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Company insight


Smart solutions for wearable medical devices


Wearable medical devices can improve the quality of care, expand access and help control costs. Alexis Bobenrieth, R&D medical device expert for DuPont, highlights how DuPont Healthcare is enabling next-generation wearables with innovative DuPont Liveo brand silicone solutions that offer improved skin protection, data reliability and stability, and added comfort for enhanced patient compliance.


I


ncreasing connectivity is transforming today’s medical industry. In care facilities or at home, patients are being fitted with wearable devices to monitor, gather and transmit data for decision-making by healthcare providers administering treatment.


DuPont Liveo brand silicone-based technologies and DuPont Intexar conductive inks are meeting design challenges for smart adhesive patches for wearable devices, and enabling smart clothing.


Market dynamics


Megatrends impacting the tremendous growth potential of wearables include population ageing; chronic disease incidence rates; health and fitness interest; and priorities to improve care quality, accessibility and cost control. Wearables started with inpatient use and will increasingly be used for outpatient monitoring, especially with Covid-19 accelerating the trend to limit hospital stays. Two of the most active areas for wearables are diabetes management and cardiac monitoring. Breakthroughs on diabetes include continuous glucose monitoring, with the automatic supply of insulin needed from a wireless insulin pump. For cardiac care, wearable monitoring devices and mobile telemetry can help track patients’ ECG or temperature, and trigger emergency intervention if required.


Wearable design challenges The ability to effectively monitor an individual’s health conditions and body signals, and deliver reliable health data in any setting is revolutionising healthcare. But several design challenges must be overcome. One challenge is to achieve long-term monitoring with a device attached from a few days to 14 days. Current available technology limitations include battery life, electrode performance, and durability on skin when exposed to sweat and humidity. Another industry challenge is to improve the patient experience with a patch that is comfortable and non-irritating, and stays in place for several days of normal patient activity. The patch needs to accommodate body movements without impacting the signal quality or the reliability of the patch’s adhesion to skin. If the skin is irritated after a short period, another device cannot be placed.


Advanced DuPont materials provide improved electrode life, better moisture resistance and increased patient comfort. Liveo silicones are key design materials. The medical-grade silicone adhesives provide good tack without removal trauma, itchiness or other irritation.


Silicones also offer tunable wearability, excellent conformability, stretchability, comfort and biocompatibility. The smart adhesive patch design can be so comfortable that the patient can forget they are wearing it and live normally. Intexar silver and carbon-based inks on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films are used for smart sports and fitness clothing, and for medical device patches.


Smart solutions


The Nighthawk smart adhesive patch prototype, developed in collaboration with the Holst Centre and Pronat Industries, provides a breathable, cushioning skin interface; dielectric insulation to protect signal quality; long-term wear with secure, skin-friendly, silicone-based adhesion; comfort and compliance with stretchable materials; and secure connections for biosignal reliability.


The Holst Centre in the Netherlands provides expertise in wireless sensor technologies and flexible electronics, plus performance and clinical testing. Israel- based Pronat Industries brings expertise in die-cutting complex thin-film patches and manufacturing processes. These development partners complemented DuPont’s expertise in healthcare-applied science and applications engineering. Liveo silicones and Intexar conductive inks are smart solutions for next-generation medical device wearables. With more than 70 years of proven expertise in meeting challenges for transdermal and skin contact applications with silicone-based technologies, DuPont can collaborate with key industry leaders to enable smarter healthcare and positive patient outcomes. ●


DuPont Liveo silicones are smart solutions for next-generation wearable medical devices.


Medical Device Developments / www.nsmedicaldevices.com www.healthcare.dupont.com 131


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