Fibers Used for Medical and Health Care Application

Fibers Used for Medical and Health Care Application

Authors: Taha Bin Yahya
Maaz Wasim Khan
Akram Ali
National Textile University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Email: tahabinyahya@gmail.com

Fibers for Medical & Health Care:
Textiles materials that are used in medical applications include fibers, yarns, fabrics and composites. Depending upon the application, the major requirements of medical textiles are absorbency, tenacity, flexibility, softness and at times bio-stability or bio-degradability.

Fibers Used for Medical and Health Care Application

Fibers used in medical field may vary from natural fiber such as cotton, silk, regenerated wood fluff (absorbent layer), to, manmade fibers like polyester, polyamide, polyethylene, glass fiber etc.

The various applications of different fiber in medical field are shown as follows:

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

Current Issues

A number of crucial issues regarding medical products in general and healthcare and hygiene products in particular have been identified and debated amongst clinicians, environmentalist, drug companies etc. for a long time. The issues such as

• Natural against chemical or manufactured fibers
• Disposable against reusable or durable fabrics
• Antibacterial or antimicrobial fibers 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

There is general move towards an increased use of natural polymers that are biocompatible, biodegradable and nontoxic.

Major Classifications/Branches of Technical Textiles

Major Classifications/Branches of Technical Textiles

Authors: Taha Bin Yahya
Maaz Wasim Khan
Akram Ali
National Textile University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Email: tahabinyahya@gmail.com

Technical Textiles:
Technical Textiles are usually considered as those produced from specific materials by specific processes. This is true to some sense but not always. All those fabrics, which have any technical use, i.e. other than aesthetic appeal and body covering, are considered Technical Fabrics, despite of their raw material or manufacturing process. Technical Textiles are known by their end uses. They are usually, but not always, manufactured by special materials on special machines. You can also read of the above authors article about "Application of Technical Textiles."

Major Classifications of  Technical Textiles:
Technical Textiles are generally classified as:

1. › Mobiltech
2. › Indutech
3. › Medtech
4. › Hometech
5. › Clothtech
6. › Agrotech
7. › Buildtech
8. › Packtech
9. › Sporttech
10. › Geotech
11. › Protech
12. › Oekotech

Some of the common examples of Technical Textile products are:

 
Transport textiles (MobilTech)
These textiles are used in the manufacture of automobiles and aircraft. Carbon composites are mostly used in the manufacture of aeroplane parts while carbon fiber is used for making higher end tyres. Nylon gives strength and its bursting strength being high is used as air bags in cars. High tensile polyester is used for making air balloons. Its applications are

Transportation textile

• ›Tyre
• ›Belt
• ›Hose reinforcement
• ›Safety belts
• ›Air bags
• ›Composite reinforcements

o Automotive bodies
o Civil and military aircraft

• Bodies
• Wings
• Engine components

• ›Many other uses.

Industrial products and components (INDUTECH)
Textiles used directly in industrial processes or incorporated into industrial products. Textiles used for chemical and electrical applications and textiles related to mechanical engineering. Silk-screen printing, filtration, plasma screens, propulsion technology, lifting/conveying equipment, sound-proofing elements, melting processes, roller covers, grinding technology, insulations, seals & gaskets, fuel cell, Conveyor & Abrasive belts, Reinforcements for printed circuit boards etc.

Industrial textile

 Medical and hygiene textiles (MEDTECH)
These are commonly used in bandages and sutures (stitching the wounds). Not all the textile fibers can be used here, because their performances depend upon interaction with the cells and different fluids produced by the body. Sutures and wound dressings use fibers like silk and other synthetic fibers. Hollow synthetic fibers are used with nano or very small particles and are used for the delivery of drugs to any specific part of the body to prevent over dosage. Cotton, silk polyester, polyamide are also used in medical applications.

Medical Textile

Medical textiles also cover surgical gowns and drapes. There are two classes of materials: reusables and non-woven. Reusables are either PES or PES-cotton woven materials or laminates. Also non-woven materials are used in the operating theater. High performance non-wovens are usually laminated with a plastic foil in order to provide for sufficient barrier properties to reduce wound infection. Other examples are

• › Wipes
• › Babies’ diapers (nappies)
• › Adult sanitary and incontinence products
• › Sterilisation packs

Home textiles (HOMETECH)
Textiles used in a domestic environment - interior decoration and furniture, carpeting, protection against the sun, cushion materials, fireproofing, floor and wall coverings, textile reinforced structures/fittings.

