Medical textiles

A hernia prosthesis claimed to be easy to position and fix has been developed by Sofradim Production of Trévoux, France.

Novel thread constructions for the development of biosensors for chronic wounds have been developed by the Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology at the Technical U

A dressing for use in topical negative-pressure therapy is described in US Patent 9 808 561 by Smith & Nephew. 

Multifunctional wound dressings made from biopolymers have been developed by German researchers from Kelheim Fibres and Resorba Medical.

A multilayered wound dressing that claims to offer improved contamination control, improved odour adsorption and superior absorption of excess wound exudates has been developed by Blücher.

A stent jacket designed to reduce platelet aggregation is described by InspireMD of Tel Aviv, Israel.

An improved dressing for treating infected wounds has been developed by BSN Medical of Hamburg, Germany.

A breathable impervious fabric for use in cleanroom apparel that can also provide protection against blood-borne pathogens has been launched by Ahlstrom-Munksjö of Stockholm, Sweden. 

Research funded by The Woolmark Co of Australia has demonstrated that wearing superfine merino wool next to the skin is therapeutic for those suffering from eczema.

Engineered biomaterials such as scaffolds derived from plant products have been developed by researchers from Drexel University of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Ontex Group of Erembodegem, Belgium, is to build a new production plant in Radomsko, Poland, to further expand its personal hygiene business.

A vaginal mesh implant (TVT-Secur) made by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) was launched without a clinical trial, and was sold for five years after the company learned that it had a higher failure

Compression garments that provide selective support to different parts of a woman’s body, including the back and abdomen, and can increase wardrobe options during and after pregnancy, are disclosed

Consumer products, including wipes and personal hygiene products, account for more than one-third of nonwovens sales in disposables markets, according to a new report from Freedonia.

Vestagen Protective Technologies, which develops and markets Vestex Active Barrier fabric healthcare uniforms, laboratory coats and patient garments, has announced that a US federal court in Califo

A combined protective carrier and mechanical coupling system that provides both a cover for a wound and aids in its closure has been developed by BandGrip.

A bioelectric wound treatment device such as a bandage or wound dressing has been developed by Vomaris Innovations. 

A low-cost patient-warming device that can be configured as a blanket, drape or surgical drape has been developed by Medline Industries.

A graduated compression garment is highlighted in US Patent 9 724 260 by Compression Dynamics.

A medical device for reconstructive surgery that includes a suture mesh has been developed by Avinash Kumar of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, USA.

For the past two years, VTT Technical Research Centre of Espoo, Finland has been developing new biomaterial applications for cellulose-based compounds for three-dimensional (3D) printing applicatio

A suture that features a reinforced loop with a polymeric coating is described by Covidien in US Patent 9 687 228.

Nonwoven fabrics manufacturer WPT Nonwovens will open a US$6-million plant in Beaver Dam, Kentucky, USA, to add capacity for materials used in hygiene and filtration products, such as diapers and f

Novel absorbent fibres made from regenerated low-substituted carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) are described in US Patent 9 610 379 by FPInnovations.

A US law firm has filed a lawsuit against medical device manufacturer Ethicon, the maker of Physiomesh, as well as parent company Johnson & Johnson.

A kinesiology tape bandage has been developed by Rocktape of Campbell, California, USA.

After receiving complaints related to possible higher surgical infection risk when using the 3M Bair Hugger surgical warming blanket, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated, but fou

BeoCare Group, a North American manufacturer of knitted medical textiles, and Dusino San Michele, Italy-based FRA Production have entered into a strategic alliance.

3M has added 4076 Extended Wear Medical Tape to its product portfolio.

Improved reinforced meshes for retropubic implants for the treatment of urinary incontinence and/or pelvic floor disorders are disclosed in US Patent 9 655 706 by Boston Scientific Scimed.

A mesh implant for use in the reconstruction of soft-tissue defects is disclosed by Novus Scientific in US Patent 9 668 847.

Standard Textile and Vestagen Protective Technologies have entered into a strategic partnership to market Vestex Active Barrier garments.

An improved textile bandage to support or protect joints such as elbows, knees and ankles ithat is prevented from shifting during wear has been developed by Otto Bock HealthCare of Duderstadt, Germ

Fibertex Personal Care is to establish its own production in North Carolina, USA. 

A mesh device for supporting a breast implant or breast tissue has been developed by inventors from California, USA. 

Expanding wound dressings for controlling bleeding wounds are disclosed in US Patent 9 623 223 by RevMedx.

Rusvata, a manufacturer of medical products including cotton wool, bandages and gauze, has inaugurated a new Trützschler spunlace line for the production of hydro­entangled nonwovens at its headqua

A UK consortium has developed a wound dressing system for the treatment of conditions associated with tissue ischaemia and skin lesions, such as diabetic foot ulcers, burns and surgical wounds.

A high-tensile-strength semi-absorbable composite suture with a minimized non-absorbable mass has been developed by DePuy Mitek.

Global demand for surgical gowns continues to rise, owing to the increasing number of surgeries being performed in hospitals worldwide.

A resorbable polymeric mesh implant for use in the reconstruction of soft-tissue defects has been developed by Novus Scientific.

Berry Global has announced it is investing in an RF5 machine from Reifenhäuser Reicofil for the production of spunbond, meltblown and composite nonwovens.

Takeda Pharmaceutical and BioSurfaces have initiated a research programme to develop innovative medical devices to treat patients with gastrointestinal (GI) diseases using BioSurfaces’ proprietary

A biocompatible non-stick wound dressing based on an elastomer matrix containing fat and hydrocolloid is disclosed in US Patent 9 649 402 by Lohmann & Rauscher.

A porous absorbent wound dressing that has minimal adherence to the healing wound has been outlined by researchers from IBM.

In the treatment of chronic wounds, nursing staff have to change a dressing regularly—not just for reasons of hygiene, but also to examine the wound, take swabs and clean it.

Hartmann Group, a supplier of medical and hygiene products, has completed the acquisition of Procter & Gamble’s (P&G’s) Lindor adult incontinence brand in Spain and Portugal.

Smart-fabrics company Footfalls & Heartbeats (UK) is working with Germany-based KOB, a manufacturer of bandages and fabrics, to improve compression therapy using smart fibres.

Synthetic silk biopolymer producer AMSilk has received certification from TÜV Süd for its quality management system. 

A surgical implant that includes a biodegradable polymeric coating that stiffens the mesh for handling and softens it upon placement within the body has been developed by Covidien subsidiary Sofrad