Device for Sleep Apnea Testing Based on Mandibular Movement; Classification Into Class II

Rule

Medical Devices; Anesthesiology Devices; Classification of the Device for Sleep Apnea Testing Based on Mandibular Movement

A Rule by the Food and Drug Administration on 04/22/2026

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• Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-07862 (91 FR 21381) Document Headings ###### Department of Health and Human Services

Food and Drug Administration

1. 21 CFR Part 868
2. [Docket No. FDA-2026-N-3929]

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Final amendment; final order.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is classifying the device for sleep apnea testing based on mandibular movement into class II (special controls). The special controls that apply to the device type are identified in this order and will be part of the codified language for classification of the device for sleep apnea testing based on mandibular movement. We are taking this action because we have determined that classifying the device into class II will provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device. We believe this action will also enhance patients' access to beneficial innovative devices, in part by reducing regulatory burdens.

DATES:

This order is effective April 22, 2026. The classification was applicable on January 7, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Farid Yaghouby, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 66, Rm. 1227, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 240-402-2520, Farid.Yaghouby@fda.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Upon request, FDA has classified the device for sleep apnea testing based on mandibular movement into class II (special controls), which we have determined will provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device. In addition, we believe this action will enhance patients' access to beneficial innovation, in part by reducing regulatory burdens by placing ( printed page 21382) the device into a lower device class than the automatic class III assignment.

The automatic assignment of class III occurs by operation of law and without any action by FDA, regardless of the level of risk posed by the new device. Any device that was not in commercial distribution before May 28, 1976, is automatically classified into, and remains within, class III and requires premarket approval unless and until FDA takes an action to classify or reclassify the device (21 U.S.C. 360c(f)(1)). We refer to these devices as “postamendments devices” because they were not in commercial distribution prior to the date of enactment of the Medical Device Amendments of 1976, which amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).

FDA may take a variety of actions in appropriate circumstances to classify or reclassify a device into class I or II. We may issue an order finding a new device to be substantially equivalent under section 513(i) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 360c(i)) to a predicate device that does not require premarket approval. We determine whether a new device is substantially equivalent to a predicate device by means of the procedures for premarket notification under section 510(k) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 360(k)) and part 807 (21 CFR part 807).

FDA may also classify a device through “De Novo” classification, a common name for the process authorized under section 513(f)(2) of the FD&C Act (see also part 860, subpart D (21 CFR part 860, subpart D)). Section 207 of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-115) established the first procedure for De Novo classification. Section 607 of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (Pub. L. 112-144) modified the De Novo classification process by adding a second procedure. A device sponsor may utilize either procedure for De Novo classification.

Under the first procedure, the person submits a premarket notification (510(k)) for a device that has not previously been classified. After receiving an order from FDA classifying the device into class III under section 513(f)(1) of the FD&C Act, the person then requests a classification under section 513(f)(2).

Under the second procedure, rather than first submitting a 510(k) and then a request for classification, if the person determines that there is no legally marketed device upon which to base a determination of substantial equivalence, that person requests a classification under section 513(f)(2) of the FD&C Act.

Under either procedure for De Novo classification, FDA is required to classify the device by written order within 120 days. The classification will be according to the criteria under section 513(a)(1) of the FD&C Act. Although the device was automatically placed within class III, the De Novo classification is considered to be the initial classification of the device.

We believe this De Novo classification will enhance patients' access to beneficial innovation, in part by reducing regulatory burdens. When FDA classifies a device into class I or II via the De Novo process, the device can serve as a predicate for future devices of that type, including for 510(k)s (see section 513(f)(2)(B)(i) of the FD&C Act). As a result, other device sponsors do not have to submit a De Novo request or premarket approval application to market a substantially equivalent device (see section 513(i) of the FD&C Act, defining “substantial equivalence”). Instead, sponsors can use the less burdensome 510(k) process, when necessary, to market their device.

II. De Novo Classification

On April 2, 2021, FDA received Sunrise SA's request for De Novo classification of the Sunrise Sleep Disorder Diagnostic Aid. FDA reviewed the request in order to classify the device under the criteria for classification set forth in section 513(a)(1) of the FD&C Act.

We classify devices into class II if general controls by themselves are insufficient to provide reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device, but there is sufficient information to establish special controls that, in combination with the general controls, provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device for its intended use (see section 513(a)(1)(B) of the FD&C Act). After review of the information submitted in the request, we determined that the device can be classified into class II with the establishment of special controls. FDA has determined that these special controls, in addition to the general controls, will provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device.

Therefore, on January 7, 2022, FDA issued an order to the requester classifying the device into class II. In this final order, FDA is codifying the classification of the device by adding 21 CFR 868.2376. [1 ] We have named the generic type of device “device for sleep apnea testing based on mandibular movement,” and it is identified as a prescription device intended to aid in evaluation of sleep apnea during sleep in patients suspected of having sleep breathing disorders by analyzing sensor readings of mandibular movement. The device is not intended as a substitute for full polysomnography nor intended to be used as an apnea monitor.

FDA has identified the risks to health associated with this type of device and the measures required to mitigate these risks in table 1.

