Ostomy Wafer Pressure Sensor for Adhesion Monitoring

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Ostomy appliances with adhesive base plates face challenges in maintaining secure attachment to the skin due to variations in anatomy and application techniques, leading to leakage issues, as users may not apply sufficient pressure evenly during application.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating pressure-sensing means, such as color-changing materials, tactile feedback, or electronic sensors, into the ostomy appliance to monitor and provide feedback on the pressure applied during attachment, ensuring proper adhesion and reducing leakage risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a stronger adhesive is used to improve attachment security, then the adhesive strength increases, but the skin aggressiveness increases and removal difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive strengthVSAvoidskin aggressiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates pressure-sensitive sensing means that provide real-time feedback to the user during application. This feedback mechanism allows users to apply the correct amount of pressure to activate the adhesive properly, ensuring optimal bonding without needing excessively strong adhesives that would harm the skin.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Strength

If pressure is applied during adhesive application to enhance adhesion, then the adhesive tack increases, but users may apply insufficient or uneven pressure due to carelessness or reduced dexterity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive tackVSAvoidapplication ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing means provides immediate feedback to the user during the application process, indicating whether sufficient pressure has been applied. This real-time feedback guides users to apply pressure correctly and evenly across the entire wafer, compensating for carelessness or reduced dexterity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs color-changing materials as part of the sensing means that visually indicate to the user whether adequate pressure has been applied. This visual feedback system simplifies the application process by making it immediately obvious whether the adhesive has been properly activated, eliminating the need for users to judge pressure application by feel alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Ease of operation

If pressure-sensitive adhesives are used to enable easy application, then the ease of application increases, but leakage occurs when insufficient pressure is applied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication easeVSAvoidleakage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing means provides real-time feedback during application to confirm that sufficient pressure has been applied across the entire adhesive surface. This ensures that the pressure-sensitive adhesive is properly activated and bonded, preventing leakage while maintaining the ease of use associated with pressure-sensitive adhesives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Color-changing materials provide visual confirmation that adequate pressure has been applied, ensuring proper adhesive activation. This visual feedback mechanism prevents leakage by making it immediately apparent to the user whether the adhesive has been sufficiently pressed onto the skin.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

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 enables users to apply the adhesive wafer correctly by providing real-time feedback, reducing leakage and improving the longevity of the appliance attachment, while also offering data for educational purposes and product development.

Implementation Method 1

The adhesive used for ostomy appliances are typically pressure sensitive adhesives, meaning that application of pressure to the adhesive enhances the adhesive tack of the adhesive, thus it attaches better to the skin.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-sensitive adhesive: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

Incorporating pressure-sensing means, such as color-changing materials, tactile feedback, or electronic sensors, into the ostomy appliance to monitor and provide feedback on the pressure applied during attachment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectColor-changing materials: Thermochromism

Data Source

PatentUS11931286B2Method of monitoring pressure applied to adhere an ostomy appliance to skin
Publication Date: 2024.03.19 COLOPLAST AS

AI summary

A method of monitoring pressure applied to adhere an ostomy appliance to skin is disclosed. The method includes providing an ostomy wafer having a backing layer, an adhesive layer attached to a proximal side of the backing layer, and a sensor configured to be placed on a distal side of the backing layer. The sensor has a proximal film attached to a distal film and a coating on at least one of the proximal film and the distal film. The method includes placing the adhesive layer onto skin and applying pressure to the sensor and observing visible feedback from the coating recording a location of the pressure applied to the sensor and the ostomy wafer.