Skin-Mountable Medical Device Adhesive Pad Replacement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing skin-mountable medical devices face challenges in maintaining long-term adhesion due to physiological skin processes such as skin particle dissolution and hair growth, leading to potential detachment of the device from the skin.

Innovation Solution

A plaster kit with a primary pad and an auxiliary pad that can be exchanged without displacing the device, where the auxiliary pad is connected to the patch portion and can be applied to freshly exposed skin for enhanced adhesiveness, along with a base pad for stability and a tear-off section for easy detachment, allowing for prolonged use and simplified handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single adhesive pad is used to secure the medical device to the skin, then the device can be initially fixed in place, but the adhesion reliability deteriorates over time due to skin particle dissolution and hair growth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion reliabilityVSAvoidwearing period
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive system is divided into a primary pad and an auxiliary pad that can be independently applied and replaced. The primary pad provides initial adhesion while the auxiliary pad serves as a replacement, allowing the system to maintain reliable adhesion over extended periods by substituting degraded adhesive elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary pad is prepared in advance and connected to the patch portion, ready for immediate replacement of the primary pad. This preliminary preparation ensures that when adhesion deteriorates, a replacement is already available, maintaining continuous reliable fixation without interruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the primary pad is replaced to restore adhesion, then adhesion reliability is improved, but the device must be lifted or displaced which complicates the replacement process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion reliabilityVSAvoidreplacement simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pad system is segmented into a permanent base pad and a replaceable primary pad. The base pad remains fixed to the device, while only the primary pad needs to be removed and replaced. This segmentation allows adhesion renewal without disturbing the device position or requiring complete pad removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base pad acts as an intermediary element that remains permanently attached to the device, providing a stable interface while allowing the primary pad to be exchanged independently. This mediator enables simple replacement operations without affecting device fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If multiple adhesive pads are provided for replacement, then long-term adhesion reliability is improved, but the device complexity and handling difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelong-term adhesion reliabilityVSAvoidplaster kit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary pad is integrated with the patch portion through a bendable connection, combining multiple functions into a single connected structure. This merging allows the auxiliary pad to be stored with the device and deployed when needed, providing replacement capability without requiring separate packaging or complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary pad serves multiple functions: it is stored connected to the patch, can be unfolded for application, and provides replacement adhesion capability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall plaster kit structure while maintaining long-term reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution ensures reliable, long-term adhesion of the medical device to the skin by accounting for skin changes and simplifying the replacement process, maintaining device fixation and functionality throughout the use period.

Implementation Method 1

a primary pad (24) adapted to releasably adhere to at least a section of a peripheral skin surface surrounding the contact surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3020328B1Skin-mountable medical device
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 ROCHE DIABETES CARE GMBH
  • EP3020328B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3020328B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3020328B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

The invention concerns a skin-mountable medical device (10) comprising a patch portion (12) with a contact surface (20) facing the skin (18) of a patient during use, a process unit (14) attached to the patch portion (12), and a plaster kit (16) for securing the patch portion (12) to the skin (18), wherein the plaster kit (16) has a primary pad (24) adapted to releasably adhere to at least a section of a peripheral skin surface surrounding the contact surface (20). According to the invention, the plaster kit (16) further comprises at least one auxiliary pad (26) which is connectable or connected to the patch portion (12) and adapted to functionally replace the primary pad (24) after a wearing time.