa prosthesis. Therefore, FDA is proposing 
    that premarket approval of the glenoid fossa prosthesis be given high 
    priority.
        The act requires the agency to classify into class III a device 
    that presents a potential unreasonable risk of illness or injury unless 
    it determines that premarket approval is not necessary to provide 
    reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device. FDA 
    believes that the device presents a potential unreasonable risk of 
    illness or injury to the patient if there are not adequate data to 
    ensure the safe and effective use of the device. The agency believes 
    that general controls, either alone or in combination with the special 
    controls applicable to class II devices, are insufficient to provide 
    reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device.
    
    B.  Mandibular Condyle Prosthesis
    
        The Dental Products Panel, an FDA advisory committee, made the 
    following recommendations regarding the classification of the 
    mandibular condyle prosthesis:
        1.  Identification: A mandibular condyle prosthesis is a device 
    that is intended to be implanted in the human jaw to replace the 
    mandibular condyle and to articulate within a naturally occurring 
    glenoid fossa.
        2.  Recommended classification:  Class III (premarket approval). 
    The Dental Products Panel recommended that premarket approval of the 
    mandibular condyle prosthesis be high priority.
        3. Summary of reasons for recommendation:  The Dental Products 
    Panel recommended that the mandibular condyle prosthesis be classified 
    into class III because the Panel believed that premarket approval is 
    necessary to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and 
    effectiveness of the device. The Panel also believed that the device 
    presents a potential unreasonable risk of illness or injury to the 
    patient and that insufficient information exists to determine that 
    general controls, either alone or in combination with the special 
    controls applicable to class II devices, are sufficient to provide 
    reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device. 
    Therefore, the device should be subject to premarket approval to ensure 
    that each manufacturer of this device develop sufficient information to 
    provide reasonable assurance that it is safe and effective.
        4.  Summary of data on which the recommendation is based:  The 
    Dental Products Panel based its recommendation on the Panel members' 
    personal knowledge of, and clinical experience with, the device and 
    presentations by Panel members and interested parties (Ref. 1).
        5.  Risks to health: The following risks are associated with the 
    mandibular condyle prosthesis: (a) Implant loosening or displacement. 
    The screws used to anchor the implant may loosen, resulting in implant 
    loosening or displacement causing changes in bite, difficulty in 
    chewing, limited joint function and unpredictable wear on implant 
    components (Refs. 2 through 5); (b) Degenerative changes to the natural 
    articulating surfaces. Implant breakdown may result in erosion or 
    resorption of the head of the mandibular condyle or the glenoid fossa. 
    The erosion or resorption may result in intense pain, changes in bite, 
    difficulty in chewing, limited joint function, and perforation into the 
    middle cranial fossa (Refs. 2 through 5); (c) Foreign body reaction. 
    Implant deterioration and migration may result in a foreign body 
    reaction characterized by multinucleated giant cells (Refs. 2 through 
    5); (d) Infection. If the implant cannot be properly sterilized, 
    infection may result; (e) Loss of implant integrity. If the implant 
    materials are unable to withstand mechanical loading, the implant can 
    be torn, perforated, delaminated, fragmented, fatigued, or fractured, 
    resulting in failure of the device to function properly (Refs. 2 
    through 5); (f) Corrosion. If the implant materials are subject to 
    corrosion, toxic elements may migrate to various parts of the body; (g) 
    Chronic pain. Degenerative changes within the articular surfaces and 
    components of the temporomandibular joint due to implant breakdown may 
    result in chronic pain (Refs. 2 through 5); (h) Changes to the 
    contralateral joint. Unilateral placement of the implant may result in 
    deleterious effects to the contralateral joint; and (i) Malocclusion. 
    Placement of the device may produce an improper occlusal relationship.
        FDA agrees with the Dental Products Panel's classification 
    recommendation and is proposing that the mandibular condyle prosthesis 
    be classified into class III (premarket approval). FDA believes that 
    insufficient information exists to identify the proper materials or 
    design for the mandibular condyle prosthesis. Therefore, FDA is 
    proposing that premarket approval of the mandibular condyle prosthesis 
    be given high priority.
        The act requires the agency to classify into class III a device 
    that presents a potential unreasonable risk of illness or injury unless 
    it determines that premarket approval is not necessary to provide 
    reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device. FDA 
    believes that the device presents a potential unreasonable risk of 
    illness or injury to the patient if there are not adequate data to 
    ensure the safe and effective use of the device. The agency believes 
    that general controls, either alone or in combination with the special 
    controls applicable to class II devices, are insufficient to provide 
    reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device.
    
