Dual-Adhesive Sweat Patch for Extended Wear and Tamper Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Dermal patches for drug and alcohol testing have poor adhesion to the skin, leading to premature detachment and reduced wear time, especially under conditions of profuse sweat or water immersion, which compromises analyte collection integrity.
Innovation Solution
The use of two different adhesives in a sweat patch design, where a stronger adhesive secures an outer ring around the central collection pad, enhancing skin adhesion and providing anti-tampering features, allowing for extended wear of up to 14 to 21 days without edge detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a single adhesive is used to secure the sweat patch to the skin, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adhesion durability and wear time are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive system is segmented into two distinct adhesives with different properties and functions. The first adhesive provides initial bonding and comfort, while the second adhesive provides enhanced durability and tamper resistance. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing each adhesive to be optimized for its specific function rather than requiring a single adhesive to perform all functions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different adhesives are applied to different regions of the patch (central region versus peripheral region/outer ring). The peripheral region receives the stronger, more durable second adhesive to prevent edge detachment and tampering, while the central region uses the first adhesive for comfort and initial bonding. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing enhanced durability where needed without unnecessarily complicating the entire adhesive system.
2Reliability
If a stronger adhesive is used to improve adhesion under sweat and water conditions, then the adhesion durability is improved, but the skin irritation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stronger second adhesive is applied locally only to the peripheral region and outer edges of the patch where it is most needed for preventing detachment and tampering. The central region in contact with the skin uses the milder first adhesive, reducing skin irritation risk while maintaining adhesion durability at the critical peripheral areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive system is divided into two components with different skin compatibility profiles. The first adhesive is optimized for skin comfort and biocompatibility in the central region, while the second adhesive is optimized for durability and tamper resistance in the peripheral region. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high reliability without excessive skin irritation.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the patch edges are secured with strong adhesive to prevent detachment, then the wear time is extended, but the tamper resistance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive system is segmented into two functional components: the first adhesive for comfortable bonding and the second adhesive for durability and tamper resistance. The second adhesive's placement in the peripheral region creates visible deformation upon removal, providing tamper evidence while maintaining extended wear time.
Solution Approach 2:
The second adhesive is formulated to exhibit visible color change or deformation when removed from the skin, providing a tamper-evident feature. This allows the patch to maintain strong adhesion for extended wear while simultaneously providing reliability against tampering through visual indicators of removal attempts.
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 improved adhesion ensures longer wear time and maintains analyte collection integrity, while the stronger adhesive provides enhanced tamper resistance by deforming visibly upon removal.
Implementation Method 1
A first adhesive secures a central region of the adhesion pad surrounding the collection pad to the skin
Implementation Method 2
A second adhesive secures a peripheral region surrounding the central region to the skin. The second adhesive is preferably more durable than the first adhesive
Data Source
AI summary
Improved wear time and anti-tampering for a sweat patch is achieved based on the adhesive used to secure the sweat patch to the subject. Two adhesives may be used with one securing regions immediately surrounding the collection pad to the subject's skin, while a second secures an outer ring of the sweat patch to the subject's skin. The second adhesive provides greater adhesion to the skin under common conditions, such as profuse sweating or immersion in water, thereby providing a longer wear time and greater analyte collection integrity as well as one anti-tampering feature. Other anti-tampering features may also be provided.