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Three primary uses of medical-grade silicone in healthcare

A polymer material used worldwide, silicone, has found its way through the medical industry over the years. Vinisha Joshi, Content Writer, Global Market Insights, shares the most popular uses of silicone in the medical sector.

The synthetic polymer is used for diverse applications across most medical technology fields and was first used to coat glassware and needles. However, over the past 60 years, OEMs have been using silicone in the production of many implantable medical devices, as well as drug-eluting devices.  

Silicone advantage in medical  

Some of the prominent features that enable silicone to be used as a medical-grade material for various applications include: 

Building on these advantages, medical-grade silicone is gaining attention across different verticals and applications.

Underlining 3 prominent applications of medical-grade silicone:

1. Implants  

Every year, millions of people go through surgical procedures involving implantable devices. Medical implants and prosthetics are foundational to modern healthcare, making a positive impact on patient lives. Depending on the application they are used for, implants can remain in or on the body for short or long durations.  

To this end, there are key material considerations for implantables like stability, durability, and biocompatibility which are being proven by medical-grade silicones. The product has long been a material of choice for implants given its range of potential benefits and applications in pacemakers, breast implants, and more.  

2. Respiratory devices  

-CDC Statistics 

To tackle the distress caused by respiratory diseases, the procurement of durable masks and respiratory devices that can sustain multiple cleaning cycles has become indispensable. In this regard, silicone has emerged as a viable material for its thermal stability and excellent tear resistance.  

During the coronavirus pandemic, silicone masks also came out as an alternative to N95 respirators given the burgeoning waste and ensuring prolonged safety for healthcare workers. A testament of the same was offered by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In collaboration with the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, the team developed a new silicone mask that could be safely reused without the fear of contamination.  

Called the iMASC, the mask offers a level of protection comparable to the N95 respirator masks. It is also considered as a promising step toward addressing the crucial healthcare supply shortages.  

3. Medical device components 

The unique properties of silicones have enabled them to be used for a variety of medical devices and components. Generally used in rubber form, silicone rubber has found intrinsic application in medical component s, given its flexibility over wide temperature ranges, high resistance to compression sets, and inertness.  

Some of the common uses of silicone rubber medical components are balloon catheters, compression bars, tubing for feeding and drainage, infusion sleeves and test chambers, ear plugs and hearing aids, and more.  

Road ahead 

In the years to follow, the medical-grade silicone industry is projected to expand appreciably, propelled by initiatives and developments by leading market players. Recently, Elkem Silicones announced the establishment of its new specialised facility for high-purity medical silicone production. Developed to manufacture high purity silicone materials that adhere to the MedTech and Pharma market requirements, the new unit features state-of-the-art ISO-certified Class 7 and 8 cleanrooms. 

Besides, expanding surgical procedures and the growing need for implantable devices in the Asia Pacific and North American regions subject to the trend toward breast or hip augmentation amongst women would impel the market statistics.  

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