Bioadhesive Elastic Electrode Patch for Curved Cortex Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patch-type elastic bioelectronic devices face challenges in achieving uniform adherence and conformal contact with the curved cerebral cortex due to insufficient surface stickiness and lack of shape deformability, leading to poor signal measurement and tissue stress, discomfort, and unstable biotic-abiotic interfacial impedance.
Innovation Solution
A shape-deformable and elastic bioadhesive electronic device integrating a self-healing elastomeric polymer substrate with a stretchable thin-film electrode and a bioadhesive hydrogel layer, utilizing a manufacturing method that includes transfer printing, pressurization, and heat treatment to ensure uniform embedding and anchoring, followed by bioadhesive hydrogel coating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional PDMS substrate is used for patch-type elastic bioelectronic device, then the device can be manufactured with basic elasticity, but the surface stickiness is insufficient leading to poor adhesion and delamination under repeated stretching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite substrate consisting of PDMS (providing elasticity) and PU foam (providing enhanced surface stickiness and mechanical compliance). This composite structure combines the advantages of both materials to achieve strong adhesion while maintaining elasticity and stretchability, preventing delamination under repeated stretching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface properties of the substrate by incorporating PU foam with specific surface viscosity characteristics. This changes the surface stickiness parameter of the substrate, enabling strong initial adhesion to the cerebral cortex while maintaining the underlying elasticity of PDMS.
2Shape
If conventional PDMS polymer is used, then the substrate provides basic elasticity, but it lacks shape deformability preventing conformal contact with curved cerebral cortex surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin-film electrode device structure that can be integrated onto the flexible PDMS-PU composite substrate. This thin-film configuration allows the device to conform to curved surfaces while maintaining structural integrity and electrical functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a self-healing elastomeric polymer layer that can dynamically adjust its shape and viscosity in response to mechanical deformation and temperature changes. This dynamic property enables the device to conform to the curved cerebral cortex surface and maintain contact under various physiological conditions.
3Stress or pressure
If PDMS polymer with irreversible covalent bonds is used, then the substrate provides structural stability, but it cannot dissipate deformation stress causing tissue pressure and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the irreversible covalent bonds of conventional PDMS with reversible dynamic bonds in the self-healing elastomeric polymer. This fundamental change in bonding mechanism allows the material to dissipate deformation stress through bond breaking and reforming, reducing stress concentration on the tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-healing elastomeric polymer automatically dissipates accumulated stress through its dynamic bond characteristics without external intervention. The material self-adjusts its mechanical properties in response to applied stress, preventing tissue damage while maintaining device functionality.
4Ease of manufacture
If the thin-film electrode device is transferred onto the substrate, then the device can be integrated, but conventional transfer printing cannot achieve uniform adhesion due to insufficient substrate stickiness
Solution Approach 1:
The PDMS-PU composite substrate provides enhanced surface stickiness that enables successful transfer printing of the thin-film electrode device patterns. The PU component's surface viscosity characteristics facilitate uniform adhesion of the transferred patterns while maintaining the underlying PDMS elasticity.
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 device achieves robust, conformal adhesion to curved tissues, dissipates stress effectively, and maintains stable signal acquisition performance by forming a tight, gap-free interface with the cerebral cortex, reducing tissue stress and discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
a self-healing elastomeric polymer substrate made of a self-healing elastomeric polymer material which is a thermoplastic material and has elasticity and self-healing properties
Implementation Method 2
a bioadhesive hydrogel layer formed by coating bioadhesive hydrogel on the embedded-anchored electrode device
Implementation Method 3
heating the separated self-healing elastomeric polymer substrate on which the thin-film electrode device is printed and applying pressure to the thin-film electrode device
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention provides a shape-deformable and elastic bioadhesive electronic device comprising a self-healing elastomeric polymer substrate, a stretchable thin-film electrode device, and a bioadhesive hydrogel layer. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a shape-deformable and elastic bioadhesive electronic device, comprising a transfer printing step of a thin-film electrode device onto a self-healing elastomeric polymer substrate; a substrate separation step of attaching an adhesive tape transferring the thin-film electrode device; an adhesive tape separation step of separating the adhesive tape from the self-healing elastomeric polymer; a pressurization and heat treatment step including heating the separated self-healing elastomeric polymer; and a bioadhesive hydrogel layer forming step of forming a bioadhesive hydrogel layer on a surface of the self-healing elastomeric polymer.