Biostability of medical elastomers: a review

Abstract

Biostability of synthetic elastomers used for manufacturing artificial replacements of human organs or their parts is a critical property of such materials as it determines the long-term function of a specific biomedical device. This paper presents a critical review of the present knowledge of biostability of elastomeric biomedical materials used as artifacts functioning under the simultaneous effects of dynamic flexing and contact with body fluids. The main topics discussed are silicone rubber, elastomers for artificial blood pumps, and the methodology of model fatigue-life testing.