Application of Textile as Hygiene Products
Healthcare/Hygiene Products: These
products are related to daily uses in hospitals and health care
industries. These include bedding, clothing, surgical gowns, cloths
wipes and so on. All fibers are used in this product must be non-toxic,
non-allergenic, noncarcinogenic and must be able to be sterilised
without imparting any change in their physical or chemical
characteristics. The range of this products available is vast but
typically they are used in the operating room theatre or on the hospital
ward for the hygiene, care and safety of staff and patients. Production
of hygiene and medical textiles is on increase, as is the variety of
applications in this important sector. By 2005, hygiene and medical
textiles valued at US$4.1 billion, almost 12% of the global technical
textiles market.
Surgical Gowns: Surgical
gowns used to help prevent the gown wearer from contaminating
vulnerable patients, such as those with weakened immune systems. Gowns
are one part of an infection-control strategy. Disposable nonwoven
surgical gowns have been adopted to prevent the release of pollutant
particles into the air which is a probable source of contamination to
the patient. Surgical gowns are composed of nonwoven fabrics and
polyethylene films in weight range of 30–45 g/m2.
Surgical Masks: Surgical
mask is intended to be worn by health professionals during surgery and
during nursing to catch the bacteria shed in liquid droplets and
aerosols from the wearer’s mouth and nose. Simple surgical masks protect
wearers from being splashed in the mouth with body fluids, and prevent
transmission of body fluids from the wearer to others, e.g. the patient.
Surgical masks are popularly worn by the general public in East Asian
countries to reduce the chance of spreading airborne diseases.
Surgical Drapes, Cloths: These
are also called scurbs. Scrubs are the sanitary clothing worn by
surgeons, nurses, physicians and other workers involved in patient care
in hospitals. Originally designed for use by surgeons and other
operating room personnel. In many operating rooms, it is forbidden to
wear any exposed clothing, such as a t-shirt, beneath scrubs. As scrubs
are designed to promote a clean environment, the wearing of outside
clothing is thought to introduce unwanted pathogens.
Surgical Cap: Surgical
cap an accompaniment to the surgical gown (below) which covers the
head, and sometimes facial hair, of members of the surgical team; the
object is to avoid contamination of the wound. The surgical cap is in
place to prevent hazardous bodily fluids from splashing onto the doctor
or nurse’s hair and head. They are also used to prevent hair from
affecting the vision of the medical professionals. On the other hand of
the spectrum, loose hair or even other contaminants like hair products
or dandruff is dangerous to the patient. 
Diaper: A
diaper or a nappy is a type of underwear that allows the wearer to
defecate or urinate without the use of a toilet, by absorbing or
containing waste products to prevent soiling of outer clothing or the
external environment. Diapers are made of cloth or synthetic disposable
materials. Cloth diapers are composed of layers of fabric such as
cotton, hemp, bamboo, microfiber, or even plastic fibers such as PLA or
PU. Disposable diapers contain absorbent chemicals and are thrown away
after use. Cloth diapers are reusable and can be made from natural
fibers, synthetic materials, or a combination of both
Medical textiles are located at the
interfaces between technical disciplines and life sciences. Prospects
for medical textiles are rather better, especially for nonwoven
materials and disposable medical textiles used in surgical rooms.
Combination of textile and its application in medical sciences has been
proof that the painful days of patients and surgeons converting into the
comfortable days.