    III. References
    
        The following references have been placed on display in the Dockets 
    Management Branch (address above) and may be seen by interested persons 
    between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
        1. Transcripts of the Dental Products Panel meeting, February 
    11, 1993.
        2. Fontenot, M. G., and J. K. Kent, ``In-Vitro and In-Vivo Wear 
    Performance of TMJ Implants,'' abstract, International Association 
    of Dental Research, 1991.
        3. Kent, J. N., and M. S. Block, ``Comparison of FEP and UPE 
    Glenoid Fossa Prosthesis,'' abstract, International Association of 
    Dental Research, 1991.
        4. ``Clinical Information on the Vitek TMJ Interpositional (IPI) 
    Implant and the Vitek-Kent (VK) and Vitek-Kent 1 (VK-1) TMJ 
    Implants'' in ``Vitek Patient Notification Program,'' FDA 
    Publication, 1991.
        5. Kent, J. N., ``VK Partial and Total Joint Reconstruction,'' 
    Current Concepts of TMJ Total Joint Replacement, University of 
    Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, pp. 1-8, March 1992.
    
    IV. Environmental Impact
    
        The agency has determined under 21 CFR 25.24(e)(2) that this action 
    is of a type that does not individually or cumulatively have a 
    significant effect on the human environment. Therefore, neither an 
    environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is 
    required.
    
    V. Economic Impact
    
        FDA has examined the costs and benefits of this proposed rule to 
    classify two TMJ implants into class III in accordance with Executive 
    Order 12866 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act (Pub. L. 96-354). The 
    proposed rule would not impose any new requirements. Therefore, FDA 
    concludes that the proposed rule is not a significant rule as defined 
    by Executive Order 12866. In accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility 
    Act, the agency certifies that the proposed rule will not have a 
    significant impact on a substantial number of small businesses.
    
    List of Subjects in 21 CFR Part 872
    
        Medical devices.
        Therefore, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and 
    under authority delegated to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, it is 
    proposed that 21 CFR part 872 be amended as follows:
    
    PART 872--DENTAL DEVICES
    
        1. The authority citation for 21 CFR part 872 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: Secs. 501, 510, 513, 515, 520, 701 of the Federal 
    Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 351, 360, 360c, 360e, 360j, 
    371).
        2. New Secs. 872.3950 and 872.3960 are added to subpart D to read 
    as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 872.3950  Glenoid fossa prosthesis.
    
        (a)  Identification. A glenoid fossa prosthesis is a device that is 
    intended to be implanted in the temporomandibular joint to augment a 
    glenoid fossa, and provide an articulation surface for the head of a 
    naturally occurring mandibular condyle.
        (b)  Classification. Class III.
        (c)  Date PMA or notice of completion of a PDP is required.  The 
    effective date of the requirement for the premarket approval has not 
    been established. See Sec. 872.3.
    
    
    Sec. 872.3960   Mandibular condyle prosthesis.
    
        (a)  Identification. A mandibular condyle prosthesis is a device 
    that is intended to be implanted in the human jaw to replace the 
    mandibular condyle and to articulate within a naturally occurring 
    glenoid fossa.
        (b)  Classification. Class III.
        (c) Date PMA or notice of completion of a PDP is required.  The 
    effective date of the requirement for the premarket approval has not 
    been established. See Sec. 872.3.
    
        Dated: February 8, 1994.
    Michael R. Taylor,
    Deputy Commissioner for Policy.
    [FR Doc. 94-3399 Filed 2-11-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4160-01-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/14/1994
Department:
Health and Human Services Department
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Action:
Reproposed rule.
Document Number:
94-3399
Dates:
Written comments by April 15, 1994. The Commissioner of Food and Drugs proposes that the final regulation based on this proposal become effective 30 days after the date of its publication in the Federal Register.
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: February 14, 1994, Docket No. 93N-0470
CFR: (2)
21 CFR 872.3950
21 CFR 872.3960