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Integration of new technology to support biomedical textiles sector

19 Oct '12

3 min read

The combination of health monitoring devices with textiles carries the benefits of patient safety with enhanced comfort to users. Wearable textiles provide remote monitoring of vital signs, diagnostic information that improves early detection rates, as well as cost-effective ambulatory care to patients with chronic disorders.

This technology is an extremely active area designed to address the needs of the medical and hospital sectors. Research approaches throughout the world are aimed at developing sensing patches for monitoring that are adaptable to different bodily fluids and chronic disease profiles, wherein the textile itself acts as the biosensor.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan's Biomedical Textiles — Technology Market Penetration and Roadmapping research finds there is rapid growth and adoption of woven biomedical textiles for use in key device components. With the accelerated pace of innovation in the device industry, textile engineers are validating their findings on woven structures, which has allowed them to expand their design portfolio of performance characteristics and, in turn, sharpen their competitive place in the existing market. Due to the highly disruptive nature of this technology, in addition to the manifold applications, Frost & Sullivan finds that the economic viability remains undisputed.

The main challenge underlying the development of biomedical textiles lays in realizing its intended potential. Careful consideration is required when designing smart textile products to ensure the inclusion of smart fabric components does not push the price point of wearable shirts beyond the reach of everyday consumers.

"The biomedical textiles industry faces a major technological challenge that involves complex integration of electronic components into textiles," said Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Prasanna Vadhana Kannan. "Extensive research efforts are being put towards developing effective integration techniques that amalgamate ideal biosensors into textile materials. This step requires expertise in the fields of materials, electronics and textiles."

Biomedical textiles are a relatively new area of research with huge potential across different application segments. This technology enables the autonomy and mobility of patients, while their vital signs are wirelessly monitored. The miniaturization of various systems and biocompatibility of fabrics across bodily fluids has driven various corporate and research lab innovations to arise in this segment.

One of the major drivers for the adoption of biomedical textiles comes from the fact that both end-users and medical professionals alike are stressing on novel monitoring approaches that reduce the risks associated with diabetes, cardiac arrest, hypertension and stroke, among others. Wearable textiles allow for the monitoring of patients constantly, which creates the impetus for creating smarter and intelligent textiles.

"The increasing health awareness and patient focus has shifted towards prevention, allowing monitoring to emerge as a major driving force for the biomedical textiles industry," noted Vadhana. "The plethora of applications continues to increase in diversity with new innovations."

Biomedical Textiles — Technology Market Penetration and Roadmapping, a part of the Technical Insights Growth Partnership Services program, includes analysis of nanofibers exhibiting antimicrobial properties, biomedical textiles for implantable medical devices, tissue engineering scaffolds, and wearable devices and garments. In addition, this analysis comprises biomedical textile applications in key end-user segments such as wound care, infection control, as well as smart technologies for remote healthcare monitoring, while also providing management strategies for stakeholders. All research service included in subscriptions provides detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

Technical Insights is an international technology analysis business that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters and research services.

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