Germany-based Freudenberg Nonwovens is celebrating 40 years of medical textile innovations. In the 1970s, the company started its journey in medical nonwovens research producing activated carbon filters in Littleborough, England. Today, these filters continue to be used in stoma pouches. In the 1980s, Freudenberg introduced nonwoven pads to adhesive bandages, replacing the knitted pads previously used in such products. During the 1990s, the company added antimicrobial finishes to the nonwovens used in adhesive bandages.
More recently, Freudenberg has concentrated many of its efforts on advanced wound care, with a focus on moist wound care. This type of treatment encourages new tissue to grow while preventing a scab from forming, and research has shown this method of healing can halve healing time compared to dry healing treatments. Freudenberg has engineered nonwovens using chitosan fibers for the moist treatment of chronic wounds. Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from the shells of sea crustaceans that has been shown to stop bleeding and heal wounds faster than other wound care products.
“One goal for us is to stimulate the human body’s capacity to heal itself following an acute injury,” said Oliver Heneric, Ph.D., head of Freudenberg Nonwovens’ Medical Segment. “And another is to help make life easier for people with chronic wounds, like diabetics.”
Freudenberg credits close and long-standing relationships with its customers for many of its developments.
“We have a close and trusting collaboration with Europe’s leading medical device manufacturers and can offer customers individual product solutions based on our long-standing experience worldwide,” said Bernd Schlesselmann, Ph.D., head of medical nonwovens research and development, Freudenberg Nonwovens.
May 27, 2014
