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The textiles used for medical purposes is usually referred to as medical textiles. These textiles are mainly developed for non-aesthetic purpose rather than aesthetic purpose as the primary criterion. The introduction of medical textiles was due to the increased use of textiles in the field of medical technology. The impetus for need of medical textiles has arisen due to increasing population of elderly people and economic advancement in the developed and developing countries. These textiles act as an interface between the technical textiles and life sciences. Any advancements in this field leads to development in medical textiles. The developments like superabsorbent gel discovered in chemistry was a useful innovation for baby diapers and incontinence products. The developments in the field of textile engineering have led to invention of 3D spacer fabrics which have found their usage in bandages.
History and Development
The use of textiles in medicine dates back to the ancient Egyptian era, when natural rubber adhesive and flax yarn were used to suture wounds. The mummies were kept from decaying by chemically treating the linen wrappings. Ancient Chinese texts also show the use of flax fibre for sutures and cotton cloth to stop bleeding. Hand-woven cloths and spider webs were used to prevent bleeding around 5000 AD. India has a long history of suturing with a wide range of textile materials, including horseback, leather strips, animal sinews, cotton, and fibrous trees. A wide range of textile structures, including woven, knitted, braided, and nonwoven, have found application in medical textiles. In recent years, there have been advancements in the type of textile materials used to make medical textiles.
Classification Based on Types of Fabric Structure
- Woven Fabric
- Knitted Fabric
- Braided Structure
- Nonwoven Structure
Conclusion
Demographic changes, increase in the population of elderly people, and need for increase in life expectancy have led to advancement in the field of medical textiles. The advancement in the literacy rate and education standards has changed the attitude of people towards health risks and increased awareness of associated risks Medical textiles includes the use of textile fibres and polymers in various end uses ranging from a suture to bandages, stents, incontinence products, healthcare products and artificial organs. The competition among leading brands and suppliers has further increased the end use availability of the medical textiles.