The present application is based on and claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Priority Application No. 2015-116740 filed on Jun. 9, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a patch-type module.
Conventionally, a medical patch-type module is known, such as a polymer substrate or the like, capable of being stuck on various targets such as the skin of a human or the like (see Patent Document 1, for example). A protection sheet is attached on a sticky surface in a patch-type module, and the sticky surface can be stuck on a target by peeling the protection sheet and exposing the sticky surface.
An electronic component and a cell may be mounted on such a patch-type module, and the electronic component may be operated by electric power supplied from the cell. A seal that blocks a function of the cell is attached, and the cell is insulated until it is used.
When using the patch-type module in which the cell is mounted, an operation to peel the seal of the cell so that the cell is caused to function, and an operation to peel the protection sheet and expose the sticky surface for sticking the patch-type module on the target, are necessary, and this is troublesome (as will be explained as a comparative example, for example).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-141186
The present invention is made in light of the above problems, and provides a patch-type module capable of starting an operation of a cell and exposing a sticky surface by a single peeling operation.
According to an embodiment, there is provided a patch-type module including a substrate provided with one surface and another surface that is opposite to the one surface, the other surface being a sticky surface; an air cell mounted to the substrate; a seal that blocks air from entering the air cell, the seal having a first surface that is attached to the air cell; an electronic component mounted on the substrate and configured to be operated by power supplied from the air cell; and a protection sheet that is attached to the sticky surface of the substrate through an adhesion layer, wherein a second surface of the seal, that is opposite to the first surface, is attached to the protection sheet through the adhesion layer, wherein when the protection sheet is peeled, the adhesion layer and the seal are peeled together to expose the sticky surface of the substrate and start introduction of air inside the air cell so that electric power is capable of being power supplied to the electronic component from the air cell.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The invention will be described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many alternative embodiments can be accomplished using the teachings of the present invention and that the invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated for explanatory purposes.
First, a structure of a patch-type module of the first embodiment is explained.
With reference to
The patch-type module 1 is an apparatus that is stuck on a target and obtains predetermined data from the target. For example, as will be explained below, a memory may be mounted on the patch-type module 1 and the obtained data may be stored in the memory, or a radio transmitter may be mounted on the patch-type module 1 and the obtained data may be transmitted by radio communication. The target may be a human body, for example, and the patch-type module 1 may monitor predetermined data of the human body. In such a case, a target to be monitored may be blood pressure, pulse, electrocardiograph, body temperature or the like.
In this embodiment, an electronic component 50 side of the patch-type module 1 is referred to as an upper side or one side, and a protection sheet 30 side of the patch-type module 1 is referred to as a lower side or the other side. Further, a surface of each component at the electronic component 50 side is referred to as one surface or an upper surface, and a surface at the protection sheet 30 side is referred to as the other surface or a lower surface. However, the patch-type module 1 may be used in an opposite direction or may be used at an arbitrary angle. Further, in this embodiment, “in a plan view” means that an object is seen in a direction that is normal to one surface 10a of the substrate 10, and a “plan shape” means a shape of an object seen in the direction that is normal to the one surface 10a of the substrate 10.
The substrate 10 is a base for mounting the air cell 40, the electronic component 50 or the like, and is an elongated adhesive (sticky) tape with flexibility and stretchability. The substrate 10 is provided with the one surface 10a, and the other surface 10b that is opposite to the one surface 10a.
An inner electrode 11 is formed at the one surface 10a side of the substrate 10, and the inner electrode 11 is electrically connected to the electronic component 50. Further, an outer electrode 12 is formed at the other surface 10b side of the substrate 10. The outer electrode 12 is an electrode for sensing. The outer electrode 12 contacts a target by being exposed from the other surface 10b of the substrate 10, when the adhesion layer 20 and the protection sheet 30 are peeled from the other surface 10b of the substrate 10 and the other surface 10b of the substrate 10 is stuck on the target (see
For the material of the substrate 10, polyolefin, polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene, polyurethane or the like may be used, for example. The other surface 10b of the substrate 10 is configured to be a sticky surface (not illustrated in the drawings). The sticky surface may be formed by an acrylic-based adhesive agent, a rubber-based adhesive agent, a silicone-based adhesive agent or the like, for example. The size of the substrate 10 (in a plan view) may be arbitrarily determined, and, for example, may be about 10 to 30 mm in a short direction and about 80 to 120 mm in a longitudinal direction. The thickness of the substrate 10 may be about 25 to 75 μm, for example.
