What are mobile medical apps?

Mobile Medical App is a category of mobile apps defined by FDA as “apps that consist of features of a regulated medical device by using attachments, sensors, or other such methods”.

Some examples of mobile apps included in this category are:

• Mobile apps that connect to medical devices to control them or to display, store, analyze or transmit patient specific medical device data.
• Mobile apps that transform a mobile platform with device functionality by using attachments, display screens, or sensors.
• Mobile apps that perform patient specific analysis and provide patient specific diagnosis or treatment recommendations.
• Mobile apps that use patient specific parameters to calculate dosage or create dosage plans for radiation therapy

Classification of Mobile Medical Apps:

Mobile medical apps have been classified into the following 3 categories:

Class I: No FDA review required and are considered least risky. For such devices, as long as they meet FDA-set standards they are ready to be marketed.

Class II: They are considered to be moderately risky. This category of devices requires the manufacturer to file pre-market notification. Pre-market notification means that the device manufacturers will be required to notify FDA of their intent to market a medical device at least 90 days in advance.

Class III: They are considered to be highly risky and will be under FDA scanner. Class III devices will need premarket approval. This is the FDA process of scientific and regulatory review to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Class III medical devices. They may be defined as apps that support human life, play a critical role in preventing impairment of human health, or which presents a potential risk of illness or injury. These devices almost always must be approved by FDA before they are allowed in the market, and typically rely on the evidences obtained through clinical testing (i.e. on humans) to prove that they are safe and effective.

Mobile apps for which the FDA intends to exercise enforcement discretion

When FDA refrains from regulating mobile apps, it is called an exercise of “enforcement discretion” This category includes those mobile apps that meet the regulatory definition of a “device” but pose minimal risk to patients and consumers. Examples of such mobile apps include:

• Help patients/users self-manage their disease or condition without providing specific treatment suggestions
• Provide patients with simple tools to organize and track their health information
• Provide easy access to information related to health conditions or treatments
• Enable patients or providers to interact with Personal Health Records (PHR) or Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems
• Mobile apps that help patients self-manage their disease or conditions without providing specific treatment suggestions
• Mobile apps that help patients diagnosed with psychiatric conditions
• Mobile apps that use patient characteristics to provide patient specific screening, counseling and preventive recommendations from well-known and established authorities
• Mobile apps that remind patients about pre-determined dosing schedules (medication reminders)

Mobile apps, entities, activities not under purview of FDA regulation

Examples under this category include:

• Entities that distribute mobile apps such “iTunes App store” or the “Google Play store” are not considered as medical device distributors by FDA
• Mobile apps developed solely for non-clinical research, teaching or analysis and not introduced into commercial distribution
• Mobile apps that are essential e-copies of medical textbooks and reference material
• Mobile apps used for provider or patient medical training and education
• Mobile apps used to automate operations in a healthcare setting and not for use in the diagnosis or treatment of disease
• Mobile apps that function as an electronic health record (EHR) system or personal health record system

As the mobile medical app market continues to flourish, it is fundamental for app developers to get familiarized with FDA regulatory processes, especially with concepts like 510(k) clearance, Medical Device Data Systems and FDA Good Manufacturing Practices. 

The FDA regulation process prevalent currently has been met with mixed reactions. While some critics have raised the point that strict regulation of medical mobile apps could stifle innovation, others have pointed to the high degree of risks posed by spurious or faulty apps, thereby favouring the app regulation.