Swellable Microstructured Adhesive Surface Using Capillary Forces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adhesive technologies face challenges in adhering to surfaces with mobile liquid phases, as liquids act as lubricants or repulsive barriers, often requiring invasive fixation methods that can cause tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
A swellable microstructured surface that increases in volume upon contact with a liquid environment, utilizing a Wenzel-Cassie interface and capillary action to adhere to target surfaces without invasive fixation, allowing for repositionability and tailored adhesion mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If physical fixation means (sutures) are used to overcome liquid lubrication, then adhesion strength is improved, but tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical fixation systems (sutures, clips, screws) with a surface chemistry-based adhesion mechanism. The microstructured surface creates capillary forces and surface tension effects that enable bonding without mechanical penetration, thereby achieving strong adhesion while eliminating tissue damage associated with traditional fixation methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface parameters of the device by creating a microstructured surface with specific geometric features (ridges, grooves, pores) and chemical properties. These parameter changes enable the surface to interact differently with biological tissues, creating adhesion through capillary action and surface tension rather than mechanical force, thus avoiding tissue damage while maintaining bonding strength
2Ease of operation
If liquid phase is present at the interface, then mobility and lubrication are improved, but adhesion capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific microstructured regions (philic and phobic zones) with different surface properties at different locations on the device surface. This allows certain areas to promote liquid phase presence for lubrication and mobility while other areas create capillary forces for adhesion, resolving the contradiction between mobility and bonding capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the liquid phase as an intermediary medium that mediates between the device surface and target tissue. Through capillary action and surface tension effects at the microstructured interface, the liquid phase becomes part of the adhesion mechanism rather than a harmful lubricant, enabling both mobility during insertion and secure bonding afterward
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 microstructured surface effectively adheres to target surfaces, reducing tissue damage and facilitating minimally invasive procedures by enabling repositioning and customizable adhesion forces.
Implementation Method 1
the microstructure surface may be able to generate its own normal force. Such force may be due to capillary action, surface tension, Van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and the like.
Implementation Method 2
Such force may be due to capillary action, surface tension, Van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and the like.
Implementation Method 3
Such force may be due to capillary action, surface tension, Van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and the like.
Implementation Method 4
Such force may be due to capillary action, surface tension, Van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and the like.
Data Source
AI summary
An adhesive device comprising a microstructure and polymer designed to interdigitate with the surface structure of a target surface. The device may include a microstructure material having an elastomeric, crosslinked polymer which may swell in the presence of a liquid. In the pre-swell state, the device microstructure may interdigitate with a target surface microstructure. When liquid on the target surface contacts the microstructure surface of the device, the liquid may cause the microstructure surface of the device to swell. The swelling may cause the microstructure to grasp the target surface resulting in adhesion between the device and the target surfaces.