Introduction to Medical Textiles: Applications and Innovations in Healthcare

Introduction to Medical Textiles: Applications and Innovations in Healthcare

Noor Ahmed Raaz
Specialized in Apparel Manufacturing
Owner and Editor in Chief Textile Merchandising
Asst. Prof., Department of Textile Engineering
Atish Dipankar University of Science & Technology
Email: textilemerchandising1@gmail.com

 

Introduction:

Medical textiles are among the most innovative products of the technical textile sector. Medical textile, also known as bio-medical textiles which is actually a mixture of textile technology and medical science. The main purpose of medical textiles is to improve human health and wellness. The major functions of medical textiles are health care, hygiene, new fiber technology and artificial medical textile products. Medical textiles are very important for human health; therefore, this sector is the fastest growing sector in the textile industry. Today, I am going to discuss biomedical textiles.

Types of Fabric Used in Medical Textile:

Nowadays, different types of fabrics are used in medical textiles. But mainly four types of fabrics are mostly used in medical textiles. There are-

1. Woven

2. Non-woven

3. Braided

4. Knitted

Production Flow Chart of Medical Textile:

The production process of medical textile is almost same as a normal textile process, but here medical properties embedded or sprayed on to product and applied special bio-chemical procedure then normal textile product process.

The production flow chart of medical textiles is given below-

Properties of Medical textiles:

Properties of medical textiles are as follows-

1. Medical textiles must be non-toxic.

2. It should be non-allergenic.

3. It should be compatible with most living systems.

4. It should be sterilized without imparting any change in physical and chemical characteristics.

5. If necessary it should be non-degradable.

6. If necessary it should be degradable.

7. It should be versatile in their physical form like, powder form, aqueous form, film, fiber, sponges etc.

8. It should be lightness, strength, elasticity, and softness.

9.  It should be fluid resistant or absorbent.

10. It should be bio-receptive.

11. It should have a high barrier of protection & permeability.

12. It should be anti-microbial and anti-bacterial.

13. It should be electrical or thermal conductivity.

14. It should be non-irritant, non- carcinogenic and durable.

15. It should be comfortable.

Uses of Medical Textile:

1. Medical textilesare  mostly used for biological and medical functions.

2. Used for first aid, clinical, hygienic, and healthcare.

3. Used for artificial tendon, braided, ligament, cartilage, skin, etc.

4. Used for elastic bandage, non-elastic bandage, high-support bandage, compression bandage, orthopedic bandage.