Perhaps the greatest technological advancements in human society have evolved through the medical professions. Over the years technology has prolonged the average life span of an adult human by offering preventative vaccines, diagnostic tools, and comprehensive treatments. But smaller advancements — such as the materials and tools used by medical professionals on a daily basis — are often overlooked. Plastic is a prime example of a technology that fails to receive the credit it is due for changing the way medicine is practiced and creating a better experience for all involved.
Early medical instruments were made of metals prone to rusting and inaccuracy. Large and far from precise, these tools were difficult to sterilize and likely contributed to a wealth of infections when used between patients. Even today, some medical instruments are made of stainless steel. Though the metal is easier to sterilize than its antique iron counterpart, surgical steel is still not designed to be flexible and has limitations in size and weight.
Plastics, however, can be molded to any shape or size. They are easily sterilized and more flexible than metal, allowing for greater maneuverability and precision. The cost of producing a plastic tool is much less than a stainless steel model, allowing a hospital or doctor’s office to adjust their budget for other technologies such as digital imaging software.
But the use of plastics in the medical field is not confined solely to medical tools. An increasing amount of hospital devices are now being manufactured from plastic, enabling maximum cleanliness and efficiency. Additionally, plastics are the leading component in most replacement limbs, providing advancements in prosthetics that could never be accomplished with aluminum or other materials.
As medical professionals continue to utilize plastics in their day-to-day practice, the material is quickly evolving to meet the needs of an industry that survives due to the ingenuity of technological advancements.