Increased data collection in medical devices
The U.S. Senate has introduced a bill that allows the FDA to require medical device companies to collect and track data on the clinical performance of their marketed devices, such as hip and knee replacements. This action is in part due to the on-going reported issues of metal-on-metal hip implants failing due to metal ion sensitivity, which some studies have shown lead to the formation of pseudo-tumors. Advocates for this data collection suggest that the information will be useful for the on-going 510(k) regulatory approval process for new devices that have similar characteristics to already marketed devices, for-going the need for clinical studies necessary in a full PMA process.