The present invention relates to a medical device system, and a method of preparing the medical device system.
There has been a significant increase in the number of body-worn disposable medical devices adhesively attached to the skin for periods of time (typically days). The adhesives used can give rise to skin irritation and other skin issues, yet manufacturers are targeting longer wear times for these medical devices, and this will drive the use of more aggressive adhesives and likely cause an increase in skin issues. These disposable devices are typically manufactured at high volumes on automated manufacturing lines. The nature of this, in combination with strict medical device regulations, means that it is not typically viable for manufacturers to alter the disposable medical device, and this presents difficulties in providing users with a solution to any potential skin issues.
A first aspect of the invention provides a medical device system, comprising: a disposable medical device part for sub-cutaneous or trans-cutaneous drug infusion and/or sub-cutaneous or trans-cutaneous analyte measurement, the disposable medical device part having a generally rigid housing and a first substrate, the first substrate having a first side with a first adhesive for securing to a patient's skin, and a second side attached to the generally rigid housing; and a second substrate having a first side with a second adhesive for contacting the patient's skin, and a second side for attaching to the first substrate, wherein the first adhesive is different to the second adhesive.
A further aspect of the invention provides a method of preparing the medical device system, comprising attaching the second side of the second substrate to the first side of the first substrate.
With this arrangement, a second adhesive can be used on the second substrate to adhesively attach to the patient's skin, with the second substrate acting as a barrier layer between the patient's skin and the first adhesive on the first substrate of the disposable medical device part. In this way, a different adhesive can be selected by the patient if the first adhesive on the disposable medical device part is likely to cause skin irritation or other skin issues.
The second substrate may comprise a through-hole and/or a slot for providing the disposable medical device part access to the patient's skin through the second substrate.
The disposable medical device part may comprise a sub-cutaneous element for sub-cutaneous drug infusion and/or sub-cutaneous analyte measurement extending through the through-hole or slot. The disposable medical device part may comprise a trans-cutaneous element for trans-cutaneous drug infusion and/or trans-cutaneous analyte measurement extending through the through-hole or slot.
The second substrate may comprise an alignment feature for indicating a position and/or an orientation of the disposable medical device part on the second substrate. Alternatively, or in addition, the second substrate may comprise an alignment feature for indicating a position and/or an orientation of an applicator for attaching the first substrate of the disposable medical device part to the second substrate.
The alignment feature may be a marking defining an outline of the disposable medical device part for guiding the positioning of the disposable medical device part on the second substrate. Alternatively, or in addition, the alignment feature may be a marking defining an outline of an applicator for attaching the first substrate of the disposable medical device part to the second substrate.
The second substrate may comprise alignment features such as a marking or holes that defines an outline of the disposable medical device part for indicating a position of the disposable medical device part and for guiding the positioning of the disposable medical device part on the second substrate.
The system may comprise an applicator for attaching the first substrate of the disposable medical device part to the second substrate, and wherein the second substrate comprises a marking or holes that define an outline of the applicator for indicating a position of the applicator and guiding the positioning of the applicator on the second substrate.
The outline of the disposable medical device part may be for indicating an orientation of the disposable medical device part and/or for indicating an orientation of an applicator
The second adhesive may be a silicone-based adhesive.
The first adhesive may be an acrylate adhesive.
The second adhesive may be an acrylate-based adhesive having a lower acrylate concentration than the first adhesive.
The second substrate may have a surface area greater than a surface area of the first substrate.
The surface area of the second substrate may be larger than the surface area of the first substrate, optionally at least 20% larger than the surface area of the first substrate, optionally at least 50% larger, and optionally at least 100% larger.
The first side of the second substrate may comprise a first portion comprising the second adhesive and a second portion absent of the second adhesive, and wherein the second portion extends up to an edge of the second substrate for providing an air channel between the second substrate and the patient's skin.
The second substrate may comprise a cut-out extending from an edge of the second substrate towards a centre of the second substrate so as to provide an air channel between the second substrate and the patient's skin.
The second substrate may comprise one or more breathability holes for providing an air gap between the first substrate and the patient's skin.
The medical device system may comprise one or more tabs extending from a main central portion of the second substrate.
The second substrate may comprise a first tab with an adhesive for attaching to a wire or a tube extending from the disposable medical device part and/or configured to attach to a second tab of the second substrate for encircling a wire or tube extending from the disposable medical device part.
