BS EN ISO 10993-15:2009

Foreword
Introduction
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Degradation test methods
  4.1 General
  4.2 Prerequisites
5 Reagent and sample preparation
  5.1 Sample documentation
  5.2 Test solution (electrolyte)
  5.3 Preparation of test samples
6 Electrochemical tests
  6.1 Apparatus
  6.2 Sample preparation
  6.3 Test conditions
  6.4 Potentiodynamic measurements
  6.5 Potentiostatic measurements
7 Immersion test
  7.1 Apparatus
  7.2 Sample preparation
  7.3 Immersion test procedure
8 Analysis
9 Test report
Annex A (informative) - Schematic diagram of the
        electrochemical measuring circuit
Annex B (informative) - Schematic drawing of an
        electrolytic cell
Annex C (informative) - Examples of alternative
        electrolytes for the electrochemical tests
Bibliography
Annex ZA (informative) - Relationship between this European
         Standard and the Essential Requirements of
         EU Directive 93/42/EEC on Medical Devices

Gives guidance on general requirements for the design of tests for identifying and quantifying degradation products from finished metallic medical devices or corresponding material samples finished as ready for clinical use.

This part of ISO10993 provides guidance on general requirements for the design of tests for identifying and quantifying degradation products from finished metallic medical devices or corresponding material samples finished as ready for clinical use. It is applicable only to those degradation products generated by chemical alteration of the finished metallic device in an in vitro accelerated degradation test. Because of the accelerated nature of these tests, the test results may not reflect the implant or material behavior in the body. The described chemical methodologies are a means to generate degradation products for further assessments. This part of ISO10993 is not applicable to degradation products induced by applied mechanical stress. NOTE Mechanically induced degradation, such as wear, may be covered in the appropriate product-specific standard. Where product-group standards provide applicable product-specific methodologies for the identification and quantification of degradation products, those standards should be considered. Because of the wide range of metallic materials used in medical devices, no specific analytical techniques are identified for quantifying the degradation products. The identification of trace elements (