Medical Industrial Fabric Needed

First, welcome to CR4! Prototyping sounds exciting!

Second, GlobalSpec and CR4 don't actually sell any products, we just supply lists of companies that sell things that you might need.

I did a quick search of some of your specs to scrounge up this link:

http://www.globalspec.com/SpecSearch/Suppliers?QID=23478635&Comp=4307&fc=1

In particular, this catalog stood out to me:

http://www.globalspec.com/SpecSearch/Products?Comp=4307&QID=23478635&VID=287295

You can filter further by specs on the left of the screen, or you can click the vendors name to get their contact information and inquire further from there! If you have any questions or want to ask for advice whilst working, we've got a pretty knowledgeable community that can probably help you troubleshoot

A bit more information is needed. Is this for some kind of garment, or bed covering (sheet)? 5 yards makes me think it's some kind of garment; wouldn't be large enough for a bed covering. Could it be for a re-useable cover for an examining table or for use with a CAT scan, X-ray or MRI table?

Well, if the only requirements are "Durable, Wipe able, Antimicrobial, Blood/water proof, Low shear", then 316L Stainless Steel will fit the bill.

Angie, can you think of any more requirements for your desired material?

This might fall short in the patient comfort tests.

Agreed... I would expect patient comfort is an as yet undefined but desired characteristic of the subject fabric.

What are the seat covers in a Chevy Cavalier made of? Oh, never mind, they're not very comfortable. You would think Chevy might have made them more comfortable, considering the amount of time people have to sit in them and wait for a service truck to show up.

Oh,

Now I get it.

OP, we need much more detail. It can be in very general terms, if you're worried about protecting intellectual property and patent rights.

By their very nature, the words "medical" and "fabric" conger up visions of PJs or gowns or bed covering, in a hospital or medical facility.

Cavalier

Whatever the intended usage or application for this fabric, you need to involve the Infection Control people in the fabric selection and testing processes, as mandated by NIH / JCHAO environment of care standards. Assuming the senior management people are amendable with your plan, it will be prudent for you to also get the support of the other departments /committees who are involved or that are integral part of any equipment acquisition processes of your hospital.

I have involved infection control and was given the requirements I listed. I have support from senior administration. Now, just to find the fabric... Ugh!

I understand all the qualities you are looking for, except Low shear.

Can you explain?

low sheer - meaning not irritating to the skin, not rough fabric so if patient rubs against it it will not damage their skin. An example of material would be like a Blood pressure cuff...does that make sense? I met with my attorney today and my patent is pending so I am really anxious to get this going soon, Many thanks!

Angie,

In the interest of full disclosure, I must tell you that Doorman and I are not fabric makers, nor have any connection to a potential source.

You need the help of a medical materials distributor.

Some help may readily be available if some usage /application hints are shared or provided?

http://www.qmed.com/supplier/biomedical-structures

http://www.secantmedical.com/

Hello! We represent in India an European Company who manufacture a large range of Fabric with wide applications ...one of the fabric is for medical use. They are already supplying in Europe to Hospitals to use as partitions/ Screens/Bed covering.

This fabric has almost all qualities that you are looking for.

My email id is manjari@joyarchitronic.com and can send you some more details.

Angie -

More specifications needed -

Translucent, transparent, opaque?

Intrinsically anti-microbial or impregnated or silver microfiber interweave?

Weight per square yard?

Blood/Water-proof...yes. Vapor-proof or vapor-penetrable?

Autoclave heat & pressure tolerant? Gas Sterilization? Laundry?

Any color requirement?

Seams made by stitching/sewing, glue/solvent, heat, ultrasonic weld?

Elasticity?

Monolayer? Laminated Bi-Layer, Tri-layer?

Manufacturers making these are rare in USA. You'll probably end up finding your supplier is in China, but first look here -

http://www.nationaltextile.org/members-technical-textiles.htm

Gore, BASF, 3M, DuPont, and some of the startups that rose out of the Solutia (ex-monsanto) bankruptcy, are also places to look.

G'day Angie, i know ( well, i think i know ) that by low shear you mean you want the patients' skin to suffer low shear. In plain english you want the surface to be slippery. Yes?

To an engineer a fabric with low shear is one that will tear easily. i.e. it has low shear strength.

Jim

Perhaps Kevlar Fabric?

Hello Angela,

I have friends who have been searching for almost the exact same requirements for their already patented product, and they have run into a operational impasse.

All the suppliers are not willing to part with more than a small patch of the cloth, and require a minimum order that they cannot afford.

If you would like I could steer you to these ladies, so you all can compare notes. Just email me at swb@usa.com

I am certain that they would be willing to sign non disclosure documents.

For me personally - it took several years of wearing max strength nicotine patches; only affordable because my wife could get them for next to nothing from her (the producer) pharmaceutical company.

I know about addiction to cigarettes - I wouldn't wish it on anybody.

At it's worst a pack I'd chain-smoke 20 regular cigarettes before even being able to get out of bed.