Identified risks to health	Mitigation measures
Delayed or incorrect treatment due to erroneous output as a result of software malfunction or algorithm error	Software verification, validation, and hazard analysis; Clinical performance testing; and Labeling.
Delayed or incorrect treatment due to user misinterpretation	Labeling.
Delayed or incorrect treatment due to sensor failing to provide inputs for software to adequately analyze	Software verification, validation, and hazard analysis; Clinical performance testing; and Labeling.
Electrical shock, burn, or interference with other devices	Electrical safety testing; Electromagnetic compatibility testing; and Labeling.
Adverse tissue reaction	Biocompatibility evaluation.

( printed page 21383) FDA has determined that special controls, in combination with the general controls, address these risks to health and provide reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device. For a device to fall within this classification, and thus avoid automatic classification in class III, it would have to comply with the special controls named in this final order. The necessary special controls appear in the regulation codified by this final order.

At the time of classification, devices for sleep apnea testing based on mandibular movement are for prescription use only. Prescription devices are exempt from the requirement for adequate directions for use for the layperson under section 502(f)(1) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 352(f)(1)) and 21 CFR 801.5, as long as the conditions of 21 CFR 801.109 are met.

Under the FD&C Act, submission of a premarket notification under section 510(k) is required to reasonably assure the safety and effectiveness of class II devices unless FDA determines that the device type should be exempt under section 510(m) of the FD&C Act. At this time FDA has not made this determination for devices for sleep apnea testing based on mandibular movement. This device is therefore subject to premarket notification requirements under section 510(k) of the FD&C Act.

III. Analysis of Environmental Impact

The Agency has determined under 21 CFR 25.34(b) that this action is of a type that does not normally have a significant effect on the human environment. Therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

This final order establishes special controls that refer to previously approved collections of information found in other FDA regulations and guidance. These collections of information are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521). The collections of information in part 860, subpart D, regarding De Novo classification have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0844; the collections of information in 21 CFR part 814, subparts A through E, regarding premarket approval have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0231; the collections of information in part 807, subpart E, regarding premarket notification submissions have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0120; the collections of information in 21 CFR part 820 regarding quality management system regulation have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0073; and the collections of information in 21 CFR part 801 regarding labeling have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0485.

List of Subjects in 21 CFR Part 868

• Medical devices Therefore, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and under authority delegated to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, 21 CFR part 868 is amended as follows:

PART 868—ANESTHESIOLOGY DEVICES

1. The authority citation for part 868 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 21 U.S.C. 351, 360, 360c, 360e, 360j, 360l, 371.

1. Add § 868.2376 to subpart C to read as follows:

§ 868.2376 Device for sleep apnea testing based on mandibular movement. (a) Identification. A device for sleep apnea testing based on mandibular movement is a prescription device intended to aid in evaluation of sleep apnea during sleep in patients suspected of having sleep breathing disorders by analyzing sensor readings of mandibular movement. The device is not intended as a substitute for full polysomnography nor intended to be used as an apnea monitor.

(b) Classification. Class II (special controls). The special controls for this device are:

(1) Clinical data must be provided. This assessment must fulfill the following:

(i) The clinical data must be representative of the intended use population for the device. Any selection criteria or sample limitations must be fully described and justified.

(ii) The assessment must demonstrate output consistency using the expected range of data sources and data quality encountered in the intended use population and environment.

(iii) The assessment must compare device performance with a clinical comparator device (e.g., polysomnography).

(2) The patient-contacting components of the device must be demonstrated to be biocompatible.

(3) The performance data must be provided to demonstrate the electromagnetic compatibility and electrical, mechanical, and thermal safety of the device.

(4) A software description and the results of verification and validation testing based on a comprehensive hazard analysis and risk assessment must include:

(i) A full characterization of the software technical parameters, including algorithms;

(ii) A description of the expected impact of all applicable sensor acquisition hardware characteristics and associated hardware specifications; and

(iii) A description of all mitigations for failure of any subsystem components (including signal detection, signal analysis, data display, and storage) on output accuracy.

(5) Labeling must include:

(i) A description of what the device measures and outputs to the user;

(ii) Warnings identifying sensor acquisition factors or subject conditions or characteristics (e.g., conditions affecting the anatomy of the recording site, or subject conditions that may affect mandibular movement) that may impact measurement results;

(iii) Guidance for interpretation of the measurements, including a statement that the device is not intended as a substitute for full polysomnography nor intended to be used as an apnea monitor; and

(iv) The expected performance of the device for all intended use populations and environments.

Grace R. Graham,

Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs.

Footnotes

1.

 FDA notes that the “ACTION” caption for this final order is styled as “Final amendment; final order,” rather than “Final order.” Beginning in December 2019, this editorial change was made to indicate that the document “amends” the Code of Federal Regulations. The change was made in accordance with the Office of Federal Register's (OFR) interpretations of the Federal Register Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 15), its implementing regulations (1 CFR 5.9 and parts 21 and 22), and the Document Drafting Handbook.

Back to Citation [FR Doc. 2026-07862 Filed 4-21-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4164-01-P

Published Document: 2026-07862 (91 FR 21381)