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Medical textiles

A multilayer nonwoven wrap (Reliance Fusion) that ensures that equipment trays in hospitals remain sterile has been approved for marketing and sale in the USA by the Food and Drug Administration (F

A haemostatic patch that can stop bleeding an average of six times faster than the leading commercial sealant patch has been launched by Ethicon of Raritan, New Jersey, USA. 

A modular laundry system that enables re-usable personal protective equipment (PPE) to be washed locally is being used for the first time by a hospital in the UK.

A knitted patch that could improve the surgical treatment of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) is to be launched by a consortium in Japan. 

Nonwoven microcarriers that enable the rapid and large-scale culture of a wide range of high-quality cells has been developed by Teijin Frontier of Osaka and the University of Fukui, both in Japan.

Bekaert—metal and metal alloy-yarns for smart textiles

Founded in 1880 and with its headquarters in Belgium, Bekaert describes itself as a global market and technology leader in the material science of steel wire-transformation and coating technologies, and has 27 000 employees. In recent years, the company has been finding innovative applications for its metal/metal-alloy yarns in smart textiles, reports James Bakewell. 

A wet-spun core–shell suture that demonstrates a strong antimicrobial effect and can be seen using medical scanning systems is being developed by researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne, Victor

Cotton textiles in which an antimicrobial agent is incorporated at a molecular level are being developed by a research team led by the University of Maryland (UMD) in College Park, USA.  

A durable and sustainable antimicrobial treatment for cotton fabrics

Cotton fabrics can often provide the perfect conditions for the growth of bacteria that cause them to smell and, ultimately, degrade. Senior Technical Manager, Textiles, at Microban International, Yihong Li, describes a potential solution to this problem.

Technologies for three-dimensionally (3D) printing structures on textiles for the production of medical devices are being developed by researchers at the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Rese

An elastic, flexible superabsorbant material for the production of comfortable, long-lasting wound dressings will be shown for the first time at Compamed by Freudenberg Performance Materia

HeiQ of Schlieren, Switzerland, has introduced a textile finish (HeiQ Allergen Tech) to help alleviate the problems caused by allergens.

Comez, of Cilavegna, Italy, reports that its knitting machines can be used to manufacture a wide variety of textiles for medical implants.  

A treatment from Polygiene that inhibits the growth of odour-causing bacteria in fabric is being applied to a range of protective uniforms and scrubs sold by NNT Uniforms for healthcare professiona

Contract manufacturer of medical textiles, SHL Healthcare AB, has established a Textile Centre of Excellence (TCX) in Borås, Sweden, where it will work with its customers to support the early phase

A film that protects wounds and helps them to heal quickly, repels bacteria, dampens inflammation, releases active pharmaceutical ingredients in a targeted manner and ultimately dissolves by itself

Innovations combined to create odour-capturing wound dressing

The creator of a novel odour-capturing molecule and the developer of a process for impregnating textiles with dry powders have joined forces to create nonwoven dressings that have been proven to reduce malodours from chronic wounds. Editor James Bakewell caught-up with those involved to find-out more. 

An ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibre that is coloured blue to provide a strong visual aid – so that multiple sets of sutures can be differentiated during complicated surgeries

A textile-based sleeve that will generate electrical stimulation to reduce swelling and discomfort for patients with lymphoedema is being developed by researchers at Nottingham Trent University in

An electrospun nanofibre dressing that releases an antimicrobial agent in response to the temperatures characteristic of infected wounds is being developed by researchers at Empa in St.

A drape that features an antimicrobial adhesive for protecting the site of a surgical incision has been launched by Cardinal Health of Dublin, Ohio, USA. 

A treatment that has been proven to reduce malodours (such as putrescene and cadaverine) from chronic wounds when incorporated into nonwoven dressings has been launched by Aqdot of Cambridge, UK.  

An electrospun, insulin-loaded patch that could be stuck to the inside of a person's cheek, where it can deliver the hormone in a less invasive way than conventional routes, is being developed by r

US-based developer of antibacterial wound dressings, Hydrofera, has been acquired by hygiene and health company Essity.

Hygiene and health company Essity has acquired developer of waterproof cast liners for the US market, AquaCast Liner. 

