FDA GUDID Device Identifier (UDI) Scraper

Extract structured device identification data from the FDA GUDID (Global Unique Device Identification Database) — the authoritative registry of unique device identifiers (UDI) for medical devices marketed in the United States. This Actor queries the openFDA Device UDI API and provides powerful filtering, regulatory classification, and clean JSON output ready for medical device market research, supply chain analysis, and regulatory compliance automation.

The GUDID database is maintained by the FDA as the central repository for device identifiers, product codes, commercial status, and regulatory information. Medical device manufacturers, distributors, healthcare procurement teams, and regulatory professionals rely on GUDID data for product discovery, market analysis, and compliance verification.

Key Features

• Complete GUDID device records — Brand name, manufacturer, device description, product codes, and regulatory classification
• Advanced filtering — Search by brand name, company name, product code, or Rx-only devices
• Regulatory data — FDA product codes, device class, medical specialty, regulation numbers, and GMDN terms
• Device characteristics — Rx/OTC status, single-use flag, kit indicator, sterility, MRI safety, and commercial distribution status
• Device identifiers — Primary UDI and issuing agency information
• No authentication required — Public openFDA API, no keys or credentials needed
• Batch-optimized output — Clean JSON ready for procurement systems, regulatory databases, or analytics pipelines

Output Data Fields

Field	Type	Description
brandName	string	Device brand name
companyName	string	Manufacturer company name
deviceDescription	string	Human-readable device description (up to 400 characters)
versionModelNumber	string	Version or model number of the device
primaryDeviceId	string	Primary Unique Device Identifier (UDI)
issuingAgency	string	Issuing agency for the UDI (e.g., GS1, HIBCC)
productCode	string	FDA product code(s) comma-separated
deviceName	string	Device name from product code classification
medicalSpecialty	string	Medical specialty description (e.g., Cardiovascular, Orthopedic)
deviceClass	string	FDA device class (Class I, II, III)
regulationNumber	string	21 CFR regulation number
gmdnTerm	string	Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN) term
isRx	boolean	Whether device is Rx (prescription) only
isOtc	boolean	Whether device is OTC (over-the-counter)
isSingleUse	boolean	Whether device is single-use
isSterile	boolean	Whether device is sterile
mriSafety	string	MRI safety classification (e.g., MR Safe, MR Conditional)
commercialDistributionStatus	string	Current commercial status (Active, Inactive, Removed)
publicVersionDate	string	Date record was publicly released (YYYY-MM-DD)

How to Scrape the FDA GUDID Device Database

1. Navigate to the FDA GUDID Device Identifier (UDI) Scraper Actor page on Apify Store.
2. Click Start to open the input configuration form.
3. (Optional) Enter a Brand Name to search for a specific device brand (e.g., "Sensicard").
4. (Optional) Enter a Company Name to search for devices from a specific manufacturer (e.g., "Abbott", "Medtronic").
5. (Optional) Enter a Product Code to filter by FDA product code (e.g., "FOZ" for pacemakers, "GGG" for syringes).
6. (Optional) Toggle Rx Only to retrieve only prescription-class devices.
7. Set Max Results to control the output size (default: 1000, min: 1, max: 25000).
8. Click Start to run the Actor.
9. Download results as JSON, CSV, or Excel from the Dataset tab.

Input Example

{
    "brandName": "SimBionix",
    "companyName": "",
    "productCode": "FOZ",
    "rxOnly": false,
    "maxResults": 500
}

Output Example

{
    "brandName": "Sensicard",
    "companyName": "Orthofix International N.V.",
    "deviceDescription": "External fixation system for orthopedic trauma",
    "versionModelNumber": "Model 5.0",
    "primaryDeviceId": "00721635001245",
    "issuingAgency": "GS1",
    "productCode": "FOZ",
    "deviceName": "Fixation System, Orthopedic, External",
    "medicalSpecialty": "Orthopedic Surgery",
    "deviceClass": "II",
    "regulationNumber": "21 CFR 888.1900",
    "gmdnTerm": "External fixation system",
    "isRx": true,
    "isOtc": false,
    "isSingleUse": false,
    "isSterile": true,
    "mriSafety": "MR Conditional",
    "commercialDistributionStatus": "Active",
    "publicVersionDate": "2024-06-15"
}

Pricing

This Actor queries the free openFDA Device UDI API with efficient pagination and filtering.

