The document summarizes the development of the global medical textile market and categories of medical textiles based on their applications. It analyzes trends in the world trade of medical textiles. The medical textile market is growing due to factors like population growth, aging populations, and increased health awareness. Growth rates are above average, driven by developing countries in Asia and Western markets. The prospects for medical textiles are strong, especially for nonwoven materials and disposable products used in surgical settings.

1. Robert Czajka Development of Medical Textile Market
Technical University of Łódź Abstract
Faculty of Textile Engineering and Marketing The aim of this paper is to present the harmonisation of the global medical textile market
Institute of World Economy and Textile Marketing and the categories of medical textiles based on their applications. The paper also contains
ul. Żeromskiego 116, 90-543 Łódź, Poland an analysis of some trends in the foreign trade of medical textiles on the world economy.
Key words: textiles, Global Harmonisation Task Force, categories, medical textiles,
healthcare sector.
important and growing part of the textile § diagnosis, prevention, monitoring,
industry. treatment or alleviation of disease,
§ diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, al-
In 2004, the number of people aged over leviation of or compensation for an
60 amounts to 40% of the entire popula- injury,
tion. In 1980, only 22% of the Europeans § investigation, replacement, modifica-
belonged to this group age. Textiles tion, or support of the anatomy or of a
represent an absolutely ideal interface physiological process,
between man and medical treatment fa- § supporting or sustaining life,
cilities, and it would be a loss not to make § control of conception,
use of the possibilities they offer [1].
§ disinfection of medical devices,
§ providing information for medical
n Harmonisation Global Market purposes by means of in vitro ex-
of Medical Devices Including amination of specimens derived from
Medical Textiles the human body and which does not
achieve its primary intended action in
The world medical devices market is or on the human body by pharmaco-
represented by the Global Harmonisa- logical, immunological, or metabolic
tion Task Force (GHTF). The GHTF is means, but which may be assisted in
comprised of representatives from five its function by such means.”
founding members (the European Union,
the United States, Canada, Australia, Risk is based on classification of medical
Japan). They are grouped into three geo- devices including medical textiles. Ac-
graphical areas: Europe, Asia-Pacific and cording to the GHTF, medical devices
North America, each of which actively may be classified into 4 classes as fol-
regulates medical devices using their own lows:
individual regulatory framework [2]. The § Class I (generally regarded as low
GHTF views harmonisation as a way of risk).
defining common regulatory approaches § Class IIa (generally regarded as me-
for medical devices at a international lev- dium risk).
el. The GHTF has identified as a priority § Class IIb (generally regarded as me-
the need to harmonise the documentation dium risk).
of evidence of conformity to regulatory § Class III (generally regarded as high
requirements. Differences in documenta- risk).
tion requirements necessitate additional Generally, class III devices affect the
work for the same device in different ju- functioning of vital organs and/or life-sup-
risdictions. As a result, the costs increase port systems, whereas class I devices are
and barriers in international access to non-invasive and do not come into contact
medical devices between countries arise. or interact with the human body [4].
These barriers also have an economic
impact [3].
n Introduction n Characteristics of the Medical
According to the Global Harmonisation
Textiles Market
Technical textiles are one of the faster Task Force, a medical device is defined
growing sectors of the global textile as “any instrument, apparatus, imple- According to ‘Technical Textiles and In-
industry. The world textile industry is ment, machine, appliance, implant, in dustrial Nonwovens: World Market Fore-
moving rapidly toward the manufacture vitro reagent or calibrator, software, cast to 2010’ published by David Rigby
of high-added value textile structures and material or other similar or related arti- Associates1) (DRA), it is forecast that the
products such as medical textiles, protec- cle, intended by the manufacturer to be world market for technical textiles and
tive textiles and smart textiles. Textile used, alone or in combination, for human industrial nonwovens will increase by
materials used in the medical and applied beings for one or more of the specific 3.5% per annum between 1995 and 2005,
healthcare and hygiene sectors are an purpose(s) of: and 3.8% per annum from 2005 to 2010
FIBRES & TEXTILES in Eastern Europe January / March 2005, Vol. 13, No. 1 (49) 13

2. in volume terms, to reach 23.8mn tonnes Table 1. Non-implantable materials (from Rajendran et al. [10]).
