Revolutionizing Healthcare with Stick-To-Skin Adhesives
Wearable stick-to-skin medical devices give doctors the freedom to become time and location-independent. Healthcare providers can effortlessly gather vital patient information and take appropriate action from virtually anywhere.
Plus, the patient doesn’t have to spend hours on a long commute. CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) is a good example, which allows doctors to remotely monitor diabetics.
However, the core component that is crucial to the effectiveness of such devices is a stick-to-skin adhesive.
It ensures that the device stays attached to the patient’s body for the desired period without disrupting their usual routine.
Let’s take a closer look at stick-to-skin adhesives and the importance of a reliable conversion partner.
Positioned for Rapid Growth
Wearable technology; a once far fetched idea, is becoming a norm in modern medicine. It would be fair to conclude that it is rewriting the way healthcare is delivered. We are used to receiving medical attention within a typical clinical establishment; however, most patients face a medical situation at home, on travel, or at work. A moment’s delay in such a state could be catastrophic.
This has given an exponential boost to the demand for wearable tech for remote patient monitoring.
According to an industrial analysis Mordor Intelligence, the wearable adhesive market, which was valued at $294.21 million in 2020, is on its way to more than doubling to $617.43 million by 2026.
From medical devices and patient monitors to wound closure and sports tapes, this presents a sizable growth opportunity in every market segment.
Considerations for Designing a Winning Stick-To-Skin Product
While the patient benefits from the device itself, however, a reliable stick-to-skin adhesive is what enables the device to do its job. Let’s explore the factors that must be considered to ensure that the product meets the expected standards:
Material Considerations:
Moisture Management
Stick-to-skin devices are designed to be compatible with the user’s daily lifestyle. That means it must stand up to sweat, bodily fluids, and external moisture.
To counter this, adhesive materials employ the following two methods:
- Fluid absorption: The adhesive takes on the moisture and holds it away from the skin to prevent irritation.
- Moisture-vapor transmission:Tiny holes in the adhesive and carrier material allow moisture to evaporate.
- Getting the layer right:Designing an effective stick-to-skin product is a complicated endeavor. Several layers of materials must come together before a product starts to take shape.
The designers and manufacturers must get this delicate balance just right for the product to function correctly. For example, if an adhesive used in the skin contact layer is breathable but the outer layer does not allow moisture-vapor transmission, the product won’t perform as intended.
Regulatory Considerations
Bringing a medical-grade product to the market requires the manufacturers to adhere to strict regulatory standards. Even a small oversight can cause significant losses – both monetary and in terms of time to the market. Here’s what to look out for.
- Relevant ISO Certification & Documentation: Your design, manufacturing, and supply partners must be ISO 13485 certified and compliant.
- Safety Tests: To ensure that the adhesives meet the required safety standards, your suppliers must be able to conduct tests such as primary skin irritation (PSI) testing, cytotoxicity screening, biocompatibility, and safety testing, and guinea pig sensitization
The Right Converting Partners
Unquestionable credibility is the backbone of any enterprise that provides healthcare services and related products. This means your production and conversion partner must have extensive experience along with outstanding research and development capabilities.
Plus Patches checks all of these boxes.
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