I can understand where you are coming from and do see conducting clinical trials as an expensive, long, and risky investment. The problem is that I do not see an alternative to testing these devices. One thing that can be possibly done is to make the regulatory path more efficient as srg36 mentioned above. But aside from that, clinical trials are extremely important in assuring that the product is safe for human use. I worked as a research assistant at Rutgers Brain Institute where we were testing the effects of several pharmaceutical drugs on the locus coeruleus of rats. I learned that although the process is long and tedious, it really is important because several issues can arise. And it is through clinical trials that we are able to assure the quality and effectiveness of a certain product.