Choosing the right adhesive for your wearable device

Adhesive tape has long been the driver for product innovation and in the healthcare market the development of medical grade adhesives is supporting the growth in wearable devices to offer long or short-term wear without harming or irritating the skin.

Product developments can be found in a growing number of wearable device applications, such as chronic disease management, acute care and rehabilitation, in-home monitoring and wellness tracking.

This wouldn’t be possible without the advances in adhesive technology because skin as a substrate to stick to presents a number of challenges. These include:

1. The skin’s condition does not remain constant (moisture, temperature and cell renewal)
2. Its surface can vary (smooth, hairy, oily, dry and flaky, thick, thin, wrinkly, elasticity and pore size)
3. Its sensitivity can vary (location, age, allergies, wounds or abrasions)
4. It is subject to friction and movement
5. It can be exposed to varying environments (liquids, heat, humidity)
6. It can be exposed to varying contaminants (dead skin cells, sweat, salt, lotions and powders)

Despite these challenging conditions, advances in adhesive technology have made it possible to bond to the skin successfully in a variety of scenarios, for example silicone adhesives which allow gentle, low trauma removal, particularly welcome for sensitive skin or applications involving children or the elderly.

Whatever your application, it is vital you’re using the correct adhesive tape for the job, as complaints of skin irritation or product failure can quickly erode trust in your brand. For this reason, product specification should be included in the early stages of product design.

We’ve put together some key considerations to ensure you find the right medical adhesive for your wearable device applications.

1. Who is wearing the device? Is it the very young or elderly? Are they active or inactive?
2. Where on the body will the device be attached? The skin’s sensitivity, hair coverage, thickness and movement varies by location.
3. How long is the device going to be worn? Does the backing need to be breathable? Do you need an adhesive for long or short wear time? This will help to find the right balance between securing the device for the desired timeframe, without causing pain upon removal.
4. What is the shape of the device? Making it oval instead of square can reduce the likelihood of it catching.
5. What outside stresses will the device be exposed to? The level of friction and movement will determine the strength and flexibility required of the adhesive material.
6. Will the device be sterilised? Compatibility with the sterilisation methods of EtO, gamma and steam varies by medical adhesive tape.
7. What other substrate(s) will be bonded to? Differential tapes are available for bonding two different substrates, such as skin to plastic or fabric.
8. Are there processing and handling considerations? Does the device require features for the manufacture or application of the device e.g. tabbed or butterfly liners.

Partnering with someone that understands the different types of medical materials saves a lot of time in the design and testing of your wearable device.

We have dedicated specialists on hand to guide you on material selection, as well as advise on component design and other material requirements such as assembly, shielding and insulation tapes. Get in touch to find out more.