Innovative medical device trends enabled by silicone
Silicone materials has been taken medical devices design to another level and is set to accelerate innovations in this area.
For more than 60 years since its first use in the medical device sector, silicone continues to be used in new applications and remains a cornerstone of innovation in healthcare.
Reports estimate the size of the global market for medical-grade silicone to be $1.6bn in 2022, following years of growth fuelled by its use in implants, drug delivery devices, prosthetics, dental tools, and parenteral packaging, to name but a few applications.
Even now, applications for silicone continue to broaden. Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS), for example, have become commonplace due to further research into silicone-based pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) as a key part of a dermal patch.
As the healthcare market pushes further towards wearable devices, silicone will be a key pillar of innovation, though it is also having a major impact in other areas, notably diagnostics, minimally invasive surgery, and patient-customized medical devices enabled by advancements in 3D printing technology.
In this eBook, we examine several trends on how silicone will be a key component of innovation in these market segments, and how it continues to open new avenues to improve patient care.