The adhesion layer 20 is attached to the other surface 10b of the substrate 10 to adhere the protection sheet 30 to the substrate 10. For the material of the adhesion layer 20, an acrylic-based adhesive agent, a rubber-based adhesive agent, a silicone-based adhesive agent or the like may be used, for example. The thickness of the adhesion layer 20 may be about 5 to 15 μm, for example.
The protection sheet 30 is attached to the other surface 10b of the substrate 10, which is a sticky surface, through the adhesion layer 20. For the material of the protection sheet 30, silicone-based resin, fluorine-based resin, a paper base or the like may be used, for example. The thickness of the protection sheet 30 may be about 25 to 75 μm, for example.
The air cell 40 is mounted to (or mounted in) the substrate 10. More specifically, the substrate 10 is provided with a cell housing portion 10x that penetrates from the one surface 10a to the other surface 10b, and an upper surface of the adhesion layer 20 is exposed at a bottom portion of the cell housing portion 10x. A first surface 45a of a seal 45 is attached to a back surface side of the air cell 40. The air cell 40 is housed in the cell housing portion 10x such that a second surface 45b of the seal 45, which is opposite to the first surface 45a, exposes at the other surface 10b side of the substrate 10. The second surface 45b of the seal 45 is attached to the adhesion layer 20 by being in contact with an upper surface of the adhesion layer 20 that is exposed at the bottom portion of the cell housing portion 10x. In other words, the second surface 45b of the seal 45 is attached to the protection sheet 30 through the adhesion layer 20. Here, the seal 45 has a function to block air from entering inside the air cell 40.
The air cell 40 is a cell that uses oxygen in the air as an active material of a cathode, and uses a metal as an active material of an anode. When the seal 45 attached to the back surface side of the air cell 40 is peeled and the air is introduced into the inside, the air cell 40 is caused to function as a cell. Thus, under a status illustrated in
The air cell 40 includes a main body 41 that is an anode, and a cathode 42 that is protruded from the main body 41 (the main body 41 and the cathode 42 are insulated). A side surface of the main body 41, that is the anode, contacts an one end side of the wiring 71 that extends from the one surface 10a of the substrate 10 to an inner sidewall surface of the cell housing portion 10x so that the main body 41 and the wiring 71 are electrically connected. The other end side of the wiring 71 is electrically connected to the electronic component 50.
The cathode 42 contacts one end side of the wiring 72 that is provided at an inner sidewall surface of the wiring forming portion 60, and the cathode 42 and the wiring 72 are electrically connected. The wiring 72 extends from the inner sidewall surface of the wiring forming portion 60 to the one surface 10a of the substrate 10 and the other end side of the wiring 72 is electrically connected with the electronic component 50. The wiring forming portion 60 may be formed by a flexible printed substrate, for example.
For the material of the wirings 71 and 72, copper (Cu) or the like may be used, for example. The thickness of each of the wirings 71 and 72 may be about 10 to 20 μm, for example. In accordance with necessity, an arbitrarily patterned wiring (an electrode for mounting the electronic component 50 or the like, for example) may be provided in addition to the wirings 71 and 72. Further, wirings may be provided inside the substrate 10: In such a case, arbitrarily selected wirings may be connected through via wirings to form a multi-layered wiring.
The electronic component 50 is mounted on the one surface 10a of the substrate 10. The electronic component 50 includes a sensor 50a (an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor or the like) that obtains predetermined data from the target, a semiconductor device 50b or the like, for example. Further, the electronic component 50 may obtain data regarding pulse, electrocardiograph or the like, for example, by being electrically connected to a specific sensor (not illustrated in the drawings) that contacts the target and obtains predetermined data. The semiconductor device 50b is a semiconductor memory, which is a memory unit that stores the predetermined data obtained by the sensor 50a, a radio transmitter that sends the predetermined data to an external device by radio communication, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, for example.
As described above, the electronic component 50 is connected to the air cell 40 via the wirings 71 and 72. When the seal 45 attached at the back surface side of the air cell 40 is peeled and the air cell 40 is caused to function as a cell, electric power (voltage=1.25v, for example) is supplied to the electronic component 50 from the air cell 40 through the wirings 71 and 72 and the electronic component 50 is capable of being operated.
For the patch-type module 1, when the protection sheet 30 is peeled, the adhesion layer 20 and the seal 45 are peeled together. With this configuration, the other surface 10b of the substrate 10, which is the sticky surface, is exposed, and introduction of air inside the air cell 40 is started and electric power can be supplied from the air cell 40 to the electronic component 50.
