Gravity-Resistant Skin Patch Support for Sensor Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gravity causes skin patches, such as those used for physiological characteristic sensors like glucose monitors, to droop or sag within the introducer tool, leading to poor adhesion and potential failure to couple properly to the user.
Innovation Solution
A gravity resistance system is integrated with the adhesive skin patch, maintaining it perpendicular to the inserter's longitudinal axis during deployment and using differential adhesives to ensure easy removal post-deployment, preventing sagging and ensuring full adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the skin patch is positioned within the sensor introducer tool during storage and transport, then the patch is protected and ready for deployment, but gravity causes the patch to droop or sag, leading to poor adhesion and potential deployment failure
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible support structure comprising a thin film with a curved configuration is positioned behind the adhesive patch. The curved shape (arc with radius of curvature) provides structural support to prevent the patch from drooping or sagging under gravity while maintaining flexibility. The thin film acts as a reinforcing element that maintains patch orientation without adding significant bulk or rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure introduces a spatial dimension solution by positioning the curved thin film in a plane behind the patch, creating a three-dimensional configuration that resists gravitational force. The arc-shaped support extends in the vertical dimension to counteract the downward pull of gravity, maintaining the patch in a substantially vertical orientation during storage.
2Shape
If a rigid support structure is used to prevent patch drooping, then gravity resistance is improved, but the patch becomes difficult to remove from the inserter after deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure uses a flexible thin film rather than a rigid structure. This flexibility allows the patch assembly to be easily removed from the inserter after deployment while still providing sufficient structural support to prevent drooping. The thin film can deform during removal and then return to its original curved configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure transitions from a static rigid form to a dynamic flexible form that can adapt during different phases of use. During storage, the curved configuration provides structural support; during removal, the flexibility allows for easy detachment; and after deployment, the structure maintains its shape to ensure proper adhesion.
3Reliability
If the adhesive patch is made larger to ensure full contact with the user, then adhesion quality is improved, but the patch becomes more susceptible to gravity-induced drooping and sagging
Solution Approach 1:
The curved thin film support structure provides distributed structural reinforcement across the entire adhesive patch surface. This allows larger patches to maintain their shape and orientation without drooping, as the support structure counteracts gravitational force across the full area of the patch, enabling full contact adhesion.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved support structure acts as a mechanical counterweight to gravity, with its arc configuration positioned to provide upward support force that balances the downward gravitational force on the larger adhesive patch. This counterbalancing allows large patches to maintain proper orientation despite increased mass.
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 system maintains the adhesive patch perpendicular to the inserter axis, preventing sagging and ensuring proper adhesion to the user, allowing for effective deployment and easy removal of the inserter without disturbing the patch.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one adhesive layer is coupled between the adhesive patch and the sensor inserter
Data Source
AI summary
A system for a physiological characteristic sensor deployed with a sensor inserter includes an adhesive skin patch coupled to the physiological characteristic sensor. The adhesive patch is to couple the physiological characteristic sensor to an anatomy. The system also includes a gravity resistance system coupled to the adhesive patch and to be coupled to the sensor inserter. The gravity resistance system maintains the adhesive patch substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sensor inserter prior to deployment of the physiological characteristic sensor and is removable from the adhesive patch by the sensor inserter upon deployment of the physiological characteristic sensor.