The medical device system may comprise three or more tabs substantially evenly spaced about the second substrate.
At least a portion of the second substrate may comprise a reactive material arranged to indicate exposure to a fluid.
The fluid may be a medical drug.
The reactive material may be arranged to change colour and/or release an odour and/or change temperature when exposed to the fluid.
The second side of the second substrate may be attached to the first side of the first substrate via the first adhesive.
The medical device system may comprise two or more second substrates each comprising a different second adhesive to each of the other substrates, and preferably the medical device system comprises three or more substrates each comprising a different second adhesive to each of the other substrates.
The disposable medical device part may be an insulin pump or a glucose monitor.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The disposable medical device part 2 includes a generally rigid housing 4 and a first substrate 5. The first substrate 5 has a first side 6a with a first adhesive for securing to a patient's skin, and a second side 6b opposing the first side 6a that is attached to the generally rigid housing 4. A sub-cutaneous element 9 (such as a cannula) extends from the generally rigid housing 4 and through the first substrate 5, so as to be insertable into a patient. For example, the sub-cutaneous element 9 may be arranged for sub-cutaneous drug infusion or sub-cutaneous analyte measurement. Alternatively or in addition, the element 9 may be a trans-cutaneous element arranged for trans-cutaneous drug infusion or trans-cutaneous analyte measurement.
It is known in the art to attach the disposable medical device part 2 to a patient's skin via the first side 6a of the first substrate 5, and in particular via the first adhesive on the first side 6a of the first substrate 5. The first adhesive is typically an acrylate adhesive, or similar adhesive, that provides a long wear time for the disposable medical device part 2. However, these adhesives can cause skin irritation for some patient's, and this can discourage the use of such a disposable medical device part 2. Furthermore, manufacturers are targeting longer wear times, and this will encourage the use of more aggressive adhesives and likely cause an increase in skin issues.
The disposable medical device parts 2 are manufactured with the first substrate 5 pre-attached to the generally rigid housing 4, such that the patient has no option to swap the first adhesive with an alternative (e.g. less aggressive) adhesive.
According to an example of the invention, the medical device system 1 includes one or more second substrates 7 having a first side 8a with a second adhesive for contacting the patient's skin, and a second side 8b for attaching to the first substrate 5. In this way, the medical device system 1 according to the present invention may be considered as a kit of parts comprising a disposable medical device part 2 and one or more second substrates 7 attachable to the disposable medical device part 2. The patient may therefore select a second substrate 7 from the medical device system 1 that is suitable for their skin, as will be explained below.
The second adhesive on the second substrate 7 is different to the first adhesive on the first substrate 5. For example, the second adhesive may be a silicone-based adhesive, or an acrylate-based adhesive having a lower acrylate concentration than the first adhesive, or any other type of adhesive different to the first adhesive.
In examples in which the medical device system 1 includes two or more second substrates 7 (e.g. three, four or five substrates 7), each of the second substrates 7 may have a different second adhesive to each of the other second adhesives.
By providing a medical device system 1 with a second substrate 7 for positioning between the first substrate 5 and the patient's skin, the first adhesive on the first substrate 5 can be prevented from directly contacting the patient's skin. The patient may therefore select a second substrate 7 and attach the second side 8a of the second substrate 7 to the first side 6a of the first substrate 5.
As the medical device system 1 includes a (separate) second substrate 7, the patient is provided more flexibility in the choice of adhesive used to contact the patient's skin.
In some examples, the second substrate 7 may include a through-hole 10a or slot 10b (See the slot 10b in, e.g.,
In the examples shown in
In examples providing a second substrate 7 with a larger surface area than the first substrate 5, a corresponding greater surface area is provided for the second adhesive to adhesively attach to the patient. As a result, adhesives with reduced adhesion may be used as the second adhesive. This may provide the patient with more viable options to use as the second adhesive, as the effects of the potentially reduced adhesion of the second adhesive can be mitigated.
However, it will be understood that the second substrate 7 may have the same, or a similar, surface area to that of the first substrate 5.
As previously discussed, the through hole 10a and/or slot 10b may function as alignment features for assisting in indicating a preferred position and/or orientation of the disposable medical device part 2 on the second substrate 7.
