Electrically Switchable Skin Adhesives for Pain-Free Debonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical adhesives face challenges in achieving high bonding strength to human skin while minimizing irritation and damage, with existing switchable adhesives risking accidental debonding, skin damage, or requiring external triggers like UV light or temperature changes that may be unsafe or unreliable.
Innovation Solution
An electrically peelable pressure-sensitive adhesive that dissociates into ionic species upon applying a voltage of 1 to 100 V, providing controlled peel strength reduction without skin irritation, using ionic conductivity of at least 10 -11 S/cm, facilitated by conductive members and a compound that migrates cations to the skin interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If bonding strength of medical adhesive to skin is increased to maximize wear times and fixation forces, then fixation strength and wear time are improved, but skin irritation and damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive bond strength is made dynamically switchable through electrical field application. The adhesive transitions from a strong bonded state to a reduced bond strength state when voltage is applied, allowing controlled debonding without skin damage. This dynamic control enables the system to adapt bond strength based on operational needs while preventing harmful effects during removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive composition incorporates compounds that change their bonding parameters in response to electrical fields. By applying voltage, the physical or chemical parameters of the adhesive (such as crosslinking density or molecular mobility) are modified, reducing peel strength in a controllable manner without compromising skin safety.
2Ease of operation
If temperature changes are used to convert adhesive from tacky to non-tacky state to reduce peel strength, then controlled debonding is achieved, but risk of accidental debonding or burns occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal mechanisms with electrical field mechanisms to control adhesive bond strength. Instead of using temperature changes that can cause accidental debonding or burns, the system uses applied voltage to trigger controlled debonding. This substitution eliminates the safety risks associated with thermal methods while maintaining ease of operation through simple electrical control.
3Ease of operation
If UV light is applied to trigger debonding of adhesive, then on-demand debonding is achieved, but skin and DNA damage risk increases at high dosages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes optical (UV light) mechanisms with electrical field mechanisms for controlling adhesive debonding. By using voltage application instead of UV irradiation, the system achieves on-demand debonding capability while eliminating the harmful effects of UV exposure to skin and DNA. The electrical method provides comparable control precision without the associated health risks.
4Device complexity
If water is used to enable debonding of adhesive, then simple debonding mechanism is achieved, but adhesive is not suited for long-term application as release is triggered by sweat
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive composition is designed to respond specifically to electrical field parameters rather than moisture parameters. The compounds used in the adhesive are selected to be insensitive to water and sweat but responsive to applied voltage. This parameter-specific responsiveness allows the adhesive to maintain stable bonding during long-term wear while enabling controlled debonding through electrical activation, avoiding premature release triggered by body moisture.
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
Enables high adhesive strength with prolonged wear times and easy, pain-free removal, reducing skin trauma and accidental debonding, while maintaining skin friendliness and reusability.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer exhibits an ionic conductivity of at least 10 -11 S/cm
Implementation Method 2
a compound which dissociates into ionic species upon applying a voltage in the range of from 1 to 100 V
Implementation Method 3
a compound which migrates cations to the skin interface
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Medical devices and pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet or tape for application on skin comprising an electrically peelable pressure-sensitive adhesive for application on skin are disclosed, which comprise: an electrically conductive member, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in direct contact with the electrically conductive member. Furthermore, an electrically peelable pressure-sensitive adhesive for application on skin is disclosed, the adhesive comprising: an electrically conductive member, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in direct contact with the electrically conductive member, wherein the pressure- sensitive adhesive layer comprises a compound which dissociates into ionic species upon applying a voltage in the range of from 1 to 100 V to the electrically conductive member and wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer exhibits an ionic conductivity of at least 10-11 S/cm at 25°C with respect to the dissociated ionic species. In addition, related uses and methods are described. The invention enables maximized bonding strength to human skin and high resistance to perspiration, while simultaneously eliminating irritation and damage to the upper skin layer upon peeling.