This volume combines original overviews of eight primary areas of medical textiles and biomaterials research (basic biomaterials, healthcare and hygiene products, infection control and barrier materials, bandaging and pressure garments, woundcare materials, implantable devices, medical devices, and smart technologies), each followed by a selection of papers first presented at the 2003 MEDTEX Conference, held at the University of Bolton. In all, 50 papers addressing various important and emerging applications of medical textiles and biomaterials are included.

From the Preface: “Medical textiles are a major growth area within the technical textiles sector and the range of applications for such products continue to grow and increase in diversity with every new development. This new book is the culmination of worldwide research into medical textiles and biomaterials for healthcare and is based on the most innovative and exciting papers presented at MEDTEX03. The presented research has been thoroughly edited by a group of leading experts in the field...”

Target Audience: Scientists, engineers, and product development specialists in academia and industry, as well as upper-level students studying bioengineering, medical textiles, and medical device development.

Partial Table of Contents:

Biomaterials Utilised in Medical Textiles:

Reformed Collagen Fibres

Novel Chitosan—Alginate Fibres for Advanced Wound Dressings

Healthcare and Hygiene Products:

Application of Nonwovens in Healthcare and Hygiene Sector

Role of Advanced Textile Materials in Healthcare

Market Research and Overview of Turkish Hygienic Products

Infection Control and Barrier Materials:

Qualitative Evaluation of the Barrier Effect of Textiles in Use

Reducing Microbial Contamination in Hospital Blankets: A Contribution to Combat Nosocomial Infections (Hospital Infections)

Durable and Rechargeable Biocidal Textiles

Barrier Textiles by Wet Finishing and Plasma Treatment

Bandaging and Pressure Garments:

The Study of Pressure Delivery for Hypertrophic Scar Treatment

Evaluation of Pressure Profile of Bandages Using Mannequin Leg

Effect of Fibre Type and Structure in Designing Orthopaedic Wadding for the Treatment of Various Leg Ulcers

Assessment of Fabrics Worn on the Upper Limbs

Woundcare Materials:

Woundcare Dressings from Chitin

Conducting Clinical Trials in Woundcare

New Approach to Produce Absorbent Pads for New End Uses

Implantable Devices:

Manufacture and In Vitro Bioactivity of Sol-Gel-Derived Silica Fibre and P(L/D,L)LA Composite

Nonwoven Scaffolds of Improved Design for the Tissue Engineering of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Medical Devices:

Enhancing Physio-Chemical Behaviour of P(LLA/CL) Suture by Solvent Treatment

Barbed, Bi-Directional Surgical Sutures

Surgical Sutures: The Largest Textile Implant Material

Nerve Implants

Intelligent Textiles for Medical Applications:

Textile Finishing for the Production of New Generation Medical Textiles

The Effect of Ammonia and Sulphur Dioxide Gas Plasma Treatments on Polymer Surfaces