Assessing the Impact of Research Becker Medical Library Washington University School of Medicine
Home > Clinical Implementation > Medical Devices

Medical Devices

Evidence of Clinical Implementation
  • Medical device generated by the research study shows benefit during clinical trials.
  • Medical device generated by the research study registered/licensed with FDA.
  • Medical device generated by the research study used by health care providers and/or consumers.

Medical devices are defined by the National Library of Medicine as expendable and nonexpendable equipment, supplies, apparatus, and instruments that are used in diagnostic, surgical, therapeutic, scientific, and experimental procedures.

If a medical device has successfully completed the clinical trial process, FDA approval can be secured. Once approval is secured, the medical device can be used by health care providers and/or consumers.

Assessment

Review of the literature and personal and anecdotal knowledge of research study investigators is recommended in order to track medical devices that have demonstrated efficacy in clinical studies or those that are currently in use in clinical applications for treatment of a disease, condition or disorder. Particularly helpful is a review of the literature, especially from trade publications, to locate evidence that medical devices are being used in clinical settings. For resources that may be helpful for review of the literature, see Knowledge Transfer: Mass Media and Knowledge Transfer: Reviews.

Search Tip Search using the keywords of the medical device; title of the research study; the disease, disorder or condition; the specific medical specialty of the disease, disorder or condition; and name of the primary investigator/s.

Some resources that may be helpful in locating medical devices used in clinical settings include the following:

Clinical Trials.gov Database

The Clinical Trials.gov database allows for searching by a number of criteria including interventions which allows for a search for a specific drug, device, procedure or vaccine. Clinical Trials.gov includes clinical trials from all sources of funding and from over 157 countries.

Devices@FDA

Devices@FDA contains all products found in the PMA, 510(k), and HDE databases and includes all medical devices that have been reviewed and cleared or approved by the FDA.

Devices@FDA allows users to:

  • Find out if and when medical devices were cleared or approved by FDA
  • Read summaries of medical devices currently on the market
  • Learn about changes to devices since they were approved

 

Back to Top


Last updated: April 27, 2009