An Introduction to Medical Textiles.

Following on from the lecture I really wanted to learn more about the world of medical textiles, therefore I thought it would be suitable to begin with a basic introduction to medical textiles, to educate myself more than anything.

The term medical textile refers to all textiles which are used for first aid, clinical, surgical and hygienic purposes.

Textile materials have always occupied a fundamental position in the form of fibres: mono- and multi-filiament yarns, spun yarns, woven, knitted, nonwoven and composite. Recently, knitted products are most widely used in medical textiles and it's market share is much higher than medical textiles in other forms. There is quite a varied use of textiles from sutures and hygiene products such as bedding, clothing and operating gowns to highly specialised uses such as creating an artificial organ.

The four key areas of medical textile application are:
- Non- implantable materials, such as wound dressings and bandages.
-Implantable materials, such as sutures, vascular grafts, artificial ligaments.
-Extra-corporeal devices, which are artificial organs to me and you, such as the kidney, liver, lung etc.
-Health care/ hygiene products, such as beddings surgical gowns and sanitary products.

The important functions of medical textiles:
-Protection: provided by gauges, face masks, surgical gowns, gloves and bandages etc.
-Reinforcement: to strengthen and protect the human body: sutures, prostheses, artificial ligaments etc.
-Filtration: provided by the by-pass filter, dialyser, use of membranes.
-Absorption: pads, towels, napkins, cotton wool, swabs etc.
-Containment: nettings, stretchers, wheel chairs etc.
There are also other important functions of medical textiles such as creating veins, arteries and artificial skin.

Wound care management must provide the following:
- Seal the wound and prevent any additional stress or loss of energy.
- Remove any excess toxins.
- Maintain a high level of humidity.
- Provide thermal insulation.
- Act as a barrier against micro organisms
- Removability without causing harm if the dressing needs changing.

I'm aware that medical textiles does not really relate to any of the work that I will produce in my time at Chelsea, however I just find it a really interesting subject, that I previously had very little knowledge on.

References:
-Ray SC (2012). 'Fundamentals and Advances in Knitting Technology', Woodhead Publishing Limited.
-Horrocks AR and Anand SC (2000). Handbook of Technical Textiles, Woodhead Publishing Limited, Cambridge in association with The Textile Institute, Abington.

Image Sources:
http://www.sanjayinstruments.com
http://www.sono-tek.com/medical-textilesbandages
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-WmOdGYijdFOCkgR-_XH_gH2zIdrihRXHUH9xukA1PNOWh3LkwIRxqv7cJCX_QCFuaIEpTw1IgskLMsbHexGZ9aAmj2ufkJfpKrYpz5u1-1jHXLTjnoCyvkzfuCpJAoVk21WNRpREbU/s1600/76d409b1a8.jpg