Gp Capt RK Pathni
O/o DGAFMS, DG-2Gp
COMBAT & MEDICAL TEXTILES
USERS’ PERSPECTIVE
Gp Capt RK Pathni
O/o DGAFMS, DG-2Gp
FUTURE
INDIAN
SOLDIERS
TOI, 21 Feb 2011
2nd fastest growing
economy &
4th largest
We are using more
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Population – More People
Demography – More People who need
Income – More People who can afford
Travel -Awareness
Medical tourism – Attitudes
Growth of healthcare industry – demand
Products – Increasing Range of products
SCENARIO
• Application of textiles has started going beyond
the usual wound care, incontinence pads,
plasters etc.,
• In India, traditionally the segment is dominated
by Woven Textiles. Lately, Nonwoven products
have provided innovative product options
• Newer products
• Largely import dependant
Applications
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Personal Hygiene
Dressings & bandages
Linen, Protective clothing
Implantables
Extracorporeal devices
Applications
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Personal Hygiene
Dressings & bandages
Linen, Protective clothing
Implantables
Extracorporeal devices
Why we need them
Standards
 ‘A set of rules for ensuring quality‘
 'A technical specification approved by a
recognized standardization body for repeated
or continuous application, with which
compliance is compulsory , aimed at the
achievement of the optimum degree of order in
a given context‘
Why Standards?
MedTex products have crucial life-saving
applications
Standards
 Confidence - positive impact on consumption
 Internationally competitive
 Decrease dependence on imports
 Regulation of use
Non-Implantables
Absorbents with and without x-ray detactable
 Abdominal pad
 Absorbent gauze/absorbent
 Wadding
Gauze Bandages
 W/W bandage (open bandages or gauze
bandages)
 Triangular Bandages
Rigid bandages
 POP bandages
 Synthetic cast
 Scaffold
Extensible Bandages
 Crepe bandages
 Compression bandages
 Elastic adhesive bandages
Tubular bandages
 Knitted fabric in tubular form
 Surgical hosiery
Wound dressing and medicated bandages
 Chlorhexidine gauze dressing
 Medicated Adhesive dressing
 Framycetin gauze dressing
 Paraffin gauze dressing
Hygiene
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Surgical gowns
Surgical caps
Surgical mask
Surgical covers, drapes
Cloths/Wipes
Hospital bed sheets, pillows,
pillow covers, blankets,
mattresses
Patient clothing, Protective
clothing
Burns clothing
Operation theatre clothing
Diapers, cover stock
Sanitary napkins
Implantables
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Sutures
Soft tissue implants
Artificial tendon
Artificial ligament
Artificial skin
Eye lenses
Artificial lumen
Orthopaedic implants
Artificial joint bones
Cardio-vascular
implants
• Vascular grafts, heart
valves
Extra
Corporeal
 Artificial kidney
 Artificial liver
 Artificial heart
 Mechanical lung
Various types of textiles in
medical care
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Natural
Woven
Sterile
Disposable
Patient
Man Made
Non-Woven
Unsterile
Re-useable
Non-Patient
MEDICAL
Gp Capt RK Pathni
O/o DGAFMS, DG-2Gp
Flexibility, Sterility, Tensile Strength, Nonfraying, Knotting Security, Bio-compatible,
Durability, Stability, Sterilizability, Stiffness,
Ease Of Handling, Low Adherence, No Loose
Fibers, Absorbent, Adsorbent, Form-fitting,
Causing no mechanical injury, Light -weight,
Porosity, Firmness, Bio-degradable, Durable,
Non-toxic, Absorbable, Comfortable, Ease of
maintenance, Hydrophobic, Breathability,
Hydrophilic, Environment-friendly, Disposable,
Economy, Bio-compatible, Comfortable, Safe,
Smart….
Aim
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Patient comfort
Hygeinic & non toxic
Ease of usage
Safety
Affordable
Quality
Ease of disposal
Requirements
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In the Patient – Biocompatible, Non toxic, Non
Allergenic, Sterility Standards of Highest Level
On the Patient – Non toxic, Non Allergenic,
Sterile, Biocompatibility ?!!
Near the Patient – Sterile, Lint free
For the Patient – Clean
General Properties – Strength, Elasticity,
Durability, Fire Resistance, Antistatic,
Biodegradability
Sutures & Ligatures
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Easy to handle
Good knot security
Minimal tissue reaction
Unfriendly to bacteria
Strong yet small
Won’t tear through
tissues
 Affordable
 Absorbable / Non-abs
 Natural / Synthetic
 Mono / Multi-filament
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Double – barbs
Anti-bacterials
Staplers
Glue
Dressings
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Cover
Stop bleeding
Aid healing
Prevent infection
Non-linting
Soft on granulation tissue
Drug delivery
Easy to remove
Affordable
Vascular Grafts, Mesh, Soft
tissue implants
 Bio-compatibility
 Anti-coagulant
 Flexibility, resilience
 Porosity
 Texture
 Mech strength
Tissue
engineering:
Reserve parts for
the human body
Source:
Illustrerad Vetenskap, No 5, 1999
Skin
Innovations
Metallized textiles
 Nanotechnology
 Anti-microbial fabrics
 Fire retardant fabrics
 Bones -Textiles are
replacing metal implants
 Nerve guidance channels
 Smart / intelligent
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 Switches, Sensors, Secretions
 Tissue Engineering
 Scaffolds
 Embroidery technology
Spray on Surgical Drapes
 Nano-silver treated hospital
linen for burn patients
 Controlled drug release
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Quality Standards
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D&CA – schedule F2
fibre, yarn, fabrics as well as the final product.
Raw material suppliers
Innovation
Criteria
Conformance to tech specs
Strength
Flexibility
Porosity
Orientation of filaments
Extensibility
Memory
Sterile
Anti Allergenic
Non toxic
Sterilizable
Biocompatible
Resilient to infection
Ease of storage
Strict quality control
Environment friendly
Economical
Disposables
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Resistance to liquid penetration - Blood / Water
Non-linting
Barrier against dry penetration
Tropicalization – western products are not
automatically suitable
Cost
Environmental Issues
Safety of users / handlers
COMBAT MEDICAL
USERS’ PERSPECTIVE
MILITARY
OPERATIONS
“The object of war is not to die for your
country but to make the other bastard
die for his”.
George Patton
SCOPE
• Uniforms
• Back packs
• First field dressings (FFD)
• Shell dressings
• Tourniquet
Life saving army uniforms:
Engineers and scientists will work to
develop ideas such as a uniform that is
nearly invisible and soft clothing that can
become a rigid cast when a soldier
breaks his or her leg.
- DuPont
Tourniquet
Conclusion
• Textile-based materials for medical use are
helping to improve people’s lives—and in
some cases transform them.
• We have to leverage innovations in this field
to improve health care delivery and make it
affordable & safe.
• Standards are essential .
• Interesting changes in the market will follow.
THANK YOU
rpathni@aol.in
9560-432-345