Medical Technologies Emerging from the Technical Textiles Industry

Technical textiles encompass a vast array of textiles manufactured for strictly nominal purposes where utility is the primary principle.  Technical textiles are non-aesthetic, they include medical textiles, geotextiles, agro textiles, textiles for automotive applications, and protective clothing, such as bulletproof vests. Biomedical applications for technical textiles include textiles made with natural polymers, electrospun nanofibers, polyamids, fluoropolymers, polystyrene and a wide variety of other advanced material compositions. 

The technical textile trade is booming with a myriad of complementary industries that heavily rely on these products. The market provides innovative goods and services, with novel materials technologies, driven by a plethora of innovative minds.

Technical Textiles in Wound Closure

In the healthcare community, a new sutureless wound closure device has surfaced. This device and technique aim to limit the risk of rupture and to scare that which would involve closure methods and devices. One of the proposed wound closure methodologies and devices invented comprises a two-part strap with short hooks on the ventral surface. The hooks are flexible allowing easy manipulation to engage the tissue of the wound.

The wound is effectively closed by arraying one strap on opposite sides of the wound and fastening the two straps at the center of the injury. The device also allows the attending medical practitioner to adjust the straps by either tightening or loosening the closure. The device and technique result in a far faster, cleaner, and safer closure. Furthermore, the reduced risk of scarring and rupture results in the aesthetic healing of the injury.

Technical Textiles in Electrical Stimulation

The technical textile industry has also promoted the healing properties of wound dressings by passing a bioelectric current on the dressing. This form is in a bid to amplify the healing process. This physical modality is known as ES, which is an abbreviation for Electrical Stimulation.

This technique involves embedding an electrical potential source into a sterile wound dressing. The dressing will produce an electric potential of a range between 0.6 volts to 0.7 volts. This happens in presence of moisture, eliminating the need for an external power source as the dressing delivers a substantial micro-current into the wound. This design was extensively tested and studied using animal subjects, and the results purport that bioelectric dressing is far more efficient than basic cotton wound dressing treatments.

Technical Textiles in Regenerative Medicine

Significant advancements are also underway in biotechnology with biomaterials and regenerative medicine. New technologies have enabled textile scientists to marry previous biomedical textile technology with regenerative medicine technology. The amalgamation of these two skills has led to the discovery of improved wound closure materials. For instance, the coating of a warp kit mesh with Regenerez, a medical regenerative component, increases the mesh structure's amenability and general ability to assimilate with the tissues of the body and averting the construction of scar tissue significantly.

Technical Textiles in Wearables

An emerging trend in the technical textile industry is infusing wearables and different types of apparel with technologies that create smart materials and clothing. There are a growing number of textiles that integrate sensors to produce and respond to data making the device the garment itself. Wearable smart textiles activate through technologies such as smartphones with MEMS, microelectromechanical systems.  MEMS are designed to function in tiny spaces, for instance, within the small holes of fabric.

There are three categories of smart textiles, classified into generations. The first generation encompasses electronics or some form of sensor which mounts on a garment. In 2009, a jacket that could control an iPhone by pressing buttons on the garment hit the market. The second-generation wearable smart textiles include sensors and electronics embedded into a garment. Lastly, third-generation smart textiles encompass electronics or sensors that are textile. For instance, the use of conducting fibers to transmit data.

Conclusion

Technical textiles continue to facilitate new generations of medical technologies in wound care and closure, electro-stimulation, regenerative medicine, and smart wearables. Increasing demands by patients and practitioners will surely continue to drive innovation and new technologies with technical textiles for years to come.