A textile sleeve that prevents peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines from being dislodged and helps to protect them from infection has been launched by Mighty Well of Cranston, Rhode

A wearable sensor that can monitor the condition of chronic wounds and wirelessly transmit the data it collects to an electronic device is being developed by researchers at the National University

A haemodiafiltration device (an artificial kidney) based on a hollow polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-fibre membrane has been launched by Toray Medical Co Ltd of Tokyo, Japan.

Sustainable alternatives to conventional wound dressings and a hydrophilic debridement foam will be among the highlights on Freudenberg Performance Materials' stand at Compamed.

A textile-based implant containing cartilage derived from stem cells has been shown to reduce pain and restore hip-joint function to baseline levels in a study of dogs with symptoms of moderate ost

The global market for biomedical textiles will expand by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5% to be worth more than US$17 billion by the end of 2031, according to the latest report from Fact.

A nonwoven that has been made from the bark of the Mutuba tree (Ficus natalensis) by the Baganda people of Southern Uganda since the thirteenth century could be used in the treatment of wo

A fibre-based implant (called OccluTex) that reduces the risks associated with the treatment of brain aneurysms is being developed by the RWTH Aachen University Clinic in Germany.

Essity of Stockholm, Sweden, has acquired the distribution rights to the woundcare technology Sorbact in Australia and New Zealand from the Australian company Bayport Brands of Mornington, Victoria

A bandage that that can detect the presence of infections in a wound and monitor its condition has been developed by researchers at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, USA.

A prototype circular-knitted vascular graft that can serve as a replacement for a damaged or blocked coronary artery is being developed by researchers at North Carolina State University (NCSU) in R

While short-term demand for surgical masks remains unprecedented owing to the human coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic, growing awareness of their effectiveness will lead to steady sales growth in the

Commercialising, validating and supplying a vital treatment

From the beginnings of the current pandemic in China in late 2019 to the present, our industry has responded swiftly to provide the vital personal protective equipment (PPE) needed by frontline workers and the public. By forming partnerships, increasing production and developing new products, it has contributed significantly to help prevent the uncontrolled spread of the virus responsible. Editor Nick Butler picks the as-yet unfinished story of HeiQ’s commercialisation of a new anti-viral textile treatment as a prime example among many impressive achievements.

US industry adapts rapidly to pandemic challenges

As the  covid-19 pandemic began to take its toll in the USA from late February 2020, medical facilities rapidly became overwhelmed with patients, existing stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) were exhausted and global supply chains broke down. Happily, local textile manufacturers were able to adapt their output to compensate for shortages. John McCurry tells the stories of a few of them.

Electrospun membranes of cellulose that, when used as wound dressings, kill bacteria in a highly efficient manner are being developed by researchers at Empa in St Gallen, Switzerland.

Colback nonwovens are being used in efforts to solve the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in healthcare institutions in The Netherlands.

Cotton-based dressings that are highly effective for the treatment of diabetic wounds and burns injuries have been developed by engineers from the UK’s University of Sheffield.

A German hospital group says it has developed a treatment that allows the re-use of high-quality face masks worn to protect medical workers at risk of exposure to the virus (SARS-CoV-2) responsible

Hollingsworth & Vose, a manufacturer of nonwovens and engineered papers used in filtration, energy and industrial applications, has developed a nonwoven fabric for the production of non-surgica

Medical device manufacturer, Medi USA has launched an addition to its range of flat-knitted compression products for the management of oedema.

The minimum requirements for the design, production and performance assessment of community face masks (barrier masks) intended for consumers in Europe has been published.

An antiviral and antimicrobial treatment for textiles has been proven effective against the strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, according to its developer.

Berry Global Group Inc is to spend US$8 million on the installation of new equipment and upgrades to existing lines to increase capacity for meltblown nonwovens at its plant in Statesville, North C

Apex Mills explores the potential of trailblazing knitting technology

Specialising in state-of-the-art knitted technical textiles currently offers incredible challenges as well as numerous opportunities. As competitors fail, for instance, manufacturers can acquire new capabilities and new customers. One such company, reports John McCurry, is Apex Mills, which made its first acquisition in 2019.

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