Home textiles

In the contract market such as for large area buildings, ships, caravans, busses, fire retardant materials are used. Fire retardant properties are obtained either through the use of inherent fire retardant fibers such as modacryl or through the application of a coating with fire retardant additives (bromide of phosphorus compounds). Other examples are

• › Bedding
• › Sleeping bags
• › To replace foams in furniture
• › Carpet and furniture backings
• › Curtain header tapes

Clothing components (CLOTHTECH)
Technical textiles for clothing applications especially in the finishing process where fabric is treated under pressure and high temperature the technical textile supports the fabric for smooth processing. This is usually the blend of polyester. Also

Clothtech

• › Sewing threads
• › Interlinings
• › Waddings
• › Insulation

Agriculture, horticulture and fishing (AGROTECH)
Textiles used in Agriculture are termed as agro textiles. They are used for crop protection, fertilization, etc. The essential properties required are strength, elongation, stiffness, and bio-degradation, resistance to sunlight and resistance to toxic environment. All these properties help with the growth and harvesting of crops and other foodstuffs. There is a growing interest in using materials which gradually degrade (biodegradables). Its products are

Agro textile

• › Nets, ropes, lines
• › Covering, protection
• › Containment applications
• › Drainage and land reclamation
• › Protective clothing for employees
• › Transport textiles for tractors and lorries
• › Conveyor belts, hoses, filters
• › Composite reinforcements

o Silos, tanks and piping

Construction - building and roofing (BUILDTECH)
Textiles used in construction - concrete reinforcement, façade foundation systems, interior construction, insulations, proofing materials, air conditioning, noise prevention, visual protection, protection against the sun, building safety.

Buildtech

An interesting and aesthetic appealing application is the use of textile membranes for roof construction. This area is also referred to as textile architecture. PVC coated high tenacity PES, teflon coated glass fiber fabrics or silicone coated PES are used for their low creep properties. Splendid examples of such construction are found in football stadia, airports and hotels.

• › Construction of buildings, both permanent and temporary, dams, bridges, tunnels and roads.
• › Tents, marquees and awnings.
• › Architectural membrane

• Semi-permanent structures
• Sports stadia, exhibition centres

• › Roofing applications
• › Building and equipment insulation
• › Wall panels, septic tanks and sanitary fittings
• › Glass in bridges

Packaging and containment (PACKTECH)
Packtech includes several flexible packing material made of textile used for packing various goods for industrial, agricultural, consumer and other goods. It ranges from polymer based bags used for industrial packing to jute based sacks used for packaging food grains and packaging used for tea.

Packtech

• Sacs

• Fertiliser, sand, cement, sugar, flour to dyestuffs

• › Wrapping and protection applications
• › Tea and coffee bags
• › Nonwoven insert
• › Knitted net packaging
• › Silos, containers
• › Canvas covers, marquee tents.

Sport and leisure (SPORTTECH)
Sports textile is one of the branch of technical textile. Now a days sophisticated technology are used in technical textile to produce sports wear. Textile has done it successfully . Hi-tech textiles in sport are nothing new.

Sports textile

• Shoes
• › Artificial turf used in sports surfaces

• › Advanced carbon fibre composites

• Racquet frames, fishing rods, golf clubs and cycle frames

• › Balloon fabrics, parachute and paraglider’s fabrics and sailcloth

Geotextiles in civil engineering (GEOTECH)
These are used in reinforcement of embankments or in constructional work. The fabrics in geo textiles are permeable fabrics and are used with soils having ability to separate, filter, protect or drain. The application areas include civil engineering, earth and road construction, dam engineering, soil sealing and in drainage systems. The fabric used in it must have good strength, durability, low moisture absorption and thickness. Mostly nonwoven and woven fabrics are used in it. Synthetic fibers like glass, polypropylene and acrylic fibers are used to prevent cracking of the concrete, plastic and other building materials. Polypropylene and polyester are used in geo textiles and dry/liquid filtration due to their compatibility. Some common examples are

