Adhesive Drape with Light-Activated Micelles for Painless Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tissue treatment systems cause pain and discomfort during drape removal due to continued adhesion, especially when the tissue site is friable or fragile, and high-adhesive drapes exacerbate this issue, leading to potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A drape system with an adhesive layer containing micelles that encapsulate a release material, which is activated by exposure to light, weakening the adhesive bond and facilitating easier removal with reduced stress on the tissue site.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a high-adhesive drape is used to secure the tissue treatment system, then the drape maintains secure attachment during treatment, but the drape causes increased pain and discomfort during removal due to continued adhesion to the tissue site

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrape attachment securityVSAvoidpatient discomfort during removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive layer is pre-loaded with encapsulated release materials (such as oils, solvents, or chemical agents) that are activated upon removal attempts. This preliminary preparation allows the adhesive to automatically reduce its bonding strength during the removal phase, preventing the harmful adhesion effect that causes patient discomfort while maintaining strong attachment during treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive's bonding parameters are dynamically changed through the release materials. During treatment, the adhesive maintains high bond strength for secure attachment. During removal, the encapsulated materials are released and alter the adhesive's chemical or physical properties, reducing its adhesion strength and enabling painless removal. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between secure attachment and comfortable removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a high-adhesive drape is used to secure the tissue treatment system, then the drape remains firmly attached during treatment, but the drape may cause damage to fragile or friable tissue sites during removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrape attachment securityVSAvoidtissue integrity during removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive layer is pre-loaded with encapsulated release materials (such as oils, solvents, or chemical agents) that are activated upon removal attempts. This preliminary preparation allows the adhesive to automatically reduce its bonding strength during the removal phase, preventing the harmful adhesion effect that causes patient discomfort while maintaining strong attachment during treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive's bonding parameters are dynamically changed through the release materials. During treatment, the adhesive maintains high bond strength for secure attachment. During removal, the encapsulated materials are released and alter the adhesive's chemical or physical properties, reducing its adhesion strength and enabling painless removal. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between secure attachment and comfortable removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a standard adhesive drape is used, then the drape can be removed with less initial discomfort, but the drape may become loose or detach during treatment due to insufficient adhesion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient discomfort during removalVSAvoiddrape attachment security
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive system transitions from a static bonding strength to a dynamic one that adapts to different treatment phases. During treatment, the adhesive maintains strong bonding for secure attachment. During removal, the encapsulated release materials are activated, dynamically reducing the adhesive strength. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between secure attachment and comfortable removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive layer is pre-loaded with encapsulated release materials (such as oils, solvents, or chemical agents) that are activated upon removal attempts. This preliminary preparation allows the adhesive to automatically reduce its bonding strength during the removal phase, preventing the harmful adhesion effect that causes patient discomfort while maintaining strong attachment during treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 system allows for the drape to be removed with less force and discomfort, minimizing trauma to the patient, while maintaining secure adhesion during treatment.

Implementation Method 1

release material encapsulated in the micelles and releasable from the micelles into the adhesive layer in response to exposure to light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhoto-release: Photodissociation

Data Source

PatentEP2244748B1System and method for healing a wound at a tissue site
Publication Date: 2018.04.11 KCI LICENSING INC
  • EP2244748B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2244748B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2244748B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Provided herein is a system and method for facilitating removal of a drape from a tissue site. One aspect provides a system comprising a drape, and adhesive layer, and a release agent, where the system is adapted to be coupled to a tissue site and released therefrom upon or after exposure to an external stimulus. Another aspect provides a method for application and removal of a drape using less force than required with a conventional drape.