Assistive technology: definitions, examples and safe use

Summary

The phrase ‘assistive technology’ is often used to describe products or systems that support and assist individuals with disabilities, restricted mobility or other impairments to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. An assistive technology product can be classed either as a medical device, which needs a CE mark and is regulated by the applicable legislation, or it can be an ‘aid for daily living’. It depends on the claims made by the manufacturer.

This guidance set out by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) helps manufacturers and healthcare professionals understand the definition of assistive technology and the difference between medical devices and aids to daily living.