Abstract
Abstract Fabric-to-fabric friction is involved in the action mechanism of medical compression devices such as compression bandages or lumbar belts. To better understand the action of such devices, it is essential to characterize, in their use conditions (mainly pressure and stretch), the frictional properties of the fabrics they are composed of. A characterization method of fabric-to-fabric friction was developed. This method was based on the customization of the fourth instrument of the Kawabata Evaluation System, initially designed for fabric roughness and friction characterization. A friction contactor was developed so that the stretch of the fabric and the applied load can vary to replicate the use conditions. This methodology was implemented to measure the friction coefficient of several medical compression bandages. In the ranges of pressure and bandage stretch investigated in the study, bandage-to-bandage friction coefficient showed very little variation. This simple and reliable method, which was tested for commercially available medical compression bandages, could be used for other medical compression fabrics.
Highlights
Fabric-to-fabric friction is involved as one of the underlying mechanisms in many medical devices
For bandage Biflex® 16, the friction coefficient tended to decrease at the initiation of pressure increase and was stable
Significant differences were observed in friction coefficient for varying pressure (p = 0.03 for the Biflex® 16 (B16) and p = 0.01 for the Biflex® 17 (B17)), only between applied pressures equal to 2.22 kPa and 4.15 kPa (Figure 5)
Summary
Fabric-to-fabric friction is involved as one of the underlying mechanisms in many medical devices In these applications, friction is sometimes only a negligible phenomenon, whereas in others, it is a salient feature directly impacting the function of the device. Friction is sometimes only a negligible phenomenon, whereas in others, it is a salient feature directly impacting the function of the device In such cases, an accurate understanding and characterization of friction is of highest importance and deserves specific studies. An accurate understanding and characterization of friction is of highest importance and deserves specific studies One of these applications is medical compression bandage therapy in which a textile bandage is wrapped with two or three overlaps around the lower limb within the aim to apply controlled pressure onto the skin. Literature and experimental equipment dedicated to textile material friction properties are slightly less abundant [2]
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