medical textiles

Medical Textile

• Introduction

Combination of textile technology and medical sciences has resulted into a

new field called medical textiles. New areas of application for medical

textiles have been identified with the development of new fibers and

manufacturing technologies for yarns and fabrics. Development in the field

of textiles, either natural or manmade textiles, normally aimed at how they

enhance the comfort to the users. Development of medical textiles can be

considered as one such development, which is really meant for converting

the painful days of patients into the comfortable days.

Medical Textile

• Definition: A general term which describes a textile structure

which has been designed and produced for use in any of a

variety of medical applications, including implantable

applications.

David Rigby Associates

The Medtech application area “embraces all those technical textiles

used in health and hygiene applications” .

Medical textiles

Defined as “fibre-based products and structures used in first aid or the

clinical treatment of a wound or medical condition”.

Market size of medical textile

Market It is the 5th in the textile market size with respect to other twelve textile application Recently a survey of medical textiles conducted by the tata economy consultancy services has estimated the market size in terms of value 17093 (Rs Mn) in 2005 and it would be 302018 (Rs Mn) Market size of medical textile in India in the value terms (Rs Mn) 2005 is 338. It is estimated up to 575 (Rs Mn) 2010 The forecast for the world medical textile consumption in volume and value terms for 2010 is 2380 tonnes and 8238 (Mn USD) respectively

Properties of Medical textile fibre

1.Non toxic

2.Non Allergenic

Properties of Medical textile fibre

3.Non Carcinogenic

4. Able to be sterilisrd without imparting any change in the physical or chemical characteristics.

5.Bio compatibility

Medical Textile Fibre

• Fibres used in to medical application falls into two groups

1.Commodity fibre

2.Speciality fibre

Commodity Fibre

Natural & Regenerated FibreCottonSilkViscose

Synthetic FibrePolyesterPolypropylenePTFE(poly tetrafluoroethylene)PolyamideCarbonGlass Fibre

Speciality Fibre

CollagenThis is obtained from cow skin.It is a protein available either in hydrogel or fibre form.Collagen fiber when used as suture are equally strong as silk and are biodegradable.

Speciality Fibre

Calcium Alginate:This is made from brown seaweed.This fibre possess healing properties.Calcium alginate fibres have been proven to be wound healing.Wound dressing made from such fibres are non-toxic,biodegradable and haemostatic

Speciality Fibre

Chitin:This is a polysaccharide that is obtained from crab and shrimb

shell.It has excellent antithrombogenic characterestics.It can be absorbed by the body and promote healing.Artificial skin made from chitin non woven fabric stimulate new skin formation.

Speciality Fibre

• Chitosan:

• It is obtained from treating Chitin with alkali.

It can be spun into filament and the strength of the fibre is similar to viscose rayon.

It is being developed for slow drug release membrane.

Other Fibre:

Polycaprolactone(PCL)

Polypropiolactone(PPL) mixed with cellulosic fibre.

This fibre produce highly flexible and inexpensive biodegradable non woven

Medical Textile Fibre

• According to biological resistance•

– Biodegradable- Fibres which are absorbed by the body within 2-3 months time after implantation and include Cotton, Viscose rayon, polyamide, poly urathene, collagen, and alginate, polycaprolactone, polypropiolactone.

•– Non biodegradable-Fibres that are absorbed by the body

slowly and take more than six months time to degrade are considered as non biodegradable. Non-biodegradable fibresand include polyester (e.g. Dacron), polypropylene,PTFE and carbon.

•

Classification of Medical textileThe textiles used in medical and surgical purposes can be classified as

follows

– Non implantable materials-Wound dressing, bandages, plasters etc.

– Extracorporeal devices- artificial kidney, liver, and lung

– Implantable materials-suture, vascular grafts, artificial ligaments,

artificial joints, etc.

– Healthcare/hygiene products-bedding, clothing, surgical gowns,

cloths, wipes etc.

•

Classification of Medical textile

1.Non implantable material: Non implantable materials refer to those used outside the human body to assist the recovery of wounds.

These include wound dressing,plaster,bangages

Non implantable material

Wound dressings are materials used for wound healing:To provide protection against infectionTo absorb blood and exudate to promote healingTo apply medication to the wound, in some instances.

Non implantable material

Wound dressings normally consist of three components, which are: Contact layer

Absorbent padBase material

Contact layer: The contact layer is used to prevent adherence of the dressing to the wound and it enables easy removal of the dressings.Absorbent Pad: The absorbent pad is the main part of the dressing and it absorbs the blood and exudate. It also provides a cushioning effect to protect the wound.The base material :It keeps the dressing in place and is also responsible for protecting the wound from physical damage

Picture of Bandage

1.Simple elastic bandage2.Light support bandage

3.Compression Bandage 4.Orthopaedic bandage

Non Implantable Material

Gauze Lint

Wadding

Picture of Plaster

Extra-Corporeal device

These are the artificial organs that are used to replace the

diseased ones. There have been artificial kidney, liver and lung.

The making of these devices requires precise design and

manufacture. The properties of such devices are vital.

Extra-Corporeal deviceArtificial liver

Extra-Corporeal deviceArtificial Lung

Implantable Materials

• These are the textile structures that can be used inside the human body for various purposes, such as closure(sutures) or replacement surgery (vascular grafts, artificial ligaments etc).Available products are sutures, vascular grafts, artificial ligaments, artificial joints, scaffolds for tissue growth and so

on, each providing suitable properties for the end-use.

Property of Implantable Materials

• Biocompatibility is of prime importance if textile materials are to be accepted by the body and four key factors will determine how the body reacts to the implants

1.The most important factor is porosity, which determines the rate at which human tissue will grow and encapsulate the implant.

2. Small circular fibres are better encapsulated with human tissue than larger fibres with irregular cross sections.

3. The fibre polymer must not release toxic substances, and fibre should be free from surface contaminants such as lubricants and sizing agents.

4. Biodegradable


1.Artificial ligament 1.SutureVascular graft

Healthcare & hygienic products

4.Healthcare & hygienic products:

An important area of textile is the healthcare and hygiene sector among other medical applications. The range of products available for healthcare and hygiene is vast, but they are typically used either in the operating theatre or in the hospital wards for hygienic, care and safety of the staff and patients. They could be washable or disposable

medical textiles

Engineering