Medical textiles
Medical textiles is a branch of technical textiles that focuses on fiber-based products used in health care applications such as prevention, care, and hygiene. Medical textiles are used in various medical practices and health care settings ranging from a simple cotton bandage to complex tissue growth.Dressings, Implants, surgical sutures, certain medical devices, healthcare textiles, diapers, menstrual pads, wipes and barrier fabrics are common examples of medical textiles. Medical textiles include many fiber types, yarns, fabrics, non-woven materials, woven, braided, as well as knitted fabrics. Physical and chemical manipulations of fiber structures, the application of functional  finishes, and the production of stimuli-sensitive materials are the most important approaches for developing innovative medical textiles. Textile and medical technology advancements have elevated medical healthcare to a position of prominence within the textile sector.Textiles are used in the production of a variety of medical devices, including the replacement of damaged, injured, or non-functioning organs. Medical textiles is a growing sector. There are a lot of things that make it grow, like new technology in both textiles and medicine; an older population; a growing population; changes in lifestyles; and a long life expectancy. Significance. Medical textiles have  a critical role in preserving human life. Medical textiles (PPE cover all, N95 masks), were in high demand and scarce supply during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in severe shortages. Considering the shortage, in February 2020, the World Health Organization restricted the use of medical essentials such as PPE and masks, etc. to front-line workers only (PPE that includes gowns, aprons, masks, gloves, medical masks, goggles, face shields, and respirators, i.e., N95 or FFP2). Masks can protect healthy people from illness by limiting the spread of respiratory droplets and aerosols. History. Natural fibers have been used in medical applications since  ancient times. The use of splints, bandages, and gauges is very old. An ancient Sanskrit text on medicine and surgery, the "Sushruta Samhita", categorises <nowiki>"</nowiki>Kausheya<nowiki>"</nowiki> under the "articles of bandaging." Types. Extracorporeal devices. Extracorporeal devices are the artificial organs that remain outside the body while treating a patient. Extracorporeal devices are useful in hemodialysis and cardiac surgery. Implantable materials. Implants are medical devices used to replace a missing biological structure, to sustain a damaged biological structure, or to improve an existing biological structure. In contrast to a transplant, which is biomedical tissue that has  been transplanted, medical implants are man-made devices such as artificial ligaments and vascular grafts, etc. Non-implantable materials. Non-implantable materials are used externally that may or may not contact skin. For example bandages, plaster, orthopaedic belts, pressure garments, etc. Hygiene and healthcare products. The term "hygiene and healthcare products" refers to a variety of materials used to maintain the hygiene, safety, and care of medical professionals and patients. Healthcare and hygiene products include surgical drapes, gowns, uniforms, clothes, caps, wipes, masks, and hospital bed linens. Properties. Medical textiles are specially engineered textile-based products that are used in  medical applications. These products are used for prevention, care, and hygiene purposes. A combination of properties are considered while selecting the materials, which largely depends upon the particular use. The essential properties of medical textiles include strength, biocompatibility, elasticity, flexibility, air and water permeability. Biotextiles are constructions made of textile fibers that are employed in both implantable and non-implant applications. Their performance is assessed according to their bifunctionality, biocompatibility, and biostability. For example, biostability in the presence of body fluids and cells. Antimicrobial textiles are the textile materials (fibers, yarns and fabrics) treated with antimicrobial agents, they are used  in hygiene care. Antimicrobial treated textiles either kill the bacteria or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. The exemplary products are wipes, gowns, Odorless clothes, etc. Material. The term "medical textile" refers to various products made of textile materials (fiber, yarn, or fabric) that are used in the medical environment. Both natural and synthetic fibers are used in medical textiles though properties such as modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, and hardness are mostly fixed factors in natural fibers, they have proven more manageable in synthetic fibers. New fiber developments have a significant impact on four primary areas of medical textiles: hygiene  products, implants, non-implantable medical textiles, and extracorporeal medical textiles. Medical textiles serve as a bridge between biological sciences and engineering. The advancement of materials science and related research has resulted in the introduction of new fiber materials and manufacturing processes for the medical sector. As a result of new technologies such as 3D printing, electrospinning and melt blowing technology in textiles, medical professions now have access to a diverse choice of textile materials with varying designs and qualities. Melt blowing is a well-established technology for fabricating micro- and nanofibers, in which a polymer melt is extruded via small  nozzles surrounded by a high-speed blowing gas. Melt-blown microfibers typically have a fiber diameter of 2–4 μm, but can be as small as 0.3–0.6 μm or as large as 15–20 μm. Melt blowing technology helps in producing filtering products such as N95 masks, and female hygiene products. Medical textiles use tubular fabrics with carefully chosen materials that are biocompatible, nonallergic, and nontoxic. For example, Dyneema, PTFE, Polyester, and Teflon are used for implants. The material type varies depending on the implant area; for example, Polytetrafluoroethylene is preferred for stent implants due to its non-stick properties, while polyolefin  is used for mesh implants. Vectran, a manufactured fiber from liquid-crystal polymer, is used in producing medical devices, for example, implants and certain surgical devices. Intelligent textiles can be used for disease management as well as remote monitoring. Intelligent textiles can monitor heart rate and blood pressure, which are critical components of medical diagnosis, and controlling them considerably reduces the incidence of serious health disorders. Movement patterns and electroencephalograms are used to diagnose neurological illnesses and to guide treatment decisions. Phase-change materials are helpful in medical textiles because they can be utilized to reheat hypothermia patients softly and  precisely. Additionally, the PCM can be incorporated therapeutically into elastic wraps or orthopaedic joint supports. It makes it easy to provide heat or cold therapy to joints or muscles while wearing a bandage. Materials with shape-memory polymers that have the capabilities of temperature adaptive moisture management can improve the thermo-physiological comfort of patients. Nonwoven fabrics with two or more fibers layers are widely used in a variety of applications, including tissue engineering scaffolds, wipes, wound dressings, and barrier materials. Applications. Medical textiles cover a vast area of application that includes wound care, disease management, preventive clothing, bandages, hygiene  (hospital linen), etc. Medical textiles are useful in first aid, treating a wound or keeping a wound or illness in the right condition during medical treatment, they also helps in protecting the healthcare workers from Infection and infectious diseases. Some more examples of medical textiles in the medical environment include the following: