MEDICAL PPE INNOVATION
Protecting Patients & Healthcare’s Frontline
When it comes to medical safety, fibres, nonwovens and advanced play a pivotal role in shielding healthcare professionals and patients alike. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) products are essential for creating safer working environments and can include surgical and respirator facemasks, surgical gowns, drapes and wraps, shoe and head covers, hand protection, scrubs, and full-body protective suits.
NIRI is at the forefront of medical PPE innovation and supports the entire textile supply chain – from raw materials suppliers to brands exploiting their final functional products. We collaborate closely with industry partners, harnessing our deep knowledge of medical needs to develop the next generation of PPE products. Discover how we help companies develop cutting-edge innovations that are setting new standards in protection and performance -shaping the future of medical safety.
Understanding the Influences Shaping the Future of Medical PPE
The global medical PPE market was valued at 20.4 billion USD in 2022 and is expected to rise to 28.8 billion USD by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.4% [1].
Key Drivers of Market Growth
Rising Awareness of Healthcare Associated Infections [1]
PPE usage to prevent spread of pathogens and disease in becoming more understood and put as a higher priority both in healthcare and medical environments as well as within other areas of daily life [2].
COVID-19 Pandemic & Global Health Events [1]
Large outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in a massive increase in demand for PPE products to protect healthcare workers, patients in healthcare settings, and the rest of society.
Technological Advancements in PPE
Innovations in the PPE sector are continually occurring, with developments in performance, such as the incorporation of antimicrobials, nanofiber membranes, and increased longevity, as well as advances in user comfort, such as improved breathability, better fit, and lightweighting [3].
Stricter Government Regulations
Most government and regulatory agencies now mandate that suitable PPE be provided to employees who may be exposed to risk at work. This includes PPE used by workers in the healthcare and medical sector who interact directly with patients [2,4].
Rising Healthcare Expenditure
Improved healthcare, especially in developing countries, is making PPE usage more accessible in medical and healthcare settings across the world.
Dr. Ross Ward, NIRI CCO
“By collaborating with NIRI, companies can leverage our expertise to deliver enhanced protective equipment that addresses the evolving needs of the healthcare industry and beyond”
NEXT GENERATION PRODUCTS
Transforming the PPE sector with NIRI
NIRI is a global leader in developing sustainable materials, fibres, fabrics and products and has significant experience developing PPE products, and the broader medical sector. With an advanced overview and insight into the sector and application, NIRI has defined key areas for development and improvement:
Comfort
NIRI can develop PPE with improved breathability, comfort in different environmental temperatures and humidity, and better fit, such as adjustable fittings and ergonomic designs, to enhance comfort and ensure the product’s safety [3].
Improved Performance
NIRI has developed solutions for advancing PPE, including improving filtration efficiency against airborne particles and longevity of face masks, providing better protection to users from fluids, particulates and aerosols in surgical gowns and drapes, and providing barrier properties alongside breathability.
Lightweighting
Reducing the weight of PPE can enhance comfort and cost-efficiency by lowering raw material and processing costs, all while maintaining high product performance standards.
Improved Sustainability
NIRI continually explores sustainable options for PPE and medical products. We develop environmentally friendly products, including biobased, compostable or biodegradable materials, fully recycled or recyclable products, durable and reusable options, and methods to improve production efficiency or reduce energy consumption.
Infection Prevention
NIRI enhances PPE products with improved antimicrobial properties by incorporating agents or materials that introduce self-disinfection, germ-killing, or germ-capturing functionalities.
Smart Technologies
NIRI supports clients with integrating smart functionalities within PPE, such as wearable biosensors to monitor patient health, sensors to measure temperature and humidity, and RFID tags for efficient PPE inventory management.
WHY CHOOSE NIRI
Accelerate Your Medical PPE Innovation with NIRI
As a leading innovation company, NIRI accelerates the development of cutting-edge products through our extensive expertise in material science and product development. We provide consulting services focused on engineering advanced chemistries, materials, and fabrics to enhance product performance, reduce production costs and energy usage, and improve sustainability credentials.
NIRI offers comprehensive product development services, including ideating new concepts, developing proof-of-principle and concept prototypes, and transferring technology to industrial-scale manufacturing.
To find out more about how NIRI can support your requirements, click on the relevant service link.