1. MEDICAL TEXTILES – A New View
GOPALAKRISHNAN D

2. “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.

3. Introduction
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.

4. In the Medical Textiles – bio-contact for days to months
Usage category
In the Medical Textiles – bio-contact for days to months
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

5. On the Patient – bio-contact for minutes to hours
Simple bandages  Light support bandages  Compression bandages  Orthopedic bandages 
Surgical Gauze
Cotton
Slings
Diapers
Eye Pads
Drapers
Sanitary products
Patient Hospital Uniform
Adhesive tapes

6. In the Patient (Intra-corporal applications) On the Patient
Categorisation of Technical textiles in Medical Field
In the Patient (Intra-corporal applications)
On the Patient
Near the Patient
For the Patient

7. In the Patient – bio-contact for days to months
Usage category
In the Patient – bio-contact for days to months
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

8. On the Patient – bio-contact for minutes to hours
Simple bandages  Light support bandages  Compression bandages  Orthopedic bandages 
Surgical Gauze
Cotton
Slings
Diapers
Eye Pads
Drapers
Sanitary products
Patient Hospital Uniform
Adhesive tapes

9. Other linen items viz. Blanket, Hand Towels etc. Heating Pad
Near the Patient – No bio-contact, ordinary contact possible
Bed sheet
Pillow cover
Other linen items viz. Blanket, Hand Towels etc.
Heating Pad

10. Face Mask Gowns Caps Aprons Mops Shoe Cover
For the Patient – No contact
Face Mask
Gowns
Caps
Aprons
Mops
Shoe Cover

11. Healthcare/ hygiene products
Areas of usage
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)

12. Major applications Surgical dressing Spare parts for human body
Sutures in surgery

13. Surgical dressing
Primary wound dressing
Bandages
Adhesive tapes

14. 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.

15. Cotton Polyester Polypropylene Viscose glass fiber Wood fluff
Fibers used in manufacturing of nonwovens for medical applications 
Cotton 
Polyester 
Polypropylene 
Viscose glass fiber 
Wood fluff 
Polyamide   

16. Threads per Dimensions
Quality Standards as per FDA
Standards prescribed by FDA for some of the items is tabulated below
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 Matter
Not more than 2%
Absorbent Gauze
Wrap 75, Weft 55
30 tolerance of 5%
98 % of size mentioned on the label
Not more than 1%
Avg. sinking time not more than 10 secs.
Roll Bandage for POP
Wrap 150, Weft 75
35 tolerance of 5%

17. 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. 

18. Requirements of Medical Textiles
Non-toxic
Non-allergic
Non-carcinogenic
Antistatic in nature
Optimum fatigue endurance
Biocompatibility
Flame proof
Dyes must be fast and non-irritant
(if applicable)

19. Fibres in Medical field
Natural fibres
cotton,
wool and silk
Synthetic fibres
polyester,
polyamide,
polytetrafluroethylene,
glass, carbon, polygalactin, polyglycolidelactide polymer, etc.

20. 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.

21. Bandages

22. 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.

23. Simple bandages

24. 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.

25. Adhesive Bandages

26. 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.

27. Compression bandages

28. 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.

29. Antimicrobial Socks
Antimicrobial 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.

30. Spare parts for human body

31. Different types of grafts
Teflon woven graft
Dacron woven graft
Polyester knitting graft
Polyester woven graft
Dacron knitting graft

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

33. Polyester knitting graft
A polyester vascular graft used in blood-vessel surgery

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

35. 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

36. Artificial Kidney

37. Artificial Kidney

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

39. 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

40. 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.

41. Artificial Heart

42. 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.

43. Thank you..!!

44. Queries..??