Essure is a medical device that induces permanent sterilisation in women. The treatment involves the placement of small metal coils in the fallopian tubes, to induce their closure. As a result, oocytes can no longer be transferred to the uterus. After around three months, fertilisation is no longer possible.

A hip implant is an artificial hip joint which is used to replace the natural joint. Friction between different parts of metal-to-metal hip implants releases metal ions and small metal pieces that can relocate into surrounding tissue and the bloodstream. This may induce an inflammatory reaction which then causes complications. RIVM evaluated the manufacturers’ product files in 2012.

In 2015 a news programme reported that some Terumo injection needles might contain an excess of adhesive residues. RIVM investigated whether patients’ health was at risk through the use of these needles.

Dermal fillers are products that are injected into or under the skin to fill wrinkles or scars. Although they can be used to restore the natural body shape after an operation, they are mainly used for cosmetic purposes. In 2006 RIVM conducted a literature search into permanent dermal fillers (which remain in the body permanently), with another literature study being performed in 2008 on non-permanent dermal fillers (which are degradable and disappear from the body after periods of 6 months or more).

Homecare technology covers medical devices that are provided by a medical organization or an insurance company and that are used by the patients at home. Thanks to homecare technology, more and more treatments can take place at home which only used to be provided in a hospital.

Breast implants are medical devices that are used for breast reconstruction or to enlarge the breasts. A breast implant can be placed after a breast is removed during cancer treatment, or as a preventive measure. Breast implants are often placed to enlarge the breasts for cosmetic reasons. RIVM carried out a number of studies into breast implants, namely laboratory research, a review of the manufacturers’ product files and an evaluation of the scientific literature. 

Pieter de Boer works as a health economist in the Modelling of Infectious Diseases unit. As health budgets are limited, decisions should be made on whether or not to reimburse a health intervention like vaccination programmes. Cost-effectiveness analyses help decision makers to get insight in the costs and benefits of such interventions, and to relate these to the corresponding health gains. In this way, the efficiency of different interventions can be compared, and the health gains can be maximized.Pieter models the impact of preventive programmes on the number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths, with corresponding cost-effectiveness and uncertainty analyses. In recent projects, Pieter worked on the cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination, screening for chronic Q-fever and shingles vaccination.