The Drugs Controller General (India) has listed a new classification of medical devices pertaining to Physical Support based on the device’s intended use and risk and other parameters.
Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules regulates all new medical device’s safety, quality, and performance. The Central Government has notified the new Medical Devices Rules, 2017 vide G.S.R. 78E dated January 31, 2017, to regulate the import, manufacture, clinical investigation, sale, and distribution of medical devices.
The Drugs Controller General (India) (DCGI), Directorate General of Health Services, has classified medical devices pertaining to Physical Support. DCGI implemented this classification on July 26, 2021.
Under the provisions of Medical Devices Rules, 2017, medical devices are classified into four risk classes, i.e., Risk Class A, B, C, and D. Tables 1, 2, and 3 lists all medical devices and their classification pertaining to Physical Support. The majority of the medical devices are listed under Risk class A whereas Risk Class C and D contain only one medical device each.
Risk class A |
Ankle/foot orthosis |
Balance board |
Bed traction frame |
Body arch traction table |
Canalith repositioning procedure chair, manual |
Cervical spine collar |
Cervicothoracic spine orthosis |
Cervicothoracolumbosacral spine orthosis |
Collar and cuff arm sling material |
Cranial orthosis |
Elbow orthosis |
Finger orthosis |
Foot orthosis |
Hand orthosis |
Hand/finger splint |
Horizontal non-powered traction system |
Incentive spirometer |
Kinetic bed |
Knee immobilizer |
Orthopaedic bed |
Paediatric dorsiflexion slant board |
Parapodium walking frame |
Shoulder immobilizer |
Swivel-walker |
Toe separator |
Wrist immobilizer |
Risk Class B |
Ankle continuous passive motion exerciser |
Chest-oscillation airway secretion clearing system |
Flotation therapy bed, adult |
Flotation therapy bed, neonatal |
Hand/wrist continuous passive motion exerciser |
Hip/knee continuous passive motion exerciser |
Intermittent traction system |
Physical therapy massager |
Shoulder continuous passive motion exerciser |
Traction table, line-powered |
Risk Class C | Risk Class D |
Neuro-controlled ambulation exoskeleton | Cervical spine immobilization head ring |
As per the sub-rule (3) of rule 4 of Medical Devices Rules, 2017, the DCGI has classified medical devices pertaining to physical support based on the following factors:
As per the provisions of Medical Devices Rules, 2017, the intended use for the medical devices is to guide the applicants during the import or manufacture of the medical devices. Additionally, the classification of medical devices pertaining to Physical Support can revise from time to time.
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