Biocompatibility evaluation of breathing gas pathways in healthcare applications — Part 1: Evaluation and testing within a risk management process

This document specifies:

— the general principles governing the biological evaluation within a risk management process of the gas pathways of a medical device, its parts or accessories, which are intended to provide respiratory care or supply substances via the respiratory tract to a patient in all environments;

— the general categorization of gas pathways based on the nature and duration of their contact with the gas stream;

— the evaluation of existing relevant data from all sources;

— the identification of gaps in the available data set on the basis of a risk analysis;

— the identification of additional data sets necessary to analyse the biological safety of the gas pathway;

— the assessment of the biological safety of the gas pathway.

This document covers general principles regarding biocompatibility assessment of medical device materials, which make up the gas pathway, in normal use and normal condition. This document does not cover biological hazards arising from mechanical damage.

The other parts of ISO 18562 cover specific tests that address potentially hazardous substances that are added to the respirable gas stream and establish acceptance criteria for these subst