20 Report on the status of the medical technology sector in Germany with a focus on surgical instruments and the Tuttlingen region in particular Surgical instruments – History and significance Medical technology is a key sector in Germany and one in which surgical instruments represent a particularly prominent and traditionally strong subsector. Surgical instruments are among the oldest medical devices known to humankind. Instruments such as scalpels, forceps, and clamps were already used in Ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire and in medieval Islamic medicine. Their form and function have evolved over the centuries to reflect advances in anatomy, surgery and materials science. The precise manufacture of sterilizable metal instruments gained importance with the establishment of asepsis in the 19th century, marking the starting point for modern medical technology. Tuttlingen and its surrounding area form a hub within this subsector and are frequently referred to as the “World Center of Medical Technology”. What began as a small community of craftsmen has evolved over generations into a world-leading nexus for surgical instruments. Its origins date back to the 19th century, when blacksmiths and metalworkers specialized in the manufacture of medical devices. The proximity to precision engineering, the diligence and accuracy of the local companies, and the regional cohesion laid the foundation for growth. Boasting around 500 companies in the medical technology sector – many of them specialized in surgical instruments – the Tuttlingen region is now considered the “World Center of Medical Technology”. Conventional surgical instruments are produced here alongside highly specialized devices for minimally invasive, microsurgical, or robot-assisted procedures. The sector possesses an immense importance from economic and medical perspectives alike. High-quality instruments enable safe surgical procedures ENGLISH Author: Dr. Wolfgang Sening, CEO senetics healthcare group GmbH & Co. KG Hardtstraße 16, 91522 Ansbach, Germany Tel.: +49 981 9724 795-0 E-Mail: info@senetics.de Web: www.senetics.de
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