Digital Catalogue of Medical Devices for Hernia Repair

Abstract

One of the most important applications of textile materials is in the medical textile industry. This new field is a combination of textile technology and medical sciences with several functional applications. Nowadays, due to the increase in the aging population and hazards of human activities such as traffic accidents, chemical injuries, diseases, sports, etc., the demand for textile-based medical devices has grown rapidly. These parameters have led to the rapid development of the medical textiles market by using novel materials, techniques, and technologies to produce advanced textile-based materials as medical devices [1]. For surgical applications, implantable and topical biotextiles are now readily available and offer a wide range of structural complexities and advantages. They can be designed to perform multiple functions, including maintaining comfort and hygiene, preventing injury and infection, treating injury and disease, and even replacing injured tissue. Examples include vascular grafts, heart valves, ligaments, hernia meshes, and hemostatic dressings. These applications require careful consideration of biocompatibility and biostability. The desired properties of biotextiles vary depending on the application. Biodegradable or bioabsorbable textiles are important for devices that serve temporary functions, such as injury repair. These properties are influenced by the manufacturing process of the biotextiles, including the choice of material or polymer, as well as the structural design of the engineered textiles [2]. The paper presents an interactive learning tool that enables textile PhD students to approach the interdisciplinary field of medical devices and the associated technologies used to manufacture them. The learning content is supported by technical specifications of fabrics, specific applications, textile technologies, various product examples. This online guide is designed to familiarise the reader with textile fabrics and enhance their knowledge in developing new products. A challenge for the learner is to become familiar with and consolidate technical data on yarns, fabric structures, and properties of medical devices. The interactive e-learning tools presented in this paper represent the result of the process of innovation of the working methods applied in the knitting laboratory of the Faculty of Textiles, Leather and Industrial Management of Iasi, within "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi.