Medical Textiles
Introduction
Medical textiles are textile materials and products used in the healthcare sector for medical purposes including surgery, wound care, infection control, and health monitoring. They are manufactured using a variety of different fibers and fabrics such as cotton, polyester, nylon, and Kevlar. Medical textiles must meet strict safety and performance standards set by regulatory agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union (EU).
Classification of Medical Textiles
Medical textiles can be classified into four main categories: wovens, knitted fabrics, nonwovens, and braids & laces. Woven medical fabrics are made from yarns that are interlaced at right angles to each other in a repeatable pattern. Knitted medical fabrics are made from yarns that are looped together in a continuous or discontinuous fashion. Nonwoven medical fabrics are made from short fibers that have been bonded together through mechanical, chemical, or thermal means. Braided and lace medical fabrics consist of three or more yarns interlaced in a diagonal pattern.
Applications of Medical Textiles
Woven Fabrics
Woven medical fabrics are commonly used in surgical sutures (stitches), wound dressings, orthopedic casting tapes and bandages, hernia meshes, vascular grafts, absorbent pads for incontinence products, caps & gowns worn by operating room staff, curtains & draperies found in hospital rooms, etc. Commonly used woven fabric structures include plain weave, twill weave ,and satin weave . The most common types of yarn used in woven medical textile applications are polyamide (nylon), polyester ,and polypropylene . Polyester is often used due to its high strength-to-weight ratio , while polyamide is chosen for its elasticity . Polypropylene is frequently selected because it is hydrophobic , meaning it repels water/moisture . It should be noted that some natural fibers such as cotton may also be used in certain applications although synthetic fibers generally offer superior performance characteristics . For example , natural fiber gauze dressings have largely been replaced by synthetic fiber nonwoven dressing owing to the increased absorbency and comfort provided by synthetics . Natural fibers may still be preferred in some instances where biocompatibility is paramount such as with surgical sutures . In these cases , silk or catgut (a type of cordage made from sheep intestine) sutures may be used which dissolve over time as tissue heals around them . Another common use for woven medical textiles is within sports medicine where they find application as knee braces , elbow sleeves & supports , compression garments etc. To increase comfort levels & fit these garments often employ spandex or lycra yarns in their construction alongside traditional synthetic materials like nylon & polyester . Woven powernetting constructions utilizing high-strength low-elasticity yarns like Kevlar® aramid fiber provide excellent support without restricting range-of-motion making them ideal for use within sportswear compression garments designed to prevent injury during physical activity . Aramid fiber also finds use within bulletproof vests due to its exceptional strength coupled with low weight when compared to other ballistic protection options like steel plate armor . However one drawback associated with many woven fabric structures is their lack of breathability which can lead to discomfort especially when garments constructed from them are worn for extended periods of time leading manufacturers to develop new hybrid knit/woven constructions incorporating features from both fabric types that seek to address this issue while maintaining the desirable attributes inherent within each individual construction method .”