Self-Supporting Adhesive Film for Topical Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skin treatment methods using electrically powered patches face issues with active formulations being rubbed off or stained on bedding due to their stickiness, leading to reduced effectiveness and discomfort, especially when left on overnight for longer treatment periods.
Innovation Solution
A system combining an electrically powered patch with a self-supporting adhesive film, where the patch is designed to be removable from the film while leaving the film adhered to the skin, ensuring longer-term delivery of active substances without unwanted staining or discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrically powered patch is left on overnight to prevent formulation rubbing off, then the formulation remains in place longer, but the patch becomes bulky and uncomfortable to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate functional components: an electrically powered patch that provides active treatment and a thin adhesive film that provides mechanical support and formulation containment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the patch can be removed when not in use while the thin film remains comfortable for overnight wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The bulky electronic components are extracted from the overnight wear configuration. The electrically powered patch is removed after treatment, leaving only the thin adhesive film on the skin, thereby eliminating the discomfort of wearing bulky devices overnight while maintaining formulation retention.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the formulation is left on skin overnight for longer treatment, then treatment effectiveness improves, but the formulation rubs off onto bed linens causing stains
Solution Approach 1:
A thin adhesive film is applied over the formulation on the skin. This film acts as a protective barrier that prevents the formulation from rubbing off onto bed linens while allowing the formulation to remain in contact with the skin for extended overnight treatment periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive film serves as an intermediary layer between the formulation and the external environment (bed linens). It mediates the conflict by providing a barrier that prevents harmful transfer of formulation to bedding while maintaining the beneficial contact between formulation and skin.
3Reliability
If a self-supporting adhesive film is used to hold the formulation, then the formulation is contained better, but the patch needs to be removable from the film for comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive properties are localized to specific regions of the film. The film has adhesive characteristics that allow it to stick to the skin and hold the formulation, while the electrically powered patch can be easily detached from the film for removal, providing different adhesive qualities in different locations as needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for delivering energy to an isolated part of a mammalian body includes an electrically powered patch and a self-supporting adhesive film. The patch has a major surface and comprises a matrix of at least one flexible, biocompatible material which is capable of conforming to the isolated body part. The self-supporting adhesive film has a first non-tacky surface arranged and configured for releasable attachment to the patch and a second tacky surface, opposite the first surface, for adhesive attachment to the isolated body part. The releasable attachment between the self-supporting adhesive film and the electrically powered patch has a lower strength than the adhesive attachment between the film and the isolated body part. Thus, during use the electrically powered patch is removable from the self-supporting adhesive film while leaving the self-supporting adhesive film adhered to the isolated body part.