In the healthcare environment, bandage systems are versatile medical devices to position and fix patients' torsos or extremities. In this study, the mechanical and morphological properties of an innovative patient position system, iFix, were assessed and compared to two commercially available bandages. Morphological properties were investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The iFix bandage showed anisotropic mechanical properties, with a more rigid behavior in the longitudinal direction and a more elastic behavior in the transverse direction. This behavior results from the organization of the fibers visible in the SEM images. All three materials investigated in this study were able to support similar maximum loads. In cases where a rigid fixation of patient limbs or torso is necessary, the authors recommend the usage of iFix. In vivo studies should be carried out to prove safety in a surgical environment before its clinical usage.
Keywords: bandage systems; fixation of patients; patient positioning system; stiffness of bandages; test methods for textiles.