Uses of rubber in the medical industry

From the prevention and diagnosis to treatment and management of diseases in both humans and animals, the medical industry focuses to restore and maintain health and wellbeing.

The global medical industry is driven by strong growth and innovation, with a focus on several major sectors including medical devices, pharmaceuticals and digital health. North America leads the global medical devices market with a 38.1% share, followed by Europe at roughly 25.5% to 26.4%.

The industry is broadly divided into three core pillars:

• Healthcare services: this area focuses on providers and care delivery, and includes hospitals and clinics, primary and community care, specialist and support care and the clinical and support workforce.
• Products, technology and life sciences: this includes pharmaceutical research, development, testing and distribution, medical devices and equipment, and biotechnology.
• Finance, insurance and administration: this covers health insurance and payers, including government-funded systems like the NHS, regulatory and governing bodies and education and research.

Bespoke medical rubber, including rubber for medical devices, PPE, patient and animal care, is essential because its unique combination of flexibility, biocompatibility and chemical resistance makes it indispensable for patient safety, sterile environments and high-performance medical devices. Not only do rubber in medical industry components ensure the comfort and safety of patients, but it keeps medical professionals safe too.

Aquaseal are expert rubber manufacturers UK and global businesses within the healthcare industry choose to support critical operations that keep patients safe and healthy. We manufacture a range of bespoke rubber products in-house for both human and animal care, with recent projects including rubber covers for X-rays and visceral retainers for operations on horses. We have also worked with Thermo Fisher to provide medical rubber products.

This guide will highlight what the medical industry is, where rubber is used across medical devices, PPE, patient and animal care, what materials are most suited to the sector and the best ways to maintain medical rubber.

What is the medical industry?

The UK medical and healthcare industry is a multi-billion pound sector anchored by the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), alongside a robust private care, life sciences and medtech market.

The NHS employs approximately 1.5 million people in England alone and handles about 85% of total healthcare system. It operates across the UK as a universal, tax-funded system. Private healthcare complements the NHS, with major groups including Spire Healthcare and Nuffield Health.

The UK medtech turnover reaches over £44 billion across more than 4,500 companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises, with major areas covering diagnostic imaging, digital health and genomics. The UK is also a leading European hub for biotech and life sciences, with major R&D investments led by GSK and AstraZeneca.

Typical rubber materials used in the medical industry include silicone, nitrile, PVC, EPDM and polyurethane plastic because they boast unique properties such as high elasticity and tensile strength, thermal stability and chemical inertness, and resistance to moisture, heat and a range of chemicals. Natural rubber is also used in the medical industry, but is being systematically phased out across the UK because of the risks associated with life-threatening allergic reactions and occupational dermatitis due to latex.

Where is rubber used in the medical industry?

Medical rubber is critical because it provides unique flexibility, durability and a tight, leakproof barrier required for hygiene, fluid management and drug delivery in patient care and life-saving situations.

The medical industry is centred on meeting strict hygiene needs to ensure patient diagnosis, treatment and recovery remain safe for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Rubber materials used in different medical applications must be suitable for use to ensure safety and compliance with strict standards.

Rubber for medical devices

Medical rubber is used in a range of key devices, like medical tubing, surgical components, catheters and other equipment used in clinical settings.

Silicone is used for pump tubing and catheters because it is non-toxic and can withstand important, repeated autoclaving, and butyl is used in pharmaceutical stoppers and rubber seals because of its resistance to moisture absorption during the freeze-drying process.

Rubber for medical PPE

Medical PPE includes examination and surgical gloves, protective seals, masks and other equipment, with rubber widely used to protect healthcare workers and patients.

Nitrile is a synthetic rubber option for examination and surgical gloves because they do not contain latex and are resistant to punctures and chemicals. Medical grade silicone is chosen because it is soft, stretchy and hypoallergenic, and is used in mask straps, seals and gaskets.

Rubber for patient care

Rubber is key in several patient care products, like pressure relief cushions, hospital bed protection and bandaging and support items.

Silicone is used for fluid transfer and seating cushions to relieve pain and support recovery, whilst EPDM is used to protect hospital beds from spills and bodily fluids because it is durable and waterproof.

