Re-Entrant 3D Microstructures for Tissue-Anchoring Adhesives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adhesives fail to provide adequate adhesion to wet surfaces, integrate unlike materials, and ensure long-term or permanent attachment, particularly for medical devices and wounds, while conventional methods like suturing are labor-intensive and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
Biocompatible adhesives with engineered micro-scale elements that mechanically puncture and anchor to tissues, optionally with therapeutically active agents, providing rapid, strong, and flexible adhesion without relying on chemical reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional adhesives are used to attach medical devices to tissue, then the attachment process is simple, but the adhesion strength to wet surfaces is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical adhesion mechanisms with mechanical interlocking mechanisms. The microneedles physically penetrate the tissue and form mechanical anchors, providing strong attachment to wet surfaces without relying on chemical adhesive properties that fail in wet environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive substrate incorporates microneedles that create porous or penetrative structures into the tissue. These needle-like projections physically embed into the tissue matrix, creating a mechanical interlock that maintains attachment strength even in wet physiological conditions.
2Strength
If suturing methods are used to attach medical devices, then strong attachment is achieved, but the process is labor-intensive and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle adhesive system is designed to be self-applying and self-anchoring. The microneedles automatically penetrate the tissue upon contact, eliminating the need for manual suturing operations. This self-service mechanism dramatically reduces labor time while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the complex manual suturing process and replaces it with a pre-engineered microneedle array structure. The microneedles are pre-formed and pre-positioned on the adhesive substrate, removing the need for skilled manual intervention during the attachment process.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional adhesives are used for wound closure, then the application is simple, but long-term mechanical adhesion to tissue is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedles are pre-formed and pre-positioned on the adhesive substrate before application. This preliminary structuring ensures that upon contact with tissue, the needles immediately penetrate and anchor, providing long-term attachment without requiring complex application procedures or post-application adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
A bilayer mold for forming polymer microstructures is provided. The bilayer mold includes a rigid plastic cylinder having slots defined along an outer periphery of the rigid plastic cylinder; and a layer of plastic elastic polymer material disposed within the slots and having indents defined therethrough and in the rigid plastic cylinder. The indents have a first profile extending through the layer of plastic elastic polymer and terminating within the rigid plastic cylinder. A metal polymer structure profile is also provided using laser-etching of a desired shape for the features of the microstructures in a metallic foil, followed by further refining of the features. The polymer and metal microstructures can be formed on the surface of a stent to facilitate retention of the stent.