A stent is a small mesh tube that is placed inside a hollow structure in the body to keep it open. As mentioned in our Classification and Grouping Guide, there are a series of rules to consider when classifying and grouping medical devices in Costa Rica.
In this article we will focus on explaining strategies to classify and group a stent following simple general rules. We also detail some particularities that can be found according to our everyday experience.
General characteristics of a Stent
Stents can be sold mounted in balloon catheters or alone. The common practice is to find them in the mounted presentation. The material is generally of medical grade stainless steel or a cobalt alloy metal. These can even include a drug with the purpose of avoiding stenosis. On the other hand, they are sold in sterilized tyvek pouches and in different sizes, by means of the catheter length and stent diameters (gauged in Frenchs).
On the other hand, manufacturers tend to sell stents with different commercial names. This is related to alternative technologies or intended uses.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that the stent is used in a catheterization procedure and there are a set of supplies related to the process (e.g. pressure transducers, guide catheters, introducers, etc.). These products are not sold under the same commercial name of the stent or included in the same package.
Every point described so far has regulatory implications that we will explain in the following section.
Classification according to the level of risk
Stents by their nature are classified as implantable medical devices and based on rule 1 of Decree No. 43902-S are considered Class 3 due to their duration within the body. However, if stents are employed in direct contact with the central circulatory system, or central nervous system, they are classified as Class 4, reflecting their higher risk profile.
Grouping for Sanitary Registration purposes
The classification for a Stent is pretty straightforward. Yet, it is still necessary to consider a few points regarding the grouping criteria. Specifically, stents can be grouped in the same Sanitary registration if they:
- Are made by the same manufacturer.
- Are manufactured with the same materials and technology.
- Have the same intended use.
- Have differences only in size or shape.
When the same brand name is sold for the medicated and non-medicated version, one registration is necessary for each product -keeping in mind that the mentioned grouping criteria prevails. Regarding the medicated stent version, it is important to point out that these products require a separate evaluation of the stent as a device and pharmaceutic product.
As a side comment, balloon catheters are also commercialized without a mounted stent for angioplasty procedures. To learn more about these medical devices, read our Balloon Catheters Classification and Grouping Guide.
Thanks for reading this article, if you have any question about this topic, feel free to contact us at contact@veraqueconsulting.com or check our guidelines.
