Fibre-free Transdermal Patch with Skin-matched Adhesive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transdermal therapeutic systems with fibrous constituents, such as nonwoven fabrics, are visually conspicuous on the skin due to their backing layers made of materials like aluminium foil, which are impermeable to light but not aesthetically acceptable to users.
Innovation Solution
A transdermal therapeutic system devoid of fibrous constituents, featuring a light-permeable, active substance-impermeable backing layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, allowing for the application of active substances using a printing method, resulting in a transparent or skin-colored, inconspicuous patch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a backing layer made of aluminium foil or coloured plastic films is used, then the backing layer is impermeable to light and active substance, but the TTS becomes visually conspicuous on the user's skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color matching principles by formulating the adhesive layer and active substance-containing layer with pigments that match the user's skin tone. The backing layer is made transparent or translucent rather than opaque, allowing the skin color to show through and camouflaging the TTS. This resolves the contradiction by changing the color properties of the TTS components to match the skin, eliminating visual conspicuousness while maintaining light impermeability through the adhesive and active substance layers.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a transparent backing layer is used to make the TTS invisible on the skin, then the TTS becomes aesthetically acceptable, but the structure becomes more complex requiring multiple transparent layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the backing layer function with the adhesive layer function by making the adhesive layer itself transparent or translucent. Instead of requiring a separate transparent backing layer in addition to transparent adhesive and active substance layers, the adhesive layer serves dual purposes: providing adhesion and providing the transparent/camouflaging function. This reduces the number of separate transparent layers needed while maintaining aesthetic acceptance.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive layer is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides pressure-sensitive adhesion to the skin, acts as a barrier to light and active substance permeation, and provides the transparent or skin-matched appearance for aesthetic acceptance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated layers, simplifying the overall structure while achieving the desired aesthetic effect.
3Reliability
If fibrous constituents like nonwoven fabric are used in the TTS, then the TTS provides good adhesion and active substance release, but the TTS remains visually noticeable on the skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and optical properties of the adhesive and active substance-containing layers by selecting materials that are transparent or translucent in their solid or gel state. Instead of using fibrous materials that scatter light, the invention uses homogeneous polymer-based adhesives and active substance formulations that allow light transmission. This parameter change in material selection and optical properties eliminates visual conspicuousness while maintaining the necessary adhesion and active substance release properties through proper material formulation.
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 fibre-free design makes the transdermal therapeutic systems nearly invisible on the skin, enhancing user acceptance by being less noticeable, while maintaining effective controlled administration of pharmaceutical active substances.
Implementation Method 1
the TTS is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer
Implementation Method 2
The backing layer of a TTS must be impermeable to the active substance contained in the TTS
Data Source
AI summary
A transdermal therapeutic system which is free of fibrous constituents, and a method for the production of such a transdermal therapeutic system A preparation containing active substance is applied by a printing method onto the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the transdermal therapeutic system.