Device content spans instructions, labels, training and regulatory material. A Greek version must be understandable to its intended reader while keeping technical concepts stable across related files. Terminology and usability have to be planned together, because a correct term inside an unusable instruction still fails the user.
Why device content behaves like one system
A single device can generate instructions for use (IFU), labels, packaging, software screens, service manuals, training slides and patient information. Each is written for a different reader, from a clinician to a service technician to a patient at home.
Yet all of them describe the same components, actions and risks. If the Greek term for a component or step changes between documents, users may doubt which instruction is correct. That is why our work for medical devices treats content as a connected family rather than a series of separate files.
Define the content family
Map related documents and version numbers before work begins. A term used for a component in an IFU should align with the same component in an interface or training guide.
Provide product images and approved nomenclature to reduce avoidable ambiguity. Images help translators see which part, button or connector a sentence refers to, especially where the source uses one word for several things.
A bilingual termbase then records each approved Greek equivalent with context and usage notes, so it can be applied across every file in the family. Our terminology management service is built for this purpose.
Know the regulatory frame
In the EU, Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices (MDR) and Regulation (EU) 2017/746 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDR) shape what information must accompany a device and in which languages. The European Commission provides an overview of the new medical device regulations ↗ and related guidance and documents ↗.
Our article on MDR language requirements maps the relevant provisions in more detail, and our article on IVD instructions across borders covers diagnostics. Regulatory approval obligations remain with the manufacturer and responsible parties.
Design the review level
Risk and intended use should influence who reviews the translation and how. Linguists check completeness, grammar and terminology; relevant domain expertise helps assess whether instructions are clear in the real use setting.
A warning about reprocessing or a dosing step deserves more scrutiny than a marketing tagline. Plan review effort by content type, and decide in advance who signs off technical meaning.
Do not assume that a generic machine output is ready for release. If machine translation is part of the workflow, its output needs structured review by qualified people; our article on choosing a review level for AI output explains how to decide.
Verify the final format and control changes
Warnings, tables, symbols and units can be damaged during layout changes. Compare the final rendered document with the approved source and confirm that updates are reflected everywhere.
Check that the hierarchy of warnings is preserved, that decimal and unit conventions are consistent and that no text is clipped on a label or screen. Our multilingual DTP team carries out this language-aware layout check after translation.
The translation team should receive updated source files through one version channel. A revised warning in an IFU can affect packaging, user training and online help.
Log every source change and record whether it requires a new translation, a targeted revision or a repeat of final layout checks. This keeps every Greek file traceable to the device version it describes.
Checklist for Greek device content
- Map the content family. List each document, its intended reader and its current version.
- Share product visuals and terminology. Provide images, approved nomenclature and any existing Greek references.
- Plan domain and linguistic review. Match review depth to risk and assign technical sign-off.
- Inspect the final rendered instructions. Check warnings, tables, symbols and units in the final layout.
- Control changes through one channel. Log each source update and its impact on every Greek file.
Further reading: European Commission, Medical devices – new regulations ↗; European Commission, New regulations – overview and documents ↗. This article offers general guidance and does not replace a product-specific regulatory assessment.