The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology (문화기술의 융합)

The International Promotion Agency of Culture Technology (국제문화기술진흥원)
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Regulations on Wheelchair Power Assist Add-ons in Korea, Europe and United States

한국, 미국, 유럽의 휠체어동력보조장치 규제 현황

  • 최기원 (근로복지공단 재활공학연구소) ;
  • 이석민 (근로복지공단 재활공학연구소) ;
  • 문인혁 (동의대학교 메카트로닉스공학과) ;
  • 박상수 (을지대학교 의료공학과)
  • Received : 2023.01.25
  • Accepted : 2023.03.08
  • Published : 2023.03.31
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Abstract

In Korea, which is entering a super-aged society, the number of elderly patients who have difficulty walking independently is expected to increase rapidly, and it is necessary to develop wheelchair products with various functions to improve the quality of life of people with walking disabilities. Recently, wheelchair power assist devices that provide propulsion power by being attached to a manual wheelchair has been developed and is entering the domestic and global markets. In this study, we compared and analyzed the process of obtaining medical device certification for wheelchair power assist devices in Korea, the United States, and Europe. In Korea, a Class 2 medical device certification process was developed in 2021, and in the US FDA, it corresponds to Class 2 like the existing electric wheelchair and must pass the 510k certification process. In the case of Europe, it is uniquely regulated as Class I, and the CE mark can be attached through a relatively easy self-declaration of conformity. The Korean medical device industry, which is struggling with MDR certification, a new European medical device regulation, should pay attention to the relatively easy entry into the global market for wheelchair power assist products.

초고령사회에 접어 들고 있는 한국은 자립 보행이 어려운 노인 환자의 급증이 예상되며 보행 장애인의 삶의 질 향상을 위하여 다양한 기능의 휠체어 제품의 개발이 필요하다. 최근 수동 휠체어에 장착하여 추진 동력을 제공하는 휠체어 동력 보조 장치가 개발되어 국내 및 세계 시장에 진출하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 한국, 미국, 유럽에서 휠체어 동력 보조장치 제품들이 의료기기 인증을 받는 과정을 비교 분석하였다. 한국은 2등급 의료기기 인증과정이 2021년 개발되었으며, 미국 FDA에서는 기존의 전동휠체어와 같은 Class 2에 해당하여 510k 인증과정을 통과해야 한다. 유럽의 경우에는 특이하게 Class I으로 규정되어 상대적으로 쉬운 자가적합선언을 통하여 CE 마크를 부착할 수 있다. 유럽의 새로운 의료기기 규정인 MDR인증의 어려움을 겪고 있는 한국의 의료기기산업계에서는 상대적으로 쉬운 휠체어 동력보조장치 제품의 세계 시장 진출에 관심을 가져야 할 것이다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the grant (HJ20C0040) from KHDI (Korean Health Industry Development Institute) in 2020-2023.

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