Medical Textiles User's Perpesctive

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Technical Textiles - Buyers Perspective
With Regards Medical Department, Indian Railways
Dr. A K Kanchan, Chief Medical Director, Central
Railway
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Indian Railways Medical Department Statistics
Description Figures
Number of Employees RELHS (Retd. Employees) 14.11 Lakhs 3.14 Lakhs
Number of Beneficiaries 62.71 Lakhs
Number of Railway Doctors Other Specialists 2506 1000
Number of Para-medical and other staff 57,000
Number of Hospitals 125
Health Units 586
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Indian Railways Medical Department Statistics
(contd .)
Description Figures
Number of Beds 13,963
Number of Indoor Patients 5.1 Lakhs / Yr
Number of OPD Patients 2.60 Cr / Yr
Number of Operations Supra Major Major Minor 3153 / Yr 40,579 / Yr 88,332 / Yr
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Indian Railways Medical Department Statistics
(contd .)
Description Figures
Traveling passengers attended 24,000 / Yr
Medical Examinations conducted per Year 67,000 (Pre-placement) 1,27,000 (Serving Employees)
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Indian Railways Medical Department Statistics
(contd .)
Budget
Estimated budget of Medical Department Rs. 1322
(which is 2.3 of total Railway Budget
) Crores Value of above mentioned services
2146 as per CGHS rates
Crores
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Introduction
From ancient times the textile materials were
used for medical applications in India viz.
surgical sponge, linen, silk sutures, strips,
catgut, etc. Latest technological developments
has enabled extensive use of technical textiles
in healthcare industry today.
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Categorisation of Technical textiles in Medical
Field
In the Patient (Intra-corporal
applications) On the Patient Near the
Patient For the Patient
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Usage category
In the Patient bio-contact for days to months

• Sutures (biodegradable and non biodegradable)
• soft tissue implants
• Artificial tendon (meshes)
• Artificial ligament
• Artificial cartilage,
• Orthopedic implants artificial joint
• Cardiovascular implants vascular grafts
• Heart valves

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On the Patient bio-contact for minutes to hours
Simple bandages Light support bandages Compressi
on bandages Orthopedic bandages  Surgical
Gauze Cotton Slings Diapers Eye
Pads Drapers Sanitary products Patient Hospital
Uniform Adhesive tapes
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Near the Patient No bio-contact, ordinary
contact possible
Bed sheet Pillow cover Other linen items viz.
Blanket, Hand Towels etc. Heating Pad
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For the Patient No contact
Face Mask Gowns Caps Aprons Mops Shoe Cover
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Areas of usage
Healthcare/ hygiene products Include bedding,
clothing, surgical clothes, products for feminine
hygiene like sanitary napkins, baby and adult
diapers etc. Non-implantable materials For
wound care that includes absorbent pad (wound
contact layer, base material viscose, plastic
film) and bandages (simple inelastic/elastic,
orthopaedic, plasters, gauzes, lint, padding)
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A range of natural fibers and biodegradable
polymers with non-biodegradable synthetic
polymers are being utilised for developing new
products in medical textiles. Since the medical
textile applications are directly related to the
life of human being, these are required to
undergo stringent testing and hygienic
criteria. This led to innovative use of variety
of fibers and lot of developments taking place in
this field.
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Fibers used in manufacturing of nonwovens for
medical applications 

• Cotton 
• Polyester 
• Polypropylene 
• Viscose glass fiber 
• Wood fluff 
• Polyamide   

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Quality Standards as per FDA
Standards prescribed by FDA for some of the items
is tabulated below
Item Threads per Dimensions Weight in g/m2 Length and Width Other
Bandage Cloth Wrap 150, Weft 85 57 tolerance of 5 99 of size mentioned on the label Foreign Matter Not more than 2
Absorbent Gauze Wrap 75, Weft 55 30 tolerance of 5 98 of size mentioned on the label Foreign Matter Not more than 1 Avg. sinking time not more than 10 secs.
Roll Bandage for POP Wrap 150, Weft 75 35 tolerance of 5 98 of size mentioned on the label
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Conclusion

• Textiles are very important in all aspects of
  medicine and surgery.
• Advances in nonwovens have resulted in a new
  breed of medical textiles.
• Advanced composite materials containing
  combination of fibres and fabrics have been
  developed for applications where biocompatibility
  and strength are required.
• It is predicted that the nonwoven materials will
  continue to have greater impact in this sector
  because of large member of characteristics and
  performance criteria required from these
  materials. 

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Thanks