Silicone rubber has become an irreplaceable basic material for modern medical treatment due to its excellent biocompatibility, chemical inertness, temperature resistance (-60℃~250℃) and repeatable high temperature, radiation, ethylene oxide sterilization and other characteristics.Its molecular backbone is composed of alternating silicon-oxygen bonds, which give the material softness, high resilience and low compression and permanent deformation ability. At the same time, it can be made into solid, liquid, gel and other forms through addition or free radical curing system to meet the design needs of complex medical devices.
In the field of disposable consumables, medical-grade silicone rubber extrusion tubes are widely used in cardiopulmonary machines, dialytic devices, infusion pumps and peristaltic pumps. It can ensure that the pump tube will not collapse during long-term operation; the surface friction coefficient is 50-70% lower than that of standard silicone rubber, which is convenient for rapid automated assembly.Catheter products also include balloon expansion catheters, electric knife handle sheaths and multi-cavity drainage tubes. The soft front end is injection molded from low-hardness liquid silicone rubber (LSR), which can reduce tissue damage.
In terms of long-term implantation, silicone rubber is made into pacemaker encapsulation, hydrocephalus shunt, intraocular lens, artificial cornea and breast prosthesis.Its excellent inertness guarantees that it will not degrade for more than 20 years and will not produce rejection reactions. At the same time, the hardness and appearance can be adjusted by adding silica and masterbatch to achieve personalized implantation.Plastic surgery uses high-rebound solid silicone rubber to carve into prostheses such as nose, ears, and jaw. The operation is simple and the patient is comfortable.
Drug delivery and wound care are important emerging directions in silicone rubber. Silicone gel can be directly applied to wound dressings or wearable sensors, gently adheres to the skin and can be repeatedly exposed; liquid silicone rubber and polycarbonate are injected into an anesthesia mask twice, and the combination of soft and hard ensures that the seal does not leak, and it can withstand steam sterilization at 134℃.Implantable silicone rubber drug storage pumps use the stable permeability of the material to fat-soluble drugs to achieve precise and sustained release of insulin, opioids, etc.
In summary, silicone rubber runs through the whole process of diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, and its comprehensive advantages of safety, comfort and durability will continue to promote the development of minimally invasive, precise and personalized medical care.
For more information, please click：
Fluoro Silicone Gum - IOTA CORPORATION LTD.
