Adhesive Patch Cut-Outs for Moisture Management in Medical Sensors

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical devices, such as glucose sensors and continuous glucose monitors, face issues with moisture accumulation due to exposure to water, leading to user discomfort, adhesive patch uncoupling, and skin irritation.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a medical device system that includes a sensor assembly and a skin adhesive patch with a coupling system featuring a first adhesive member and a second adhesive member. The second adhesive member includes cut-outs to direct moisture away from the device into the ambient environment, improving breathability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the adhesive skin patch is made fully adhesive to ensure secure coupling, then the coupling strength is improved, but moisture accumulates between the patch and skin causing discomfort and skin irritation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling strengthVSAvoidmoisture accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive skin patch is segmented into adhesive regions and non-adhesive breathable regions. The breathable regions include cut-outs or porous structures that allow moisture to escape while the adhesive regions maintain secure coupling to the skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the adhesive skin patch have different properties: adhesive regions provide strong coupling while breathable regions provide moisture permeability. This local differentiation allows the patch to simultaneously achieve secure attachment and moisture management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the adhesive skin patch is made fully adhesive to ensure secure coupling, then the coupling strength is improved, but the wear period is reduced due to adhesive uncoupling and skin irritation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling strengthVSAvoidwear period

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive skin patch is segmented into adhesive regions and non-adhesive breathable regions. The breathable regions include cut-outs or porous structures that allow moisture to escape while the adhesive regions maintain secure coupling to the skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The breathable regions convert the harmful effect of moisture accumulation into a beneficial moisture management function. By allowing moisture to escape through the breathable regions, the patch prevents skin irritation and adhesive uncoupling, thereby extending the wear period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the adhesive skin patch includes breathable regions with cut-outs, then moisture breathability is improved, but the coupling strength is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture breathabilityVSAvoidcoupling strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive skin patch is segmented into adhesive regions and non-adhesive breathable regions. The breathable regions include cut-outs or porous structures that allow moisture to escape while the adhesive regions maintain secure coupling to the skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the adhesive skin patch have different properties: adhesive regions provide strong coupling while breathable regions provide moisture permeability. This local differentiation allows the patch to simultaneously achieve secure attachment and moisture management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This solution enhances user comfort by reducing moisture-related issues, maintains the adhesive patch's coupling to the skin, and prevents skin irritation, thereby extending the wear period of the medical device.

Implementation Method 1

The second adhesive member includes at least one cut-out to direct moisture to an ambient environment surrounding the medical device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

direct moisture to an ambient environment surrounding the medical device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS20250107754A1Systems for medical device breathability

Publication Date: 2025.04.03 MEDTRONIC MINIMED INC

AI summary

A medical device includes a sensor to observe a characteristic of an anatomy, and a sensor base coupled to the sensor. The medical device includes a coupling system to couple the sensor base to the anatomy. The coupling system includes a first adhesive member and a second adhesive member. The first adhesive member is coupled to the sensor base and the second adhesive member is to couple to the anatomy. The second adhesive member includes at least one cut-out to direct moisture to an ambient environment surrounding the medical device.