Medical Textile: - Medical textile are products & construction used for medical & biological application and are used for first-aid, clinical & hygienic purposes. An important and growing part of the textile industry is the medical and related healthcare and hygiene sector. The extent of the growth is due to constant improvements and innovations in both textile technology and medical procedures.

1. Table of Contents
1. Medical Textile:.............................................................................................................2
2. Characteristics Require for Medical Textile:.................................................................2
3. The various applications of different fibre in medical field: ........................................3
4. Classification: ................................................................................................................4
4.1 Non-Implantable Materials:...................................................................................4
4.2 Extra Corporeal Devices:........................................................................................5
4.3 Implantable Materials:...........................................................................................6
4.3.1 Why textile implants? .....................................................................................7
4.3.2 Four Key Factors for Biocompatibility:............................................................8
4.4 Health Care/ Hygiene Products: ............................................................................8
5. Medical Textile Technology:.......................................................................................10
6. Medical Textile Market:..............................................................................................10
7. Conclusion:..................................................................................................................11
8. References: .................................................................................................................11

2. 2 | P a g e
Md. Moktadidul Hoque (Murad)
Sanjib Kumar Roy
B.Sc. Engineer (Textile)
1. Medical Textile:
Since Medical Textile is an important part of Technical Textile, so at first we have to
know “what is Technical Textile?”
Technical Textile: - Technical Textile is defined as comprising all those textile materials
& products manufactured primarily for their technical and performance properties rather
than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics.
Agro Textile, Clothing Textile, Eco Textile, Geo Textile, Home Textile, Industrial
Textile, Medical Textile, Packaging Textile, Protective Textile, Sport Textile, Transport
Textile are application of Technical Textile.
Medical Textile: - Medical textile are products & construction used for medical &
biological application and are used for first-aid, clinical & hygienic purposes.
An important and growing part of the textile industry is the medical and related
healthcare and hygiene sector. The extent of the growth is due to constant improvements
and innovations in both textile technology and medical procedures.
The aim of this article is to highlight the specific medical and surgical applications for
which textile materials are currently used.
2. Characteristics Require for Medical Textile:
Medical Textile must be accomplished the following characteristics-
Non toxicity
The ability to be sterilized
Non-allergenic response
Mechanical properties

3. 3 | P a g e
Md. Moktadidul Hoque (Murad)
Sanjib Kumar Roy
B.Sc. Engineer (Textile)
Strength
Elasticity
Durability
Biocompatibility
Non-contaminated
3. The various applications of different fibre in medical field:
Sr
No.
Fibre Application in medical field
1 Cotton
Surgical clothing gowns, Beddings, Sheets, Pillow
cover, Uniforms, Surgical hosiery
2 Viscose Caps, Masks, Wipes
3 Polyester
Gowns, Masks, Surgical cover drapes, Blankets,
Coverstock
4 Polyamide Surgical hosiery
5 Polypropylene Protective clothing
6 Polyethylene Surgical covers, Drapes
7 Glass Caps mask
8 Elastomeric Surgical hosiery

4. 4 | P a g e
Md. Moktadidul Hoque (Murad)
Sanjib Kumar Roy
B.Sc. Engineer (Textile)
4. Classification:
The textiles used in medical and surgical purposes can be classified as follows-
• Non-Implantable Materials
• Extracorporeal Devices
• Implantable Materials
• Health Care/Hygiene Products
4.1 Non-Implantable Materials:
Those materials are used for external application on the body and may or may not make
contact with skin. E.g. wound dressing, bandages, plasters etc.

5. 5 | P a g e
Md. Moktadidul Hoque (Murad)
Sanjib Kumar Roy
B.Sc. Engineer (Textile)
Table 1: Product Application of Non-Implantable Materials with Fibre Types &
Manufacture System:
4.2 Extra Corporeal Devices:
Extracorporeal devices are mechanical organs that are used for blood purification and
include the artificial kidney (dialyser), the artificial liver, and the mechanical lung. The
function and performance of these devices benefit from fibre and textile technology.
e.g. Artificial kidney, artificial liver, and Mechanical lung.

6. 6 | P a g e
Md. Moktadidul Hoque (Murad)
Sanjib Kumar Roy
B.Sc. Engineer (Textile)
Table 2: Product Application of Extra Corporeal Devices with Fibre Type &
Function:
4.3 Implantable Materials:
Those materials are used for internal application on the body and make contact with skin.
These materials are used in effecting repair to the body whether it is wound closure
(sutures) or replacement surgery (vascular grafts, artificial ligaments, etc.).