with a value of $126bn by 2010. The di-
vision of technical textiles (according to Fibre Type Fabric Structure Applications
DRA) into the different application areas Cotton, viscose, lyocell Nonwoven Absorbent pad
is presented in Figure 1. Alginate fibre, chitosan, silk, Woven, nonwoven,
Wound- contact layer
viscose, lyocell, cotton knitted
On the basis of DRA’s research, over Viscose, lyocell, plastics film
Woven,
Base material
nonwoven
1.5mn tons of textile materials, with
Cotton, viscose, lyocell, polyamide fibre, Woven, nonwoven, Simple non-elastic
a value of US$5.4bn, were consumed elastomeric-fibre yarns knitted and elastic bandages
worldwide in the manufacture of medi- Cotton, viscose, lyocell, Woven, nonwoven,
cal and hygiene products in 2000. This is High-support bandages
elastomeric-fibre yarns, knitted
predicted to increase in volume terms by Cotton, viscose, lyocell, Woven,
Compression bandages
4.5% per annum to 2010 to reach 2.4mn elastomeric-fibre yarns, knitted
tons with a value of US$8.2bn. This sec- Cotton, viscose, lyocell, polyester fibre, Woven,
Orthopaedic bandages
polypropylene fibre, polyurethane foam nonwoven
tor probably offers the greatest scope for
Cotton, viscose, plastics film, polyester Woven, nonwoven,
the development of the most sophisti- fibre, glass fibre, polypropylene fibre, knitted
Plasters
cated and highest value textiles for niche Cotton, viscose, lyocell, Woven, nonwoven,
applications [7]. Gauze dressing
alginate fibre, chitosan knitted
Cotton Woven Lint
Technical textiles will find many differ-
Viscose, cotton linters, wood pulp, Nonwoven Wadding
ent kinds of application with medical and
Polylactide fibre, polyglycolide fibre, Spunlaid,
hygiene products in the healthcare sector. carbon needle-punched nonwoven
Scaffold
The diversity of applications encountered
in medical and healthcare products is
quite remarkable, e.g. simple bandages, count for a high part of the sector overall is marked by small- and medium-sized
biocompatible implants and tissues, an- in terms of tons of fibre used [7]. Also, enterprises and local developments, it is
tibacterial wound treatment material, another feature of the medical textile important that research efforts take place
prosthetics, and intelligent textiles. market will be the growing proportion in a more integrated way so as to achieve
of composite materials used in wound a critical mass and be competitive on the
Each of these categories covers a broad management products. This will mean global market. The European technical
range of applications, and the many end- the combination of textiles with such textile sector should continue to develop
uses with their disparate requirements materials as films, foam and adhesives highly specialised products. This is the
create opportunities for all kinds of tex- to form structures for the treatment of case, for example, in medical textiles
tile such as fibres, mono- and multi-fila- wound and healthcare products [8]. The based on biomaterials, interactive and
ment yarns, woven, knitted, nonwoven, increased use of textiles in composite intelligent textiles provided for textile
braiding and composite fabrics [5,6]. applications will provide major growth sensors and improving test methods [9].
fibre consumption in terms of volume.
Medical textiles embrace all those textile The hitherto increase and forecast in
materials used in health and hygiene world consumption of medical textiles is Categories of medical textiles include:
applications in both the consumer and presented in Figure 2. § non-implantable materials,
medical markets. As such, it comprises a § implantable materials,
group of products with considerable vari- European producers are world leaders in § extracorporeal devices,
ations in terms of product performance the market for technical/industrial textiles § healthcare and hygiene products.
and unit value. Because of the nature of and nonwovens, for example industrial The application of different fibres for
their application, many medical products filters, hygiene products or in the medi- manufacturing various medical products
are disposable items. Nonwovens ac- cal sector. Although the textile sector is illustrated in Tables 1-4 [10].
Figure 1. World end-use consumption of technical textiles in 2000 by Figure 2. Forecast world consumption of medical textiles , 1995-
application areas (volume terms). Source: DRA, http://www.davidri 2010, Volume (1,000 tons). Source: DRA, http://www.davidrigbyass
gbyassociates.com/DRA%20WEBSITE%2003/assets/TTandN.pdf ociates.com/DRA%20WEBSITE%2003/assets/TTandN.pdf
14 FIBRES & TEXTILES in Eastern Europe January / March 2005, Vol. 13, No. 1 (49)

3. n Trends in World Trade blood-borne diseases and airborne increasing development of the medical
pathogens, textile market and industry.
of Medical Textiles
§ the continuing dominance of the lead-
The market for medical textiles is being ing suppliers and brands (especially in
driven by a number of factors [11]: the consumer market), n Conclusions
§ population growth rates, particularly § ongoing enhancement in product per- Medical textiles are one of the most
in newly developing global regions, formance, dynamically expanding sectors in the
§ changes in demographics, including § the growing dominance of purchasing technical textile market. Growth rates
the ageing of the population in the which demands increasing value for
are above average as a result of increases
Western European market, money,
in consumption in developing countries
§ changes in living standards, § the increasing share of nonwovens on
in Asia and growth rates in the Western
§ attitude to health risks; increased the medical world market in relation
market. The prospects for medical tex-
awareness of the risks to health to traditional textile materials.
workers from health threats from tiles are rather better, especially for non-
These trends will be further fed by the
woven materials and disposable medical
textiles used in surgical rooms.
