Flexible Sensor Mounting Base for Stable Transcutaneous Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glucose sensors for transcutaneous placement are difficult to position comfortably and stably on the patient's skin due to bulkiness and rigidity, which can cause discomfort and instability, making it challenging to obtain accurate analyte readings.
Innovation Solution
A flexible mounting base with a breathable, adhesive material and a semi-rigid housing, designed to be slim and compact, stabilizes the sensor electrodes while allowing easy placement and removal, featuring a slotted insertion needle and cannula for secure positioning and communication with monitoring devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex structures are used to mount and hold the sensor set in place on the patient's skin, then the sensor can be positioned transcutaneously, but the structure causes discomfort due to bulk, excessive rigidity, or the manner of attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting base utilizes a flexible substrate that can conform to the patient's skin surface, eliminating the bulk and rigidity of traditional mounting structures. This flexible base maintains sensor stability while being comfortable for prolonged wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting base employs composite materials combining adhesive layers, flexible substrates, and breathable cover layers. This multi-layer composite structure provides both the stability needed for secure sensor attachment and the comfort required for patient wearability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the mounting base is made rigid to stabilize the sensor, then the sensor position is stable, but the patient experiences discomfort and the device becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting base is constructed as a thin, flexible structure that conforms to the skin surface rather than imposing a rigid form. This eliminates bulk while maintaining stability through flexibility and adhesive bonding.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting base changes the stability parameter from rigid structural support to flexible adhesive bonding. This allows the sensor to remain stable on the skin without requiring a bulky rigid mounting structure.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If non-breathable materials are used for the mounting base, then the structure is more durable, but the patient experiences skin irritation and discomfort during prolonged wear
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting base incorporates breathable porous materials in the cover layer that allow skin vapor transmission. This maintains durability while preventing skin irritation during extended wear periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting base uses a composite structure with breathable porous materials layered over the adhesive substrate. This combination provides both durability for prolonged use and breathability to prevent skin irritation.
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 flexible mounting base provides comfortable, stable, and secure transcutaneous placement of glucose sensors, ensuring accurate analyte readings and minimizing discomfort and contamination risks, while allowing for easy replacement of adhesive layers to maintain hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive layer that holds the sensor at the infusion site
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible mounting base to hold a sensor at an infusion site, the sensor being a removable in vivo sensor for monitoring analyte concentration level in a patient, such as blood glucose (BG) level. The mounting base comprises a flexible adhesive that anchors the flexible sensor set at an infusion site to provide stability for the sensor set in a convenient and comfortable manner. Placement of the mounting base onto the patient's skin causes the insertion needle to pierce the skin for transcutaneous placement of the cannula with the sensor therein. The insertion needle can then be withdrawn to leave the cannula and sensor at the selected insertion position, with the distal segment of the sensor being exposed to patient extracellular fluid via apertures formed in the cannula.