MEDICAL TEXTILES – A New ViewGOPALAKRISHNAN D

“Medical Textiles”- textiles used for medical purposes

Textile materials have a range of properties such as flexibility, elasticity, strength, etc.

Based on these properties research work has been going on the application of the textiles in medical field

to apply these broad ranges of properties of textile material in medical technology.

From ancient times the textile materials were used for medical applications in India viz. surgical sponge, linen, silk sutures, strips, catgut, etc. Latest technological developments has enabled extensive use of technical textiles in healthcare industry today.

Introduction

Sutures (biodegradable and non biodegradable)

soft tissue implants Artificial tendon (meshes) Artificial ligament Artificial cartilage, Orthopedic implants artificial joint Cardiovascular implants vascular grafts

Heart valves

Usage categoryIn the Medical Textiles – bio-

contact for days to months

Simple bandages Light support bandages Compression bandages Orthopedic bandages Surgical GauzeCottonSlingsDiapersEye PadsDrapersSanitary productsPatient Hospital UniformAdhesive tapes

On the Patient – bio-contact for minutes to hours

In the Patient (Intra-corporal applications)

On the Patient

Near the Patient

For the Patient

Categorisation of Technical textiles in Medical Field

Sutures (biodegradable and non biodegradable)

soft tissue implants Artificial tendon (meshes) Artificial ligament Artificial cartilage, Orthopedic implants artificial joint Cardiovascular implants vascular grafts

Heart valves

Usage categoryIn the Patient – bio-contact for

days to months

Simple bandages Light support bandages Compression bandages Orthopedic bandages Surgical GauzeCottonSlingsDiapersEye PadsDrapersSanitary productsPatient Hospital UniformAdhesive tapes

On the Patient – bio-contact for minutes to hours

Near the Patient – No bio-contact, ordinary contact possible

Bed sheetPillow coverOther linen items viz. Blanket, Hand Towels etc.Heating Pad

Face MaskGownsCapsApronsMopsShoe Cover

For the Patient – No contact

Healthcare/ hygiene products

Include bedding, clothing, surgical clothes, products for feminine hygiene like sanitary napkins, baby and adult diapers etc.

Non-implantable materials

For wound care that includes absorbent pad (wound contact layer, base material viscose, plastic film) and bandages (simple inelastic/elastic, orthopaedic, plasters, gauzes, lint, padding)

Areas of usage

Major applications

Surgical dressingSpare parts for human bodySutures in surgery

Surgical dressing

Primary wound dressingBandagesAdhesive tapes

A range of natural fibers and biodegradable polymers with non-biodegradable synthetic polymers are being utilised for developing new products in medical textiles. Since the medical textile applications are directly related to the life of human being, these are required to undergo stringent testing and hygienic criteria.This led to innovative use of variety of fibers and lot of developments taking place in this field.

•Cotton  •Polyester  •Polypropylene  •Viscose glass fiber  •Wood fluff  •Polyamide   

Fibers used in manufacturing of nonwovens for medical applications 

Quality Standards as per FDA

Item Threads per

Dimensions

Weight in g/m2

Length and Width

Other

Bandage Cloth

Wrap 150, Weft 85

57 tolerance of 5%

99 % of size mentioned on the label

Foreign MatterNot more than 2%

Absorbent Gauze

Wrap 75, Weft 55

30 tolerance of 5%

98 % of size mentioned on the label

Foreign MatterNot more than 1%Avg. sinking time not more than 10 secs.

Roll Bandage for POP

Wrap 150, Weft 75

35 tolerance of 5%

98 % of size mentioned on the label

Standards prescribed by FDA for some of the items is tabulated below

Textiles are very important in all aspects of medicine and surgery.

Advances in nonwovens have resulted in a new breed of medical textiles.

Advanced composite materials containing combination of fibres and fabrics have been developed for applications where biocompatibility and strength are required.

It is predicted that the nonwoven materials will continue to have greater impact in this sector because of large member of characteristics and performance criteria required from these materials. 

