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CATEGORY: CLASSIFICATION

Custom-Made Device

A device specifically made in accordance with a written prescription from a qualified medical practitioner for a specific patient. Custom-made devices have different regulatory requirements — under EU MDR, they follow Annex XIII.

Last reviewed 2026-08-05 · Reviewed by MedFlux Editorial Board · Editorial policy

WHEN IT APPLIES

Custom-made devices are manufactured for a specific patient based on a written prescription from a qualified professional (definitions differ under EU MDR vs FDA custom device exemption). Rules are narrow and often misunderstood.

PROCESS / STEPS

  1. Confirm the legal definition in the target market (do not assume “patient-specific” equals custom-made).
  2. Document prescription, design adaptation, and manufacturing controls.
  3. Apply labeling and documentation duties; mass-produced patient-matched devices may still need full conformity assessment.
  4. Avoid using custom pathways to bypass clinical evidence for scalable products.

EXAMPLES

  • A patient-matched orthopedic implant produced from a standard validated design workflow may still be a fully regulated device, not “custom-made.”

RELATED GUIDES & TOOLS

SOURCES

Track regulatory signals related to Custom-Made Device across 27 authorities in real time.

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