Selecting and Testing Skin Adhesives for Medical Fixation Devices
The development of adhesives and substrates for wearable medical devices is challenging and requires careful consideration due to the nature of human skin and the characteristics of the specific device.
The wearable medical device market is growing rapidly, driven by demand for innovative products that offer personalized care such as activity monitoring, point-of-care diagnostics, and dispensing (insulin, medications, electrolytes, etc.). These devices are quickly becoming a valuable part of many care plans, as they lessen the patient’s time in medical facilities—which has been critically important throughout the COVID-19 pandemic—and reduce healthcare costs.
Wearable medical devices must be stable, safe for skin contact, and unobtrusive, increasing the need for high-performing adhesives for device fixation. The ability to properly adhere to the skin is a key factor for an effectively functioning device. The adhesives used must perform consistently and attach to the body for continuous and long-term durations. Therefore, the selection and development of adhesives and substrates for wearable medical devices is challenging and requires careful consideration due to the complex and varying nature of human skin and the characteristics of the specific wearable device, such as its size, weight, flexibility, and application purpose.