Medical textile

Medical textiles

Medical textiles are most essential and growing part of technical textile which is also known as healthcare textile. The demand of medical textiles is increasing day by day due to the various applications of health sector. These bio-medical textiles are very sensitive part of human health. Therefore, maintain the quality of medical textile accurately. Major applications of technical textiles are hygienic, medical and health care sector. In this article I try to discuss about the classification of medial textile.

Medical Textile

Classification of medical textile:

Medical textile are classified as follows-

1. Non-plannable medical textile: Use as wound dressing, plaster, bandage, gauge etc.

2. Implantable medical textile: Use as suture, artificial ligament, artificial joint etc.

3. Extracorporeal device: Use as artificial kidney, artificial liver, artificial lungs etc.

4. Health care and hygiene product: Use as bedding and pillow cover in hospital, surgical gown, surgical musk, gloves etc.

Fibers used in medical textile:

Fibers used in medical textile may be classified as follows- 

According to source of origin:

1. Natural fibers: Use as cotton, silk, etc.

2. Synthetic fibers: Uses as polyester, polyurethane, viscose, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, PTFE, carbon, glass, etc.

 

According to biological structure:

1. Bio-degradable textile:

fibers which are absorbed by the body within 2-3 month after implantation are called bio-degradable medical textile. These are- cotton, viscose, polyamide, polyurethane, collagen, alginate, polypropiolacton.

2. Non-bio degradable medical textile:

Fibers that are absorbed by the body slowly and take more than 6 month time to degrade are called non-bio degradable medical textile. Non-bio degradable medical textiles are polypropylene, PTFE and carbon.

Depending upon the usage, they are classified as-
1. Healthcare and Hygiene products
2. Extracorporeal devices
3. Implantable materials
4. Non-implantable materials.

Medical textiles definition is, “The textile material and products that have been engineered to meet particular needs suitable for the medical and surgical application, where the combination of following properties are required.”

§  Strength.

§  Flexibility.

§  Moisture absorbing capacity.

§  Air permeability.

Desired Properties Required For Medical Textile

A medical textile product should have following properties.

§  It should be non-toxic.

§  It should be non-carcinogenesis.

§  It should be non-allergic.

§  It should possess the ability to sterilized (radiation, dry heat, boiling).

§  It should be chemically inert.

§  It should be biocompatible.

§  It should have following mechanical properties.

 Non-implantable Medical Textiles

This is used for external application on the body with or without skin contact. This is used for protection against infection, absorption, and exudation of blood & excess fluids, healing applications etc. The requirements from these fabrics are-

§  It should be soft & pliable.

§  It should protect from further injury.

§  It should be easily applied and removed.

§  It should be sterile, lint-free and non-toxic.

This includes the wound care products which are usually made in 3 layers-

§  Wound contact layer.

§  Absorbent layer.

§  Base material.