The Uses of Silicone in the Medical Industry

What Are Silicones?

These are polymers that consist of any inert and synthetic compounds made up of repetitive units of siloxane. Siloxane is a functional group consisting of two silicone atoms and an oxygen atom most frequently combined with hydrogen and/or carbon.

Why are Silicones used in the Healthcare System?

A fairly large amount of history is attributed to the use of silicones in the medical industry. This is so because these substances are highly biocompatible and have increased resilience to various environmental as well as bodily factors. Silicones also display resistance to conventional sterilization methods because of being almost completely inert. All these properties make silicones a popular choice for the manufacturing of a range of reusable as well as disposable medical devices.

Where is Silicone used in the Medical Industry?

Whether it is for manufacturing devices or tools that will be used inside the body or those that are used externally, silicone provides the best choice that is least susceptible to creating toxicity or give rising to infections in the body. This includes all devices that are used in complex surgeries to those used in daily mundane procedures like those carried out in out-patient care departments.

The following is a list of some of the medical items that are made out of silicone:

• Diaphragm Pumps
• Catheters
• Peristaltic Tubing
• Needle Free Valves
• Respiratory Masks
• Trocar Seals
• Wound Bulbs and Drains

With a drastic increase in the average number of patients signing up for the treatment of various kinds of diseases at hospitals, the issue of sterilization has been posing great challenges to health care staff, all over the world. With the introduction of silicone in the medical sector, treatments and procedures have become safer for everyone.

Follow