Overall sterilization of single-use medical device sterilization accounts for approximately 80% of the volume of product commercially processed with gamma radiation. The United States has just over 50% of the total cobalt-60 installed base contained in 51 commercial irradiation facilities. The worldwide installed base of cobalt-60 is approximately 260 million curies, contained in more than 160 large-scale gamma facilities. Other beneficial uses include food preservation, decontamination of packaging materials, sanitization of cosmetics, microbial reduction in pharmaceuticals and quarantine application of consumer products. Cobalt-60 plays an important role in the scientific community as well, from promising new stem cell research to the design and testing of components for the aerospace and nuclear energy industries. In addition to these important healthcare applications, cobalt-60 is also used for materials modification processes such as the cross-linking of large plastic automotive parts that are strong and flame-retardant. As well the Leksell Gamma Knife, using tiny cobalt-60 sources, is the premier non-invasive, radiosurgery method for treating brain disorders. An estimated 15 million cancer treatments are carried out each year in hospitals and clinics in over 80 countries using these machines, which enable reliable and affordable care for patients. alone, are sterilized by gamma irradiation.Ĭobalt-60 is also used as a radiation source in external beam therapy equipment. More than 40% of these products, equating to 200 million cubic feet per year in the U.S. These products, including syringes, catheters, surgical gloves, bandages, drapes, gowns and hundred of others must meet strict FDA regulations for sterility, to protect against patient infection. The United States currently produces 50% of the medical devices manufactured globally.
Gamma irradiation is a very widespread application of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, and positively impacts the lives of millions of people on a daily basis. Over the ensuing decades, the industry has not only grown in size, but also in its diversity and sophistication. In the mid-1950s, the rising demand for sterile single-use medical devices paved the way for the expansion of radiation processing and specifically gamma sterilization using cobalt-60.
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