Multi-piece Support for Medical Adhesive Backing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thin, flexible medical adhesive backings like polyurethane films and foams face challenges in handling and application due to their tendency to wrinkle, fold, and curl when removed from release liners, and existing frame designs complicate manufacturing and removal processes.
Innovation Solution
A medical device adhesive backing with a multi-piece support system on the non-adhesive side, featuring separate, non-adjoining pieces and optional tabs, which are designed to provide support and facilitate easy handling and removal by allowing grasping and peeling, while being cut from a carrier material to form a residual support structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a thin, flexible film is used for skin application, then comfort and moisture management are improved, but handleability and manageability deteriorate due to wrinkling and folding
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple separate pieces (first support piece, second support piece, etc.) that are spaced apart from each other. This segmentation allows the support to provide stability at key locations while leaving gaps that prevent the support itself from wrinkling or folding, thereby maintaining both handleability and skin comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
A support structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the thin film and the user's hands during handling. This mediator provides the necessary rigidity for easy manipulation and application, while its multi-piece design ensures it doesn't transfer wrinkles or folds to the thin film that would irritate the skin.
2Ease of operation
If a full frame is added to support the film, then handleability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and removal difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing a complete continuous frame, the support is segmented into multiple separate pieces positioned at strategic locations. This reduces manufacturing complexity by eliminating the need to create and remove a full window or continuous frame structure, while still providing adequate support for handling and application.
Solution Approach 2:
The unnecessary portions of the frame are removed, keeping only the essential support pieces needed for handleability. This extraction approach simplifies the overall structure, reducing manufacturing steps and making removal easier after application, while maintaining the core function of supporting the thin film.
3Strength
If a full frame is used, then support is improved, but removal becomes difficult due to lack of accessible edges
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure consists of discrete separated pieces rather than a continuous frame. This segmentation creates accessible edges and gaps between pieces, allowing users to easily grasp and remove the support pieces after the thin film has been applied to the skin, while each piece still provides necessary localized support.
Data Source
AI summary
An adhesive backing for a medical device has a conformable film backing (204) having an adhesive side and an opposite non -adhesive side, a multi-piece support (209) disposed on the non -adhesive side of the film backing, and a release liner (208) disposed on the adhesive side of the film backing.