Light-Curable Adhesive Hermetic Seal for Sterilization Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hermetic seals in devices, such as battery assemblies, can degrade over time due to exposure to sterilization chemicals and disinfectants, leading to potential contamination and loss of gas-tight integrity.
Innovation Solution
A method using light-curable adhesives applied between parts of a structure, where at least one part is opaque but transparent to light, allowing for curing with transmitted UV or visible light to form a hermetic seal, either directly through the parts or via a light-transmissive band, and optionally using a light source within the enclosure to facilitate curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultrasonic welding is used to attach housing parts, then a hermetic seal is formed, but the seal degrades over time due to sterilization chemicals and disinfectants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the adhesive from conventional non-light-curable adhesive to light-curable adhesive. This parameter change allows the adhesive to be cured by light transmission through the housing parts, creating a more chemically resistant hermetic seal that maintains integrity over time despite exposure to sterilization chemicals and disinfectants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the ultrasonic welding mechanical system with a light-curable adhesive bonding system. Instead of using mechanical ultrasonic vibration to create the seal, the invention uses photopolymerization of light-curable adhesive to form the hermetic seal, which provides superior chemical resistance and long-term durability.
2Reliability
If light-curable adhesive is used to form hermetic seal, then seal durability against sterilization agents is improved, but the housing material must be transparent to light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the housing material serve multiple functions: it provides the structural enclosure and simultaneously acts as a light-transmissive window for curing the adhesive. By selecting housing materials that are both structurally sound and transparent to curing light (such as certain plastics), the invention eliminates the need for separate light-transmissive components like bands or windows.
3Manufacturing precision
If light is transmitted through opaque housing parts to cure adhesive, then hermetic seal is formed, but the housing material must be both opaque and transparent to light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameter of the housing material to allow light transmission while maintaining the appearance of opacity. By selecting materials with specific optical properties (such as translucent plastics or materials that transmit UV light but appear opaque in visible spectrum), the housing can simultaneously provide structural integrity and enable adhesive curing.
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
This method provides a durable and reliable hermetic seal that resists degradation from sterilization agents, maintaining the integrity of the sealed environment and preventing contamination.
Implementation Method 1
applying a light-curable adhesive at the contact surface, and transmitting light to cure the light-curable adhesive to form a hermetic seal
Data Source
AI summary
A method for creating a sealed device includes the steps of providing a structure comprised of at least two adjacent parts (112a, 112b) forming an enclosure and having a contact surface (114) therebetween. At least one part of the structure is comprised of a material that appears substantially opaque to the naked eye and is substantially transparent to light. A light-curable adhesive is applied at the contact surface (114), and light is transmitted to cure the light-curable adhesive to form a hermetic seal at the contact surface (114) between the at least two adjacent parts (112a, 112b).