Next, a method of manufacturing the patch-type module 1 of the first embodiment is described.
First, in a step illustrated in
Next, the air cell 40, in which the first surface 45a of the seal 45 is attached to the back surface side, is housed in the cell housing portion 10x from the other surface 10b side of the substrate 10 while the cathode 42 being at an upper side, and the conductive adhesive agent 200 is cured. With this, the main body 41 (anode) of the air cell 40 is electrically connected to the wiring 71 through the conductive adhesive agent 200, and the cathode 42 of the air cell 40 is electrically connected to the wiring 72 through the conductive adhesive agent 200. Further, a portion of the first surface 45a of the seal 45 that is protruded from the main body 41 adheres to the other surface 10b of the substrate 10. This means that the air cell 40 in which the seal 45 is attached at the back surface side, is housed in the cell housing portion 10x such that the second surface 45b of the seal 45 is exposed at the other surface 10b side of the substrate 10.
Next, in a step illustrated in
Next, in a step illustrated in
Here, materials or the like of the adhesion layer 20, the protection sheet 30 and the seal 45 are selected such that the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20 and the protection sheet 30 and the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20 and the seal 45 become greater than the adhesion strength between the seal 45 and the back surface of the main body 41 of the air cell 40 and the adhesion strength of the seal 45 and the other surface 10b of the substrate 10. Further, materials or the like of the adhesion layer 20 and the protection sheet 30 are selected such that the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20 and the protection sheet 30 becomes greater than the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20 and the other surface 10b of the substrate 10.
With the above steps, the patch-type module 1 is completed. Here, steps to manufacture a single patch-type module 1 are described here. However, alternatively, a plurality of the patch-type modules 1 may be formed by using the substrate 10 in which a plurality or areas corresponding to the plurality of patch-type modules 1, respectively, are aligned in a matrix form, and each of the patch-type modules 1 may be separated by press working or the like to obtain a plurality of the single patch-type modules 1.
As described above, the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20 and the protection sheet 30 and the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20 and the seal 45 are greater than the adhesion strength between the seal 45 and the back surface of the main body 41 of the air cell 40 and the adhesion strength between the seal 45 and the other surface 10b of the substrate 10. Further, the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20 and the protection sheet 30 is greater than the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20 and the other surface 10b of the substrate 10.
Thus, when the protection sheet 30 is peeled in the direction of the arrow, the adhesion layer 20 is peeled from an interface with the other surface 10b of the substrate 10 together with the protection sheet 30. Further, the seal 45 is peeled from interfaces with the back surface of the main body 41 of the air cell 40 and the other surface 10b of the substrate 10 together with the protection sheet 30 and the adhesion layer 20. With this, introduction of air inside the air cell 40 is started and it is possible to supply electric power from the air cell 40 to the electronic component 50.
Next, as illustrated in
Here, with reference to a comparative example, specific effects of the patch-type module 1 are explained.
When using the patch-type module 100, first, as illustrated in
As such, when using the patch-type module 100, two operations are necessary including an operation of peeling the protection sheet 30 to expose the other surface 10b of the substrate 10 (sticky surface) and an operation of peeling the seal 120 so that the air cell 40 is caused to function, and this is troublesome.
On the other hand, according to the patch-type module 1 of the first embodiment, as illustrated in
Further, as the through hole provided in the substrate 10 is used as the cell housing portion 10x and the air cell 40 is housed in the cell housing portion 10x, it is unnecessary to use the cell holder 110. Here, the patch-type modules 1 and 100 may be disposable modules, respectively. In such a case, using of the cell holder 110 increases the cost of the module and also is not eco-friendly. As the cell holder 110 is not used in the patch-type module 1, the module can be obtained by a low cost and also is eco-friendly.
In a second embodiment, an example of the patch-type module is described in which the shape or the like of the protection sheet is different from that of the first embodiment. It is to be noted that, in the explanation of the second embodiment, the same components may be given the same reference numerals, and explanations may not be repeated.
First, a structure of the patch-type module of the second embodiment is described.
With reference to
A surface of the main body 41 at the cathode 42 side, which becomes an anode of the air cell 40 contacts one end side of the wiring 71 that is formed on the one surface 10a of the substrate 10, and the surface of the main body 41 and the wiring 71 are electrically connected with each other. Another end side of the wiring 71 is electrically connected with the electronic component 50.
The cathode 42 contacts one end side of the wiring 72 provided in the concave portion 10y, and the cathode 42 and the wiring 72 are electrically connected with each other. The wiring 72 extends from the concave portion 10y toward the one surface 10a of the substrate 10 through a via wiring (not illustrated in the drawings), for example, and another end side of the wiring 72 is electrically connected with the electronic component 50.
