Silicones are a family of chemical compounds. They are made from silicon, a naturally occurring element found in sand, quartz and rock. Next to oxygen, silicon is the most common element in the earth's crust. It becomes silicone when it's combined with oxygen, carbon and hydrogen.
Silicone can take many forms, from a liquid to a near solid state. Because they are so versatile, silicones have been used in everyday products, as well as medical devices, for over 50 years.
Silicone products have been shown to be biocompatible, reliable, flexible and easy to sterilize, making them an ideal choice for both implantable and non-implantable medical devices.