Currently, the world's annual consumption of medical polymer materials up to 800M tons.
Among them, the amount of medical polymer materials is estimated at 1 million tons,
mainly for the preparation of single-use medical devices. Followed by the amount of
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP),
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylonitrile - butadiene - benzene ethylene copolymer
(ABS) and polycarbonate (PC) and so on. These materials are derived from non-renewable
resources of oil, not self-degradation after disposal, environmental pollution and endanger
human health. In these materials for the substrate after single use medical devices
commonly used in centralized waste incineration methods of destruction, not only pollute
the environment, but also a waste of resources.
Although several regional government banned the re-use disposable medical devices,
medical institutions, but because of mismanagement and criminals motivated by profit, a
large number of single-use medical devices are still illegal re-use, which is cross-infection
left a serious medical risks. In addition, some used in disposable medical devices, there are
other properties of polymeric materials is insufficient.
Although PVC is currently the largest amount, the application of a long history of medical
polymer materials, however, recent studies have found: PVC resin will be a small amount of
residual vinyl chloride monomer, the body will appear after frequent exposure swelling,
hardening of the skin, or even chloracne, splenomegaly and liver damage and other
symptoms.
1£© Soft PVC material containing an ester plasticizer, a heat stabilize etc. With the
infusion of the drug will enter the body and blood, endangerin patient health.
2£© Another controversial medical polymer materials for the PC, PC in extreme
conditions may degrade harmful reaction bisphenol A. Animal studies show that
trace bisphenol A lead to breast cancer, prostate cancer, obesity, hyperactivity,
abortion, infertility and other various diseases.
3£© In view of the traditional single-use medical devices and Substrate exist these
issues, research and development based on renewable materials, environment
friendly good biodegradable disposable medical devices have important
theoretical and practical significance. |