In addition or alternatively, the second substrate 7 may include other alignment features, such as shown in
In some examples, a marking 12 may define an outline of the disposable medical device part 2 for guiding the positioning of the disposable medical device part 2 onto the second substrate 7.
In some examples, such as shown in
Alternatively, or in addition, the second substrate 7 marking 12 may indicate an orientation of the disposable medical device part 2.
The outer perimeter of the second substrate 7 may additionally, or alternatively, guide the positioning of the disposable medical device part 2.
It will be appreciated that the second substrate 7 may be any suitable shape to accommodate a particular disposable medical device part 2 or range of disposable medical device parts 2.
In some examples, the second substrate 7 may include two or more tabs 13b.
Alternatively, or in addition, the second substrate 7 may include tabs 13c for securing a wire or tubing 15 of the disposable medical device part 2 to the second substrate 7.
One or both of the tabs 13c may fasten to the wire or tubing 15 (e.g. via adhesive). Alternatively, or in addition, the tabs 13c may fasten to each other. In some examples, at least a portion of a tab 13c may extend over the disposable medical device part 2 to assist in securing the position of the disposable medical device part 2 on the second substrate 7.
In some examples, such as shown in
In the example shown in
In some examples, the second substrate 7 may include one or more holes 22a, slots 22b, portions of the second substrate 7 absent of the second adhesive, or combinations of the above, in order to improve breathability.
In some examples, additionally or as an alternative, breathability may be enhanced by omitting the second adhesive from portions of the second substrate 7.
The example shown in
In the example shown in
In some examples, the disposable medical device part 2 may be a sub-cutaneous and/or trans-cutaneous infusion/injection device 20 separate from any associated pump or patient monitoring device.
The device may be attached to a different, separate, second substrate 7. Alternatively, they may be positioned on the same second substrate 7, for example as shown in
In some examples, the second substrate 7 may be attachable to two or more sub-cutaneous elements 9 simultaneously. In this case, the second substrate 7 may include a corresponding number of through-holes 10a and/or slots 10b.
As previously discussed, the disposable medical device part 2 may be any suitable device.
In the above examples, the second substrate 7 is attached to the disposable medical device part 2 prior to attaching the second substrate 7 to the skin of the patient. However, it will be appreciated that the second substrate 7 may be attached to the skin of the patient prior to attachment to the disposable medical device part 2. To assist in positioning the disposable medical device part 2 on the second substrate 7, the medical device system 1 may include an applicator 30, such as is known in the art. Although it will be appreciated that the disposable medical device part 2 may be applied without an applicator 30, e.g. by hand. An example of an applicator is shown in
It will be clear to the skilled person that the examples described above may be adjusted or combined in various ways. In some examples, the second substrate 7 may include multiple alignment features (e.g. markings 12, 12a, 12i, 12j) corresponding to multiple disposable medical device parts 2 that can optionally be used with the same second substrate 7. The alignment features may overlap such that only a single of the disposable medical device parts 2 fits on the second substrate 7 at a given time. This may allow a second substrate 7 to be suitable for a range of disposable medical device parts 2.
In some examples, one or more of the alignment features described in the above examples may arranged to indicate a position and/or an orientation of the applicator 30 on the second substrate 7.
The outer edge of the second substrate 7 may be an alignment feature corresponding to the outer edge of the disposable medical device part 2 (and/or an associated applicator 30). In the example shown in
It will be appreciated that the examples above are only exemplary, and that examples may combine one or more of the features described above. For example, any of the examples may comprise one or more of the through-holes 10a, 22a, slots 10b, 22b, markings 12, 12a, notches 13a, tabs 13b, 13c, reactive material 21, or portions absent of adhesive 18b that are described in the above examples. In addition, whilst the above-described examples refer to parts of a medical device system comprising a disposable medical device part for sub-cutaneous drug infusion and/or sub-cutaneous analyte measurement, it will be appreciated that the disposable medical device part may be equally suitable for trans-cutaneous drug infusion and/or trans-cutaneous analyte measurement. For instance, the element 9 may be a trans-cutaneous element.
Where the word ‘or’ appears this is to be construed to mean ‘and/or’ such that items referred to are not necessarily mutually exclusive and may be used in any appropriate combination.
Although the invention has been described above with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2200103.6 | Jan 2022 | GB | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2022/085862 | 12/14/2022 | WO |