ABSTRACT
Until the early 1950s, the practice of medicine had not seen major changes for centuries. Before that time surgeons, for example, still used sutures processed from the intestinal walls of sheep or cows to sew wounds together. Around the mid-20th century, Eugene Rochow invented silicone, which proved to be one of the major inventions of the century. Silicone has some unique chemical and physical properties. It is inert, which implies low risk for interaction with the cells and chemicals in the body. It sustains high temperature, which suggests that silicone-based products could be easily sterilized. It was these properties that inspired scientists and physicians to consider the use of silicone for medical applications.