Table 2. Implantable materials (from Rajendran et al. [10]).
Fibre Type Fabric Structure Application
Collagen, catgut, polyglycolide fibre, Monofilament,
Editorial note
Biodegradable sutures
polylactide fibre braided 1) David Rigby Associates is a consultancy
Polyester fibre, polyamide fibre, PTFE fibre, Monofilament, Non-biodegradable specialising in the fibre, textiles and clothing
polypropylene fibre, polyethylene fibre braided sutures
industry, based in Manchester, UK.
PTFE fibre, polyester fibre, silk, collagen, Woven,
Artificial tendon
polyethylene fibre, polyamide fibre braided
Polyester fibre, carbon fibre, collagen Braided Artificial ligament
Low-density polyethylene fibre Artificial cartilage References
Chitin Nonwoven Artificial skin
1. D. Höfer, M. Swerev, ‘The Future of
Poly (methyl methacrylate) fibre, Eye-contact lenses
silicon fibre, collagen, and artificial cornea Medical Textiles: High-tech For the
Silicone, polyacetyl fibre, polyethylene fibre Artificial joints/bones Well-being of the Patient’, Journal of
Textiles and Apparel, Technology and
PTFE fibre, polyester fibre Woven, knitted Vascular grafts
Management, 2003.
Polyester fibre Woven, knitted Heart valves
2. ‘Global Harmonisations Task Force
(GHTF)’, AHWP Technical Committee
Table 3. Extracorporeal devices (from Rajendran et al. [10]). Meeting and Workshop, Malaysia, 2001.
3. ‘GHTF Summary Technical Documenta-
tion’, Asia Harmonization Working Party
Type Fibre Application Function
Technical Committee, Bangkok, 2002.
Hollow polyester fibre,
Artificial kidney
Remove waste products 4. ’Risk-based Classification of Medical
hollow viscose from patients’ blood Devices in the European Union (GHTF):
Separate and dispose of patients’ Point of View from a Notified Body’, 3rd
Hollow viscose Artificial liver
plasma and supply fresh plasma
AHWP Technical Committee Meeting,
Hollow polypropylene fibre, Remove carbon dioxide from patients’ Taipei, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), 2004.
Mechanical lung
hollow silicone membrane blood and supply fresh oxygen
5. S. Anand, ‘Medical Textiles’, Woodhead
Publishing Ltd, Abington, 2001.
Table 4. Healthcare/hygiene products (from Rajendran et al. [10]). 6. ‘Opportunities for healthcare and medical
textiles growth’, Technical Textiles Inter-
Fibre Type Fabric Structure Application national, 2003.
7. ‘Technical Textiles and Industrial Nonwo-
Cotton, polyester fibre, vens: World Market Forecast to 2001’,
Woven, nonwoven Surgical gowns
polypropylene fibre, article taken from DRA Service http:
Viscose Nonwoven Surgical caps //www.davidrigbyassociates.com
Viscose, polyester fibre, glass fibre Nonwoven Surgical masks 8. A. Fischer, G. Fischer, ’Composite ma-
terials in healthcare and wound mana-
Polyester fibre, polyethylene fibre, Woven, nonwoven Surgical drapes, cloths gement’ Technical Textiles International,
Vol. 12, 2003.
Cotton, polyester fibre, polyamide 9. ‘The future of the textiles and clothing
Knitted Surgical hosiery
fibre, elastomeric-fibre yarns
sector in the enlarged European Union’,
Cotton, polyester fibre Woven, knitted Blankets
Commission of the European Communi-
Cotton Woven Sheets, pillowcases ties, Brussels, 2003.
Cotton, polyester fibre Woven Uniforms 10. S. Rajendran and S.C. Anand, ‘Deve-
Polyester fibre, polypropylene fibre Nonwoven
Protective clothing, incontinence, lopment in Medical Textiles’, Textile
diaper/sheet, coverstock Progress, 2002, pp.10-13.
Superabsorbent fibres, 11. ‘NWDA Northwest Textile Cluster, Map-
Nonwoven Absorbent layer
wood fluff,
ping Project’, DRA, 2001.
Polyetylene fibre, Nonwoven Outer layer
Viscose, lyocell Nonwoven Cloths/wipes
Received 07.06.2004 Reviewed 19.07.2004
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