Adhesion Material Using Water-Mediated Hydrogen Bonds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical adhesives face issues such as mechanical injury, allergic reactions, skin maceration, and poor adhesion due to shearing or friction, especially with hydrocolloid dressings which are not recommended for infected wounds.
Innovation Solution
A novel adhesion material that utilizes hydrogen bonds to bind with water molecules on the skin's surface rather than directly adhering to the skin, reducing skin cell removal and minimizing adverse reactions. The material comprises a polymer molecular chain composition including polyethylene glycol, citric acid, ascorbic acid, sugars, sugar alcohols, and fatty acids, which are mixed and blended under specific conditions to enhance adhesion and biocompatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional adhesives (acrylate, hydrocolloid, silicone) are used to bind medical devices to skin, then adhesion strength is improved, but mechanical injury, allergic reactions, and skin maceration occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water molecules as an intermediary medium between the adhesive and skin. The adhesive binds to water molecules on the skin surface rather than directly to skin cells, eliminating direct contact and harmful effects while maintaining adhesion strength through the water-mediated bonding interface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/chemical adhesion mechanisms that directly contact skin with hydrogen bonding to water molecules. This substitution changes the adhesion mechanism from direct skin-contact-based bonding to water-molecule-mediated hydrogen bonding, reducing mechanical injury and allergic reactions
2Strength
If hydrocolloid dressing is used to adhere to skin, then initial adhesion is improved, but adhesion is lost due to shearing or friction from fluid discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water molecules as a stable intermediary that maintains the adhesive-skin interface. The hydrogen bonds between the adhesive and water molecules remain stable even during fluid discharge, preventing the adhesion loss that occurs with hydrocolloid dressings when exposed to shearing forces or friction from wound exudate
3Ease of operation
If hydrocolloid dressing is removed from skin, then medical device is detached, but strong odor and skin injury occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water molecules as an intermediary layer between the adhesive and skin that facilitates easy removal. When the dressing is removed, the adhesive detaches from the water molecules rather than directly from skin cells, eliminating skin injury and the strong odor associated with hydrocolloid dressing removal while maintaining effective adhesion during use
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adhesion material effectively secures medical devices to the skin while reducing mechanical injury, allergic reactions, and skin maceration, and can be easily removed without causing significant skin damage, thus addressing the limitations of existing adhesives.
Implementation Method 1
The adhesion material that binds a pad, devices or other objects to the skin through hydrogen bonds
Data Source
AI summary
An adhesion material configured to be applied on a skin of a subject comprising a polymer molecular chain composition comprising polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200), polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400), citric acid, ascorbic acid, at least one of a sugar and a sugar alcohol, and at least one fatty acid.