An adhesion layer 20A is attached on the other surface 10b of the substrate 10 and an adhesion layer 20B is attached on the second surface 45b of the seal 45. The material and the thickness of each of the adhesion layers 20A and 20B may be the same as those of the adhesion layer 20, for example.
The protection sheet 30A is formed to be longer than each of the substrate 10 and the adhesion layer 20A in a longitudinal direction. One end sides (right end in
The protection sheet 30A is apart from the one surface 10a of the substrate 10 in
Next, a method of manufacturing the patch-type module 1A of the second embodiment is described.
First, in a step illustrated in
Next, the air cell 40, in which the seal 45 is attached to the back surface side, is mounted on the one surface 10a of the substrate 10 such that the cathode 42 is positioned at a lower side, and the conductive adhesive agent 200 is cured. With this, the main body 41 (anode) of the air cell 40 is electrically connected to the wiring 71 via the conductive adhesive agent 200, and the cathode 42 is electrically connected to the wiring 72 through the conductive adhesive agent 200. This means that the air cell 40 is mounted on the one surface 10a side of the substrate 10 such that the first surface 45a of the seal 45 faces the one surface 10a of the substrate 10 while interposing the air cell 40 therebetween.
Next, in a step illustrated in
Next, in a step illustrated in
Here, materials or the like of the adhesion layer 20A and the protection sheet 30A are selected such that the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20A and the protection sheet 30A becomes greater than the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20A and the other surface 10b of the substrate 10. Further, materials or the like of the adhesion layer 20B, the protection sheet 30A, and the seal 45, are selected such that the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20B and the protection sheet 30A and the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20B and the seal 45 become greater than the adhesion strength between the seal 45 and the back surface of the main body 41 of the air cell 40.
With the above steps, the patch-type module 1A is completed. Here, steps to manufacture the single patch-type module 1A are described here. However, alternatively, a plurality of the patch-type modules 1A may be formed by using the substrate 10 in which a plurality or areas corresponding to the plurality of patch-type modules 1A, respectively, are aligned in a matrix form, and each of the patch-type modules 1A may be separated by press working or the like to obtain a plurality of the single patch-type module 1A.
As described above, the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20A and the protection sheet 30A is greater than the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20A and the other surface 10b of the substrate 10. Further, the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20B and the protection sheet 30A and the adhesion strength between the adhesion layer 20B and the seal 45 are greater than the adhesion strength between the seal 45 and the back surface of the main body 41 of the air cell 40.
Thus, when the protection sheet 30A is peeled in the direction of the arrow, first, the seal 45 is peeled from an interface between the back surface of the main body 41 of the air cell 40 with the protection sheet 30A and the adhesion layer 20B. When the protection sheet 30A is further peeled, the adhesion layer 20A is peeled from an interface between the other surface 10b of the substrate 10 with the protection sheet 30A. With this, introduction of air inside the air cell 40 is started and it is possible to supply electric power from the air cell 40 to the electronic component 50.
Next, as illustrated in
Similar to the patch-type module 1 of the first embodiment, according to the patch-type module 1A of the second embodiment, as illustrated in
Further, as the air cell 40 is directly mounted on the one surface 10a of the substrate 10 by inserting the cathode 42 in the concave portion 10y provided in the substrate 10, it is unnecessary to use the cell holder 110. With this, similar to the patch-type module 1 of the first embodiment, the module can be obtained by a low cost and also is eco-friendly.
According to the embodiments, a patch-type module capable of starting an operation of a cell (air cell in this embodiment) and exposing a sticky surface by a single peeling operation can be provided.
Although a preferred embodiment of the patch-type module has been specifically illustrated and described, it is to be understood that minor modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and numerous variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For example, various air cells having various structures may be used. For example, the plan shape of the air cell may not be a circular shape, and may be an ellipse shape, a rectangular shape or the like. Further, the main body of the air cell is not necessarily the anode, and the anode and the cathode may be provided at any desired positions of the main body.
Further, a plurality of the air cells may be mounted to the patch-type module.
Further, as the patch-type module of the invention has a structure capable of enabling peeling of a seal of an air cell and exposing of a sticky surface of a substrate by a single operation, the invention includes various structures including such technical ideas and is not limited to the structures exemplified in the first and second embodiments.
Further, the protection sheet 30 or 30A may be peeled from an opposite side from the arrow illustrated in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2015-116740 | Jun 2015 | JP | national |