Requirements of Medical Textiles

Non-toxicNon-allergicNon-carcinogenicAntistatic in natureOptimum fatigue enduranceBiocompatibilityFlame proofDyes must be fast and non-irritant

(if applicable)

Fibres in Medical field

Natural fibres cotton, wool and silk

Synthetic fibres polyester, polyamide, polytetrafluroethylene, glass, carbon, polygalactin, polyglycolidelactide polymer, etc.

Requirements of surgical dressings

They should protect the wound from environment and from infection

They should effectively absorb exudation of wounds

They should give mechanical support for the damage and surrounding tissue.

They should be durable, sterilisable and also easy to handle.

Bandages

Simple bandages The structure of bandage is more

stable with crossing warp threads in the leno woven structures.

open weave cotton or viscose fabric (scoured, bleached and sterilized).

coated with paraffin to prevent sticking of the bandage to the wound.

some ointment dressing can also be given along with paraffin to aid faster healing of the wound.

Elasticized yarns are incorporated into bandages to form elastic bandage for providing support and comfort.

Simple bandages

Light support bandages Woven light support bandages are used

for sprains or strains. Elastic crepe bandages are used for

sprained wrist or ankle support. The elasticized properties of these

bandages are obtained by weaving cotton crepe yarns that have twist content.

Stretch and recovery properties of these bandages apply sufficient tension to support the sprained limb.

Adhesive Bandages

Compression bandages Compression bandages are used to exert

a certain compression for the treatment and prevention of deep vein thrombosis, leg ulceration and varicose veins.

Depending upon the compression they provide, compression bandages are classified as light, moderate, high and extra – high compression bandages.

They can be woven Warp or weft knitted from cotton and electrometric yarns.

Compression bandages

Requirements for Antimicrobial Effect

Durability to washing, dry cleaning and hot pressing

Selective activity to undesirable microorganisms

Should not produce harmful effects to the manufacturer, user and the environment

Should comply with the statutory requirements of regulating agencies

Compatibility with the chemical processes Easy method of application No deterioration of fabric quality Resistant to body fluids Resistant to disinfections/sterilization.

Antimicrobial SocksAntimicrobial socks developed by super sack manufacturing are also applicable for making shoe linings, socks and sock liners.

To inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungus and other odor causing microbes.

A thermoplastic resin is blended with polypropylene or polyethylene resin incorporating a microbial inhibitor to form an antimicrobial feedstock,

which is then extruded into films, tapes or filaments used for antimicrobial products.

Spare parts for human body

Different types of grafts

Teflon woven graftDacron woven graftPolyester knitting graftPolyester woven graftDacron knitting graft

Teflon woven graft

large-diameter woven Dacron and microporous Teflon (Gore-Tex) vascular grafts (>5-6mm)

Polyester knitting graft

A polyester vascular graft used in blood-vessel surgery

Polyester woven graftBlue blooded: This vascular graft of woven, crimped polyester with bovine collagen is used in aortic surgery.

Artificial Kidney Tiny instrument, about the size of a two – cell flashlight.

Made with hollow hair sized cellulose fibres or hollow polyester fibre slightly latest than capillary vessels.

Fabric which is used to remove waste products from patient’s blood

Artificial Kidney

Artificial Kidney

Artificial Liver Made with hollow viscose to separate and dispose patient’s plasma and supply fresh plasma.

Artificial Liver

(1)Blood is pumped to and from the artificial liver

(2)plasma Separator (3)Artificial Liver (4)Additional Pump (5)Red Blood Cells

Artificial Heart

An 8 – ounce plastic pump lined to reduce damage to blood and is a chambered apparatus about the size of a human heart.

Silastic backing makes the fabric imperious to emerging gas that is not desirable in the blood.

Artificial Heart

With advent of new technologies, the wake of health and hygiene can be fulfilled without compromising the issues related to safety, human health and environment.

The consumers are now increasingly aware of the hygienic life style and there is a necessity and expectation for a wide range of textile products finished with required properties.

This kind of value adding for textile is the need of the hour.

Thank you..!!

Queries..??