INTRODUCTION: Medical textiles are also known as Healthcare Textiles.

Medical Textiles is one of the most rapidly expanding sectors in the technical textile market. It 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. Textile products are omnipresent in the field of human hygiene and medical practice. Need of Medical Textiles New Fibers Newer technologies in manufacturing Newer Application To increase comfort for patients

CONSTITUENTS OF MEDICAL TEXTILES:

MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDICAL TEXTILES : Non toxic Non-allergenic Able to be sterilized Mechanical properties Strength

 Elasticity Durability Biocompatibility

APPLICATION OF FIBRES:

CURRENT CRITICAL ISSUES: Natural against chemical or manufactured fibres Disposable against reusable or durable fabrics Antibacterial or antimicrobial fibres against finishes or coatings for infection control Methods of disposal of clinical waste i.e. landfills against incineration and other forms of medical and clinical waste disposal CLASSIFICATION USES Healthcare and Hygiene products Extracorporeal devices Implantable materials Non-implantable materials

HEALTHCARE & HYGIENE PRODUCTS:

EXTRACORPOREAL DEVICES Artificial Kidney Artificial Liver Artificial Heart Mechanical Lung

IMPLANTABLE MATERIALS: Sutures, Vascular Grafts, Artificial ligaments 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 POROSITY -determines the rate at which human tissue will grow and encapsulate the implant. Small circular fibres are better than larger fibres with irregular cross sections. The fibre polymer must not release toxic substances, and fibre should be free from surface contaminants such as lubricants and sizing agents. Biodegradable

WHY TEXTILE IMPLANTS? Biocompatible materials Material combinations 2D- and 3D-structures Mechanical characteristic adapted to the environment Adjustable macroscopic structure Specific surface design

DIFFERENT TYPES OF TEXTILE IMPLANTS

VASCULAR PROSTHESIS: The major requirements of a good vascular graft include: Non-fraying Flexibility Durability Biocompatibility Stability to sterilization Resistance to bacteria/viruses

NON IMPLANTABLE MATERIALS:

SURGICAL DRESSINGS: These are employed as coverings, adsorbent, protective and supports for injured or diseased part. They are different types: Primary wound dressing Absorbent Bandages Protective

 Adhesive tapes PRIMARY WOUND DRESSING

A dressing should possess the following properties: Healing properties, regulated mainly with the substances which are applied to or added to the dressing. Causing no mechanical injury of a granulating wound. Decreased adherence surface. Eliminating a possibility of loose fibers getting caught in the wound. Stable and spatial structure Easy penetration of wound secretion to the absorbing dressing. Not- interrupted process of wound healing - as only the outer gauze compress is changed. Painless changing of the dressing.

MEDICAL TEXTILES GLOBAL SCENARIO: 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

CONSUMPTION OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF MEDICAL TEXTILES:

CONCLUSION Textiles are more and more developing into interdisciplinary high-tech products with interesting changes in the market. Medical Textile Competence Centers are being established to make the most of knowledge, expertise and existing collaboration with medical researchers, microbiologists, physiologists and textile scientists. Each country has its own regulations and standards for medical textiles. As medical procedures continue to develop, the demand for textile materials is bound to grow.