Superabsorbent Base for Transcutaneous Medical Device Fluid Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Body-wearable medical devices face issues with contamination and malfunction due to body fluids flowing from insertion sites, which can lead to detachment from the skin and hygiene risks.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a superabsorbent substance and fluid channels on the base portion of the device to guide and absorb body fluids, preventing them from contaminating the device and reducing adhesive failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transcutaneous element is inserted into the patient's body, then the device can perform its medical function, but body fluid may flow out and contaminate the device causing malfunction and hygiene risks
Solution Approach 1:
A fluid channel is introduced as an intermediary structure between the insertion site and the superabsorbent substance. This channel guides body fluid from the insertion lesion to the superabsorbent material, preventing direct contact with the device housing and sensors, thus resolving the contamination issue while maintaining device functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The superabsorbent substance converts the harmful body fluid into a beneficial absorbed state. The fluid that would otherwise contaminate the device is now absorbed and retained by the superabsorbent material, transforming a harmful contamination problem into a controlled absorption function
2Reliability
If body fluid flows out of the insertion lesion, then the transcutaneous element is functioning, but the adhesive adhesion is reduced causing unintentional detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid channel acts as a mediator that intercepts body fluid before it reaches the adhesive area. By guiding the fluid through a dedicated path to the superabsorbent substance, the channel prevents fluid from compromising the adhesive bond, thus maintaining both device function and attachment strength
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful effect of body fluid on the adhesive is extracted and isolated by directing it into the fluid channel. The fluid is separated from the adhesive area and channeled to the superabsorbent substance, removing the threat to adhesion while allowing the transcutaneous element to function
3Reliability
If the base portion is designed with adhesive for skin attachment, then the device can be securely attached, but body fluid contamination reduces the adhesive effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The base portion is segmented into functional zones: an adhesive area for skin attachment, a fluid channel area for fluid guidance, and a superabsorbent area for fluid absorption. This segmentation isolates the adhesive from potential contamination sources while maintaining secure attachment and fluid management functions
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 effectively retains body fluids, preventing device contamination and ensuring reliable adhesion to the skin, thus maintaining the device's functionality and hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one fluid channel being configured to guide body fluid from the insertion site to the superabsorbent substance
Implementation Method 2
a base portion that is configured for reversibly attaching the body-wearable medical device during its use to a patient's skin, wherein the base portion has a first side that during use of the body-wearable medical device faces the patient's body and that also has an adhesive for adhering the body-wearable medical device to a patient's skin
Data Source
AI summary
A body-wearable medical device has a medical device housing having a transcutaneous element configured for being at least partially inserted into a patient's body at an insertion site during use of the body-wearable medical device. A base is configured for reversibly attaching the body-wearable medical device during its use to a patient's skin. The base has a first side that faces the patient's body and that also has an adhesive for adhering the body-wearable medical device to a patient's skin. For reducing a likelihood of contamination by body fluid flowing out of the insertion lesion, the base on its first side also has a superabsorbent substance and at least one fluid channel. The fluid channel is configured to guide body fluid from the insertion site to the superabsorbent substance.