Health Canada reviews medical devices to assess their safety, effectiveness and quality before being authorized for sale in Canada, under the Canadian Medical Devices Assessment System (CMDCAS).
The level of regulatory scrutiny to be applied is based on risk management principles that use a rule-based system to classify medical devices into four classes, with Class I representing the lowest risk and Class IV the highest. Here are some examples of devices relating to product classification.
Description |
CE Classification |
adhesive strip |
I |
amalgam alloy |
III |
aneurysm clips |
IV |
angiographic system X-ray |
III |
angioplastic coronary laser |
IV |
breast implants |
IV |
cerebral blood flow monitor |
IV |
daily wear, soft contact lenses |
II |
disposable surgical instruments |
II |
electroanesthesia apparatus |
III |
endoscopic still camera |
I |
external, pacemaker, pulse generator |
IV |
fetal blood sampling endoscope and accessories |
IV |
fetal ph monitors |
IV |
fiberoptic illuminator for an endoscope |
I |
high energy DC defibrillator |
III |
hysteroscopic insufflator |
II |
infusion pump |
III |
intraoral dental light |
I |
intrauterine contraceptive device |
III |
laryngoscope |
II |
latex condoms |
II |
manual, adjustable, hospital bed |
I |
oropharyngeal airway (anaesthesiology) |
I |
orthodontic brackets |
II |
peritoneal, long term indwelling catheters |
III |
piston syringe |
II |
short term, intravascular catheters |
II |
steam sterilizer |
II |
surgical microscope system |
I |
surgical or dental instruments |
I |
tissue heart valve |
IV |
tracheal stent |
III |
tympanoscope |
I |
volume ventilator (critical care) |
III |
More examples… |