Recent Advances in Medical Textiles

The development of polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid fibres as structures for cell growth.
Temporary bioresorbable textile supports for growing human organic tissue.
The development of smart fibres - based on naturally-occurring polymers and also on non-animal-based protein fibres and structures - for the treatment of wounds and ulcer.

Factors influencing in the Designing of Bio-Medical Textiles

The design of a biomedical textile is driven by its end function. The main factors include

Function

The textile needs to fulfil the purpose for which it was designed, for example swabs require an absorbent textile, sutures may require a biodegradable textile, while hospital bedding should be comfortable and durable.

Biocompatibility

This refers to the reaction of the textile with blood and tissue in the body. An implantable device has more potential for reaction than an external device and is, therefore, subject to tighter regulations. For example an artificial ligament is permanent and is able to react with blood cells and the surrounding tissue, compared to an external bandage that is temporary and only contacts the outer skin tissue.

Applications of Medical Textiles

Hollow polyester fiber, hollow viscose

Application: Artificial kidney
Function: Remove waste products from patient s blood

Hollow viscose

Application: Artificial liver
Function: Separate and dispose of patients' plasma and supply fresh plasma

Hollow polypropylene fiber, hollow silicone membrane

Application: Mechanical lung
Function: Remove carbon dioxide from patients' blood and supply fresh oxygen

Bio-Medical Textiles

Biomedical textiles are fibrous structures designed for use in specific biological environments, where their performance depends on biocompatibility with cells and biological tissue or fluids.
For example, in tissue engineering, scientists at CSIRO are developing new biocompatible fibrous scaffolds upon which new tissue is grown for implants.
CSIRO combines skills in chemistry, fibre and materials science with biological expertise to develop fit-for-function biomedical textiles and understand their interactions with biological systems.
Examples of the application of biomedical textiles and biomaterials include:

• Implantable materials and devices

• Biocompatible materials for regenerative medicine, such as tissue engineering

• Neural repairs.
• Biomedical textiles are textile products and constructions, for medical and biological applications. They are used for first aid, clinical or hygienic purposes. Examples of their application are:
  

  Protective and healthcare textiles

  Surgeons' wear, Operating drapes and Staff uniforms, etc.
  

  External devices

  Wound dressings, bandages, pressure garments, prosthetic socks, etc.
  

  Implantable materials

  Sutures, vascular grafts, artificial ligaments, etc.
  

  Hygiene products

  Incontinence pads, nappies, tampons, sanitary towels, etc.
  

  Extracorporeal devices

  Artificial liver, artificial kidney, artificial lung, etc.

Overview of Medical Textiles

Medical textiles is one of the major growth areas within technical textiles and the use of textile materials for medical and healthcare products ranges from simple gauze or bandage materials to scaffolds for tissue culturing and a large variety of prostheses for permanent body implants.
The consumption of Medical Textiles worldwide was 1.5 million tons in 2000 and is growing at an annual rate of 4.6%. The Indian market size of medical textiles was estimated to be INR 14.8 billion in 2003-04 and is expected to grow to INR 23.3 billion by 2007-08. Market is expected to grow by 8% p.a.

Surgeons wear, wound dressings, bandages, artificial ligaments, sutures, artificial liver/kidney/lungs, nappies, sanitary towels, vascular grafts/heart valves, artificial joints/bones, eye contact lenses and artificial cornea and the like are some of the examples of medical textiles

• Medical textiles are textile products and constructions for medical applications

• They are used for first aid, clinical or hygienic purposes and rehabilitation

Examples of their application include:

• Protective and healthcare textiles

• Dressings, bandages, pressure garments and prosthetics

• Hygiene products

• Antiseptic wound dressings.