Medical Textiles User's Perpesctive & Requirements

1. Dr B Prakash MD/Northern Railway Central Hospital Dr RK Manocha Orthopaedic Surgeon/N.Rly.Central Hospital Medical TextilesUser's Perpesctive & Requirements

2. Population – More People • Demography – More People who need • Income – More People who can afford • Products – Increasing Range of products • Attitudes & Awareness We are using more

3. In the Patient – Most Strindent sterility & biocompatibility needs • On the Patient • Near the Patient • For the Patient – Less Strindent sterility & biocompatibility needs Classification of Medical Textiles

4. In the Patient – bio-contact for days to months • On the Patient – bio-contact for minutes to hours • Near the Patient – No bio-contact, ordinary contact possible • For the Patient – No contact Rationale of Classification

5. 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 Requirements

6. In the Patient – Sutures, Implants like Meshes, Extracorporeal Membranes • On the Patients – Surgical Swabs, Dressings • Near the Patient – Gowns, Masks, Caps etc • For the Patient – Wraps for Sterilisation Examples

7. Classification of Medical Textiles Global Harmonisation Task Force (GHTF) Classification • Class III • Class IIb • Class IIa • Class I • In the Patient • On the Patient • Near the Patient • For the Patient

8. Cost Issues – either may prove cost effective • Quality Issues – reusables start as better quality • Environmental Issues – waste load & resource utilisation • Inhouse Processing Standards – may be low/unmonitored Disposables vsReusables

9. No mandatory standards !!!! • Tendency to cut corners • Tendency for cheaper Production Process – Polypropylene spun bond vs Spunbond – Meltblown – Spunbond (SMS) Quality Standards

10. Landfill – Fibreglass Orthopaedic casting bandages • Incineration – Polyurethane Orthopaedic Casting Bandages • Recycling ??? Biomedical Waste Disposal

11. Western products are not automatically suitable • Tropicalisation – higher working place temperature & humidity levels, Often non AC environments • Packaging – No trained/organised handlers so needs to be robust Adaptation to Local Needs

12. Endless possibilities – • Surgical Cap with integrated eye protection • Spray on Surgical Drapes (with or without antibacterials) • Nano-silver treated hospital linen for burn patients • Controlled drug release Risks – • Microbial Resistance Innovations

13. Thank You