• Cost per run: ~$0.002-0.005 (depends on result volume and pagination)
• Actor start event: Default platform rate
• Per-result pricing: $0.003/result

Typical run time is 10-60 seconds depending on filter selectivity and result volume.

Use Cases

• Medical device market research — Identify new products, competitors, and market entrants in specific therapeutic areas
• Supply chain optimization — Build device catalogs, verify product codes, and track commercial status changes
• Regulatory compliance — Monitor device classifications, product code assignments, and Rx/OTC status
• Healthcare procurement — Research devices by specialty, class, or manufacturer for purchasing decisions
• Product development — Analyze existing devices, their classifications, and regulatory pathways
• Competitive intelligence — Track competitor device portfolios and product launches
• Supplier discovery — Find manufacturers of specific device types by product code filtering
• Data enrichment — Augment internal device catalogs with official FDA GUDID data
• RAG pipeline ingestion — Clean structured medical device data ready for LLM-based analysis

FAQ

Is it legal to scrape the FDA GUDID database?

Yes. This Actor accesses publicly available data from the FDA GUDID database via the openFDA API, which is published as open government data. No authentication bypass or terms-of-service violation is involved. The data is freely available for any use.

How much does it cost to scrape GUDID data?

See the pricing table above. At $0.003 per result, fetching 1,000 device records costs approximately $3.00 in Actor fees plus minimal Apify compute costs. The openFDA API is free to use.

Can I export GUDID data to Excel or CSV?

Yes. Apify supports exporting results in JSON, CSV, Excel, XML, and other formats directly from the Dataset tab after a run completes.

How often is the GUDID database updated?

The FDA continuously updates the GUDID database as manufacturers submit new device registrations and update existing records. Most devices are added or updated within days of manufacturer submission. You can schedule this Actor to run daily or weekly to track changes.

What does the "Product Code" field represent?

FDA product codes are 3-letter codes that classify medical devices by type and predicate device category. Examples: FOZ (bone fixation system), GGG (syringe), HEA (electrocardiograph). Use product code filtering to narrow results to a specific device category.

Which fields are most important for market research?

Priority fields for analysis: deviceClass (regulatory risk tier), medicalSpecialty (market segment), productCode (device category), companyName (manufacturer), commercialDistributionStatus (current market presence), publicVersionDate (recent activity).

What is the difference between GUDID and other FDA databases?

• GUDID — Device identifiers, UDI assignments, product codes, manufacturer info (this Actor)
• openFDA Device Adverse Events — Safety reports and recalls
• 510(k) Database — Premarket notification submissions
• PMA Database — Premarket approval (Class III devices)

This Actor focuses on the GUDID database for device identification and regulatory classification.

Other Scrapers by SeatSignal

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• NIST NVD Scraper — Extract CVE vulnerability data from NIST National Vulnerability Database
• CPSC Product Recalls Scraper — Extract consumer product recall data
• NHTSA Vehicle Safety Scraper — Extract vehicle recalls and safety investigations
• OSHA Inspections Scraper — Extract OSHA workplace safety inspection data

Legal Disclaimer

This Actor extracts publicly available data from the FDA GUDID database via the openFDA API, which is published as open government data. No authentication or terms-of-service bypass is involved. Users are responsible for ensuring their use of the extracted data complies with applicable laws and regulations, including HIPAA and state privacy laws if working with healthcare data. For support, contact the Actor developer through the Apify Store.