A "Medical Device" is defined in Directive (93/42/EEC) as: any instrument, apparatus, appliance, material or other article, whether used alone or in combination, including the software necessary for the proper application, intended by the manufacturer to be used for human beings for the purpose of : o diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment or alleviation of a disease, an injury or a handicap. o investigation, replacement or modification of the anatomy or of a physiological process. o control of conception and which does not achieve its principal intended action in or on the human body by pharmacological, immunological or metabolic means, but which may be assisted by such means.
A CE jelölés valószínűleg akkor szükséges, ha a 27 Európai Unió (EU) és a 3 Európai Szabadkereskedelmi Társulás (EFTA) tagállamába exportál 20 meghatározott termékcsoportból.