Light Guide Support Layer for Skin Mounted Medical Patch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical patch devices for analyte sensing and drug delivery face challenges in easy and comfortable mounting and removal, particularly due to the difficulty in uniformly accessing and weakening the adhesive layer, leading to discomfort and inefficient detachment.
Innovation Solution
A medical patch device featuring a light-switchable adhesive layer and a light guide support layer, with electronically activated light sources controlled by a user-switchable button, allowing for controlled irradiation of the adhesive to reduce tackiness and facilitate easy removal with minimal discomfort, along with a signaling system to indicate when the adhesive is ready for removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large surface area adhesive layer is used to ensure reliable mounting, then the patch device remains securely in place during use, but the adhesive becomes difficult to access homogeneously with catalytic activators, making removal uncomfortable and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical catalysis system with an optical system. Instead of using catalytic activators that require homogeneous chemical access to the adhesive layer, the invention uses light sources (LEDs) coupled with a light guide support layer to uniformly deactivate the adhesive across large surface areas. This optical approach eliminates the limitations of chemical diffusion and provides uniform removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide support layer acts as an intermediary between the light sources and the adhesive layer. It distributes light uniformly across the entire adhesive surface area, ensuring homogeneous deactivation. The light guide mediates the energy transfer from discrete light sources to the extended adhesive layer, solving the problem of non-uniform access in large area patches.
2Strength
If the adhesive layer is made stronger to prevent premature detachment, then the patch remains in place during use, but more energy and time are required for removal, increasing patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary deactivation of the adhesive before removal is attempted. Light sources are activated to pre-treat the adhesive layer, reducing its strength before the actual removal action. This preliminary optical treatment allows strong adhesives to be removed easily and comfortably, eliminating the need for forceful or prolonged pulling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the adhesive by exposing it to light of specific wavelengths. This light exposure alters the adhesive's molecular structure or bonding characteristics, transitioning it from a high-strength state during use to a low-strength state for removal. The adhesive's tackiness and bonding strength are dynamically controlled through optical parameter changes.
3Ease of operation
If electronically activated light sources are added to enable adhesive deactivation, then easy and comfortable removal is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide support layer serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the patch device, enables light distribution for adhesive deactivation, and potentially serves as part of the mounting base. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, offsetting the added complexity by consolidating functions into existing structural elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting base with light guide and light sources is designed as a disposable component that is replaced with each new patch application. This eliminates the need for complex, reusable mechanisms that would require maintenance, calibration, or cleaning. The simplicity of a single-use design with integrated light sources makes the system easier to manufacture and use despite the added optical components.
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
Enables easy, comfortable, and reliable mounting and removal of the patch device, ensuring it remains in place during use while minimizing skin discomfort and allowing for efficient drug delivery or analyte sensing applications.
Implementation Method 1
the support layer is formed as a light guide configured to diffuse light from one or more electronically activated lights sources
Implementation Method 2
The lights sources may be actionable by means of a button switch on a housing of the functional unit. The light sources are switched on by the user activating the light activation circuit
Implementation Method 3
the adhesive layer comprises a light switchable adhesive
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2A~4B
Figure 5A~6
AI summary
Medical patch device mountable on skin for drug delivery or analyte sensing, including a mounting base (6) comprising a support layer (12) and an adhesive layer (14) on a mounting side (36) of the support layer, and a functional unit (4) comprising a power supply, and an electronic circuit. The adhesive layer comprises a light switchable adhesive and the support layer is formed as a light guide configured to diffuse light from one or more electronically activated light sources connected to the electronic circuit of the functional unit.