Thermal-Sensitive Tape Low-Adhesion Activation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical adhesive-related skin injuries (MARSI) occur due to the strong and stable adhesive bond of medical tapes, which are difficult to remove without causing skin irritation or damage, especially in neonatal and geriatric patients with fragile skin, as current adhesive tapes do not offer a suitable range of adhesion levels for different patient conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a thermal-sensitive tape and a handheld optical wand that uses near-infrared light to heat the tape, monitored by an infrared temperature sensor, to transition from a high-adhesion to a low-adhesion state, allowing for easier and painless removal without chemical solvents, using a photosensitive absorber that absorbs near-infrared light to control the adhesive strength based on temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medical tape uses strong adhesive bond to ensure secure attachment, then reliability of device securement is improved, but skin injury risk increases during removal
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive tape transitions from a static high-adhesion state during wear to a dynamic low-adhesion state during removal through thermal activation. The adhesive material changes its bonding properties in response to temperature increase, enabling it to securely hold the device during use and then release easily during removal without skin injury.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive strength of the tape is changed by modifying the temperature parameter. During normal wear, the adhesive remains at skin temperature providing strong bonding. During removal, thermal energy from the wand increases the temperature to a threshold that reduces adhesive strength, allowing painless removal while preventing skin damage.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If medical tape provides strong and stable adhesive bond over time, then duration of securement is improved, but removal difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive exhibits dynamic behavior where it maintains strong bonding characteristics during the wear period and then transitions to easy release characteristics when exposed to thermal energy. This dynamic property allows the tape to fulfill both requirements of long-term securement and easy removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The removal process is facilitated by preliminary thermal activation. Before actual removal occurs, the wand applies thermal energy to the adhesive, pre-softening it and reducing its bonding strength, which makes the subsequent removal action easy and painless.
3Strength
If chemical solvents are used to remove adhesive, then adhesion strength is reduced for removal, but skin damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical removal method is replaced with a thermal-mechanical approach. Instead of using chemical solvents to dissolve the adhesive, thermal energy from the wand is used to temporarily modify the adhesive's mechanical properties, reducing its bonding strength and enabling easy physical removal without chemical exposure to the skin.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal energy acts as an intermediary between the removal device and the adhesive. The wand delivers thermal energy to the adhesive layer, which mediates the interaction by temporarily reducing adhesive strength, allowing removal without direct contact between the skin and potentially harmful removal agents.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If adhesive tape is designed for easy removal, then skin injury risk is reduced, but initial adhesion strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive is designed with dynamic bonding characteristics that provide strong initial adhesion when applied and maintain it during wear, then transition to easy release when exposed to thermal energy during removal. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between strong initial bonding and easy removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive exhibits periodic behavior in its bonding strength: strong bonding during the wear phase and reduced bonding during the removal phase. This periodic variation in adhesion strength is controlled by temperature changes, allowing the tape to fulfill both requirements of strong initial adhesion and easy removal.
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 the removal of medical tapes without causing skin injury by maintaining the temperature within a thermal release range to reduce adhesion, thereby minimizing the risk of MARSI and providing a clinically relevant solution for various patient conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The light source is configured to illuminate a target area of the thermal-sensitive tape with a first spectrum of electromagnetic radiation to provide heating of the target area. The first spectrum including a first wavelength outside of a visible spectrum.
Implementation Method 2
using a photosensitive absorber that absorbs near-infrared light to control the adhesive strength based on temperature
Implementation Method 3
The temperature sensor is configured to detect a second spectrum of electromagnetic radiation to approximate a temperature of the target area. The second spectrum including a second wavelength different than the first wavelength.
Implementation Method 4
using a photosensitive absorber that absorbs near-infrared light to control the adhesive strength based on temperature
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, an apparatus, system, and method for activating a low-adhesion state of a thermal-sensitive tape is described. An example apparatus embodiment includes a light source and a temperature sensor. The light source is configured to illuminate a target area of the thermal-sensitive tape with a first spectrum of electromagnetic radiation to provide heating of the target area. The first spectrum including a first wavelength outside of a visible spectrum. The temperature sensor is configured to detect a second spectrum of electromagnetic radiation to approximate a temperature of the target area. The second spectrum includes a second wavelength different than the first wavelength.