Dermal Patch Expandable Layer Analyte Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dermal patches are inefficient in reliably and quickly determining analyte levels for personalized medicine and skin care, requiring longer sampling times and lacking in accurately assessing the effects of active ingredients in skin care products.
Innovation Solution
A dermal patch design featuring a membrane layer with an expandable layer that applies pressure and moisture to enhance fluid communication with the skin, combined with distinct capture sections and affinity molecules for selective analyte retention, allowing for faster and more reliable sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional dermal patches are used for analyte sampling, then the patch can accumulate moisture and analytes from the skin, but the sampling time is prolonged and the reliability of analyte detection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable layer is pre-positioned between the backing layer and membrane layer in a compressed state. Upon activation with liquid, it automatically expands to apply pressure to the membrane layer, ensuring immediate and consistent contact with the skin surface. This preliminary preparation eliminates delays in establishing fluid communication, enabling faster and more reliable analyte detection without requiring extended sampling periods.
2Productivity
If pressure is applied to the membrane layer to improve fluid connection with the skin, then the sampling efficiency increases, but the device complexity increases due to the expandable layer mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable layer functions as a self-activating pressure application mechanism. When liquid is applied to the patch, it automatically absorbs the liquid and expands, generating the necessary pressure against the membrane layer without requiring external power sources, motors, or complex control systems. This self-service approach maintains sampling efficiency while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable layer utilizes hydraulic expansion through liquid absorption to generate mechanical pressure. The layer transitions from a compressed hydrophilic material to an expanded state upon contact with liquid, converting the liquid's volume into pressure force that ensures consistent membrane-skin contact. This hydraulic mechanism achieves effective pressure application without complex mechanical systems.
3Reliability
If the membrane layer is secured to the skin without additional pressure application, then the device structure remains simple, but the fluid communication between the skin and membrane is insufficient for reliable analyte retention
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable layer acts as an intermediary pressure application mechanism between the backing layer and the membrane layer. Upon activation, it expands to apply uniform pressure that ensures optimal contact between the membrane layer and the skin surface, thereby establishing reliable fluid communication for analyte transport. This intermediary function enhances detection reliability without requiring direct complex structural modifications to the membrane-skin interface.
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 patch significantly reduces sampling time and improves the reliability of analyte detection, enabling effective assessment of analyte concentrations and the efficacy of skin treatments.
Implementation Method 1
an expandable layer for applying pressure to the membrane layer
Implementation Method 2
a membrane layer for retaining one or more analyte(s) from a body of a subject
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a dermal patch for selectively retaining one or more analyte(s) from a body of a subject comprising: a membrane layer (101) for retaining one or more analyte(s) from a body of a subject, with a first and a second side, wherein the first side is adapted to be in fluid communication with the skin of the subject; optionally holding means for securing the membrane layer in place; an adhesive layer (104); and a backing layer; wherein between the backing layer and the membrane layer (101) there is an expandable layer (103) for applying pressure to the membrane layer.