WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) received compassionate use approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February for a groundbreaking in-house developed medical device to help improve the quality of life of a Veteran with a rare hearing condition.
FDA’s compassionate use authorization allows patients access to prototype medications, biologics and medical devices for medical treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options exists.
“VA was granted the ability to prescribe an experimental 3D printed audiological device specifically designed for a single patient,” said VA Director of 3D Printing Network Beth Ripley, M.D., PhD. “The 76-year-old Veteran patient has a rare medical condition that causes the ear canal to collapse and muffle sound.”