Silicone Gel Adhesion Primer for Medical Prostheses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) face issues such as excessive adhesive strength causing skin or object damage upon removal, cold flow properties leading to discomfort, and delamination from substrates like plastics, limiting their use in medical applications.
Innovation Solution
The use of a primer material between the silicone gel and the substrate significantly increases the adhesive strength, allowing for comfortable and reusable adhesion without delamination, by treating either the silicone gel or the substrate with titanate materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If silicone PSAs are used to adhere medical prosthesis to patient's body, then adhesion is achieved, but the adhesive strength is so great that the patient's skin or the object to be adhered can be damaged on removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a primer coating to the substrate surface before applying the silicone PSA. This primer acts as an intermediary layer that modifies the substrate surface properties, enabling the PSA to achieve adequate adhesion strength during use while allowing for clean removal without damaging the skin or underlying object. The primer creates an optimal interface between the PSA and substrate, resolving the contradiction between strong adhesion and damage-free removal.
2Strength
If silicone PSAs are used to adhere medical prosthesis, then adhesion is achieved, but cold flow properties at skin temperature cause the adhesive layers to be inflexible and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition and physical properties of the primer coating to create an adhesive layer that maintains flexibility at skin temperature. By adjusting the primer's formulation parameters (such as polymer structure, crosslink density, or plasticizer content), the adhesive achieves a balance between maintaining sufficient bond strength and providing the flexibility needed for patient comfort during movement and wear.
3Strength
If silicone PSAs are used to adhere substrates, then adhesion is achieved, but the adhesive delaminates from the carrier leaving a coating on the skin and/or object
Solution Approach 1:
The primer coating serves as a stable intermediary layer that remains attached to the substrate after the PSA delaminates from the carrier. This primer layer prevents the PSA from leaving residual coating on the skin or object, thereby maintaining adhesive integrity and reliability. The primer's strong bond to the substrate ensures that the adhesive system remains reliable even when the PSA layer separates from its carrier.
4Strength
If substrate surface is treated with corona, flame, or plasma to increase adhesion of silicone gel, then adhesive strength is improved, but the treatments are difficult to implement on continuous coating lines and require precise control to prevent damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex surface treatment processes (corona, flame, or plasma treatments requiring precise control) with a simpler primer coating application process. The primer can be applied using conventional coating methods suitable for continuous manufacturing lines, eliminating the need for complex surface treatment equipment and precise parameter control while still achieving enhanced adhesive strength between the silicone gel and substrate.
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 method enhances the adhesion of silicone gels to various substrates, including plastics, ensuring strong and comfortable attachment without damaging the skin or object, and allows for easy repositioning and reuse of medical prostheses.
Implementation Method 1
a primer material is used to increase the adhesion of the silicone gel to the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A method for increasing the adherence of a silicone gel to a substrate using a primer material. The method is particularly useful for adhering a medical prosthesis to a human or animal body.