7. 7 | P a g e
Md. Moktadidul Hoque (Murad)
Sanjib Kumar Roy
B.Sc. Engineer (Textile)
Table 3: Product Application of Implantable Materials with Fibre Type &
Manufacture System:
4.3.1 Why textile implants?
Biocompatible materials
Material combinations
2D- and 3D-structures
Mechanical characteristic adapted to the Environment
Adjustable macroscopic structure
Specific surface design
Controllable degradation

8. 8 | P a g e
Md. Moktadidul Hoque (Murad)
Sanjib Kumar Roy
B.Sc. Engineer (Textile)
4.3.2 Four Key Factors for Biocompatibility:
Porosity: This determines then rate at which human tissue will grow &
encapsulate the implant.
Size of the Fibres: Small circular fibres are better encapsulated with human tissue
than large fibres with irregular cross section.
Freedom from Contamination: Toxic substances must not be released by the fibre
polymer, & the fibres should be free from surface contaminants such as
lubricants & sizing agents.
Bio- degradability: The properties of the polymer will influence the success of the
implantation biodegradability.
4.4 Health Care/ Hygiene Products:
Healthcare and hygiene products are an important sector in the field of medical and
surgery. The range of products available is vast but typically they are used either in the
operations theater or in the hospital war for the hygiene, care and safety of staff and
patients. The majority of the healthcare products are disposable while some are reused.
E.g. Bedding, clothing, surgical gowns, cloths, wipes, Gamee Roll, Eye Pads etc.

9. 9 | P a g e
Md. Moktadidul Hoque (Murad)
Sanjib Kumar Roy
B.Sc. Engineer (Textile)
Table 4: Product Application Health Care/ Hygiene Products with Fibre Type &
Fabric Type:
Product
application
Fibre type Fabric type
Surgical clothing
gowns
Cotton, Polyester, Viscose rayon,
Polypropylene
Nonwoven,
Woven
Caps masks
Viscose rayon, Polyester,
Viscose, Glass
Nonwoven
Nonwoven
Surgical covers
Drapes cloth
Polyester, Polyethylene
Polyester, Polyethylene
Nonwoven or Woven
Nonwoven or Woven
Beddings,
Blankets, Sheets
Pillow covers
Cotton, Polyester
Cotton
Cotton
Woven, Knitted
Woven
Woven
Clothing
uniforms
Protective
clothing
Cotton, Polyester
Polyester, Polypropylene
Woven
Nonwoven
Incontinence
Diaper sheet
Coverstock
Absorbent layer
Outer layer
Polyester, Polypropylene
Wood fluff
Superabsorbents
Polyethylene fibre
Nonwoven
Nonwoven
Nonwoven
Cloths/ Wipes Viscose rayon Nonwoven
Surgical hosiery
Polyamide, Polyester, Cotton,
Elastomeric yarns
Nonwoven, Knitted

10. 10 | P a g e
Md. Moktadidul Hoque (Murad)
Sanjib Kumar Roy
B.Sc. Engineer (Textile)
5. Medical Textile Technology:
6. Medical Textile Market:
 The consumption of medical textile 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 – 2004 and is expected to grow INR 23.3 billion by 2007-2008.
 Market is expected to grow by 8% P.A.
 In Bangladesh the market of medical textile is increasing significantly too.

11. 11 | P a g e
Md. Moktadidul Hoque (Murad)
Sanjib Kumar Roy
B.Sc. Engineer (Textile)
7. Conclusion:
It is one of the most rapidly expanding sectors in the technical textile market. Textile
materials are very important in all aspects of medicine and surgery and the range and
extent of applications to which these materials are used is a reflection of their enormous
versatility. Products utilized for medical or surgical applications may at first sight seem to
be either extremely simple or complex items. In case of medical textile the main
requirement of textile materials is bio-receptivity & biocompatibility at the application
site in human being e.g. anti microbial sutures based on nylon & polypropylene mono
filaments.
8. References:
 Handbook of Technical Textiles by A R Horrocks and S C Anand
 Lecture Sheet of Technical Textile
(Provided by Prof. Syed Fakhrul Hassan, Chairman, Dept. of Textile,
Southeast University)
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