Geotextile

• › Geosynthetics

• Geotextiles
• Geogrids
• Geomembranes

• › Building of railway and road cuttings
• › Embankments with steeper sides

Protective and safety clothing and textiles (PROTECH)
Protection against heat and radiation for fire fighter clothing, against molten metals for welders, for bullet proof jackets etc, all these things are obtained by usage of technical textiles with high performance fibers. In bullet proof jackets, special fiber aramid are used which have high tenacity, high thermal resistance and low shrinkage. Glass fiber is also used in fire proof jackets due to its high strength, chemical and flame resistance. Protective clothing is also used by the astronauts when they go in space. It was used by the astronauts when they went on moon, their suits where covered with special chemicals including lead to protect them from sun heat, their suit not only made from special fibers but their airship was also lined with special fabric. It provides protection against

Safety textile

• › Cuts, abrasion, ballistic
• › Stab wounds and explosions, fire & extreme heat
• › Hazardous dust and particles
• › Nuclear, biological and chemical hazards
• › High voltages and static electricity
• › Foul weather, extreme cold and poor visibility
• › Instruments

Ecological protection textiles (OEKOTECH)
New applications for textiles in environmental protection applications - floor sealing, erosion protection, air cleaning, prevention of water pollution, water cleaning, waste treatment/recycling, depositing area construction, product extraction, domestic water sewerage plants.

Ecological protection textiles

• › Filtration media
• › Erosion protection
• › Sealing of toxic waste
• › Minimising water loss from the land
• › Reducing the need for use of herbicides by providing mulch to plants
• › Reducing weight in transport and construction 

 

Importance of Compression Garments for Diseases

Importance of Compression Garments for Diseases

Mohammad Zain Ul Abideen
B. Sc. in Textile Engineering, Pakistan.
Cell: +92-321-8894390 
E-mail: davilzain@yahoo.com

Compression Garments:

Compression garments are pieces of clothing, such as socks, pantyhose, sleeves, etc., that provide support that is especially useful for people who have to stand for long periods, or people with poor circulation. The garments can come in varying degrees of compression. The higher degrees require a doctor’s prescription. Compression garments worn on the legs can help prevent deep vein thrombosis and reduce swelling, especially while traveling.

Compression Garments for body shape

Compression sportswear is also worn by some athletes during exercise to prevent chafing and rashes, and post-exercise to ease muscle stiffness and quicken recovery time.

Compression garments enhance your curves, control your figure and reduce clothing size in specific areas of your body. Besides, compression garments are widely used in medical textile.
 

Different diseases for which compression garment are necessary:

 

(1) Tired, aching legs:
Occurs when the blood flow slows down in the legs (can be an indicator of deep vein thrombosis).

Compression Garments for injured leg

 (2) Edema (Mild ankle or foot swelling):
When blood and tissue fluid pool in the legs and feet due to poor circulation.
 

(3) Chronic peripheral venous insufficiency:
Veins cannot pump deoxygenated blood to the heart.
 

(4) Varicose veins:
Saccular and distended veins which can expand considerably and may cause painful venous inflammation. Once developed, will not disappear on its own. The formation of varicose veins is an externally visible sign of venous weakness.
 

(5) Spider Veins:
Spider veins (mild varicosities) the smallest cutaneous blood vessels which shimmer bluish or reddish through the skin.

(6) Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT):
Occurs when blood flow decreases (especially in the lower extremities), causing blood to pool in the legs and leading to blood clot (thrombus) formation.
 

(7) Lymphoedema:
When a body part swells due to an abnormal accumulation of lymph fluid occurring when there is interference with the normal drainage of lymph fluid back into the blood commonly swelling the arm, leg, neck or abdomen.
 

(8) Phlebitis:
Inflammation and clotting in a vein most often a leg vein due to infection, inflammation or trauma. People with varicose veins are more often affected. Inflammation occurs suddenly causing the thrombus to adhere firmly to the vein wall which can clog a superficial vein.
 

(9) Economy Class Syndrome (ECS):
Occurs on long flight due to traveler’s inactivity, gravity and cramped seating which slows down the blood flow through veins.
 

(10) Lipodermatosclerosis:  

Inflammation of subcutaneous fat form of panniculitis.
 

(11)Pregnancy:
Hormones released during pregnancy and the expanding uterus (pressure on the inferior vena cava - the major vein returning blood up to the heart) can affect leg veins.

Compression Garments for pregnancy