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IEC 62304 vs IEC 62366

What's actually different between the QMS regulations medical device manufacturers must follow — clause-by-clause comparison from the Kelsey Quality crosswalk library.

kelseyqms.com/crosswalk/compare/iec-62304-vs-iec-62366

COMPARE

vs
11IEC 62304 REQUIREMENTS
0SHARED IN BOTH
11NEW IN IEC 62304
7RETIRED FROM IEC 62366

SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON

What's actually different

DIMENSIONIEC 62304IEC 62366
OVERVIEW
StatusCurrent — recognized consensus standardCurrent — recognized consensus standard
Effective period2006 – present (Amd 1:2015)2015 – present (Amd 1:2020)
Total requirements117
SCOPE
Risk integrationSoftware-specific risk via ISO 14971; class drives requirement depthUse-error risk linked bidirectionally to ISO 14971 risk file
Plan maintenanceSoftware development plan updated throughout lifecycleUsability evaluation plan maintained through device lifecycle
Document approvalFormal verification records required per class and phaseUsability engineering file with traceable evaluation records
OPERATIONAL
Most common gapInternal software controls used to lower safety classificationUsability engineering disconnected from risk management file
Audit focusClassification rationale, SOUP list currency, plan update recordsUse-error to hazard traceability, summative evaluation completeness

COVERAGE BREAKDOWN

What's shared, what's distinct

0SHARED IN BOTH
  • No items.
11ONLY IN IEC 62304
  • Software Safety Classification
  • Software Development Planning
  • Software Requirements Analysis
  • Software Architectural Design
  • Software unit implementation
  • Software System Testing
  • + 5 more
7ONLY IN IEC 62366
  • Usability Engineering Process
  • Usability Engineering File
  • Use Specification
  • Identify known or foreseeable Hazards and Hazardous Situations
  • Establish User Interface Evaluation plan
  • Perform Summative Evaluation of the Usability of the User Interface
  • + 1 more