Polyurethane plastic is used as an alternative to natural rubber for patient care because it maintains consistent compression across temperature ranges, and resists oils, sweat and body lotions. It is usually found in low-to-medium tension bands, tourniquets and specialised elastic yarns.

Rubber for animal care

Rubber is used in veterinary and animal care applications, especially in medical tubing, protective equipment, animal handling products, seals and components for veterinary equipment.

PVC is used to stabilise animals during examinations, blood draws and on weight scales because it is a type of non-slip rubber that is easy to disinfect with antibacterial wipes.

Silicone is used for visceral retainers due to its unique physical and biological properties which provides protection against needle puncture, tissue-friendly biocompatibility, high flexibility and shape memory, and anti-adhesive properties and sterilisation range.

What rubber materials are used in the medical industry?

Different types of rubber materials are used in the medical industry because they are typically resistant to heat and moisture whilst remaining flexible yet durable.

Typical types of medical rubber include:

• Silicone: with strong biocompatibility, flexibility and resistance to repeated sterilisation, silicone is ideal for medical devices such as catheter tubing, pump tubing, seals, gaskets and surgical components.
• Nitrile: due to its resistance to punctures and chemicals, nitrile is widely used as a latex-free alternative for examination and surgical gloves to protect healthcare workers and patients.
• PVC: a versatile, cost-effective synthetic material that can be manufactured in flexible or rigid forms, PVC is used for disposable medical gloves and veterinary applications, including non-slip surfaces that are easy to disinfect.
• EPDM: with excellent durability and resistance to moisture, EPDM is suitable for hospital bed protection, providing a waterproof barrier against spills and bodily fluids to ensure comfort.
• Polyurethane: offering consistent elasticity and resistance to oils, sweat and body lotions, polyurethane plastic is used for low-to-medium tension bands and tourniquets in patient care applications.

Natural rubber is sometimes used in medical devices and equipment such as tubing and tourniquets because of its high elasticity, tensile strength and flexibility. However, many medical settings are reducing the use of natural rubber because of allergy concerns around latex, and consider using different types of synthetic rubber as alternatives.

At Aquaseal Rubber, we are dedicated to providing clients across the world who operate in several industries.  Our medical rubber components are manufactured to meet your precise measurements and requirements to make a difference in the lives of healthcare professionals and human and animal patients.

What are the best ways to maintain medical rubber?

Maintaining rubber in medical industry products and materials is critical to ensure patient safety, prevent device failure and ensure strict infection control.

Deteriorated rubber can harbour bacteria and dangerous pathogens. whilst degraded or hardened rubber can cause friction, micro-tears, irritation to body tissues and skin, and total equipment failure during critical care.

Therefore, it is essential to maintain medical rubber by:

• Implementing proper cleaning and washing: applications must be cleaned regularly to remove bodily fluids, oils and other contaminants that could affect performance or hygiene by using recommended cleaning agents and methods to prevent damage.
• Following regular sterilisation and disinfection processes: preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses is important for medical rubber products that come into contact with patients, but the correct methods should be used as repeated exposure to heat, chemicals or radiation causes rubber to deteriorate.
• Ensuring proper and safe storage: medical rubber should be stored in a clean, dry environment away from direct sunlight, excessive heat, ozone sources and chemicals that could accelerate material degradation, particularly by keeping products in protective packaging and away from unnecessary compression or stretching to preserve flexibility, elasticity and overall performance.

At Aquaseal Rubber, our team of experts can provide bespoke rubber solutions for your medical applications whilst offering tailored advice on how to maintain these key products and materials to maximise safety.

Aquaseal can support your medical rubber applications

At Aquaseal Rubber, we understand the importance of ensuring your medical rubber applications meet strict health and safety requirements, such as ISO 10993 and ISO 14971, as well as infection control, slip resistance and fire safety standards.

Whether you are looking for bespoke medical rubber for devices, PPE or patient care, our team is here to help.

Contact us to discuss your requirements and see how bespoke rubber in medical industry components can ensure the safety of your applications.