Electronic Cigarettes

Are electronic cigarettes considered a medical device? There's much controversy over this topic, and whether or not they are truly a safe alternative to actually smoking. I personally believe there should be more studies on the safety and efficacy of electronic cigarettes. I personally know people that utilize electronic cigarettes to  wean themselves off cigarettes and I was curious to know if that actually was a safer alternative. I conducted a PubMed search and was surprised at the lack of evidence to either conclusion. There have been studies that suggest it is a good tool to help a smoker transition into a nonsmoker but no answer to whether they are safe or not. The FDA did a quick analysis on electronic cigarettes and found possible carcinogens but mentioned that they have not been submitted for FDA evaluation or approval. So as of now I'd have to say that they would not be considered a medical device, but look forward to more information about it in the future.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm173327.htm