How Stainless Steel Is Used in the Medical Industry
The first images that come to mind when you think of the medical industry might be of complex surgeries, sterile environments, or high-tech equipment. What’s less likely to pop into your thoughts is the unassuming material that significantly contributes to the quality and safety of healthcare—stainless steel. Continue reading to learn how stainless steel is used in the medical industry.
Stainless Steel Properties
Many recognize stainless steel for its exceptional features, making it a prime choice for applications requiring the highest standards of hygiene and durability. Its corrosion resistance is one of its most significant advantages, a non-negotiable feature for materials that encounter bodily fluids and aggressive cleaning agents in healthcare. Additionally, the strength of stainless steel at a wide range of temperatures and its non-reactive nature with most chemicals, makes it a remarkably reliable and low-maintenance material.
What sets stainless steel apart in the medical field is its biocompatibility—the human body tolerates it well as it causes little to no adverse reactions. As such, medical professionals use it extensively for implants such as joint replacements, bone fixation devices, dental applications, and stents.
Stainless Steel Medical Devices
The list of medical devices that wouldn’t function without stainless steel is as extensive as it is essential. Starting from the most mundane-sounding stainless steel instruments—scalpels, forceps, and needle holders—the material’s strength, resilience, and ease with which medical professionals can sterilize it are unmatched.
Stainless steel is also in more high-tech applications such as MRI machines, diagnostic instruments, such as orthopedic devices, and even in catheters and guide wires. The breadth of its application speaks to the incredible versatility of stainless steel, from sheets and foils for packaging and lab equipment to wire for sutures and staples.
The Advantage of Steel in Medicine
How stainless steel is used in the medical industry transcends mere functionality. It influences the treatment process from start to finish, reducing the potential for contamination at every touchpoint. Its durable nature also translates to significant cost savings as medical devices and equipment consisting of stainless steel last longer, require less frequent replacement, and maintain their accuracy over time.
The consistent and reliable performance of stainless steel becomes a critical component in a realm where precision is paramount. The trust established by this material over the years is a direct result of its track record and adaptability to cutting-edge medical technologies and procedures.
Stainless Steel Innovation
The medical industry operates at the intersection of necessity and innovation. Materials like stainless steel are the unsung conduits of this innovation, enabling medical professionals to push the boundaries of healing and treatment. The inherent properties of stainless steel, resilience, non-reactivity, and biocompatibility make it an optimal choice for a vast range of medical applications.
At CMPI, we provide custom stainless steel manufacturing for a wide range of industries. Many know us for our commercial metal polishing and fabrication, so we can help you achieve your next custom stainless steel project. Our standards are your exact specifications, so get in touch today to learn how we can work together.
