Evolution and Innovations of Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Tapes

Medical tapes, commonly referred to as surgical tapes, play a pivotal role in healthcare by securely affixing bandages or dressings onto wounds. Central to these tapes lies the technology of pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs), that form instant connections upon contact with surfaces, eliminating the need for heat or solvents.

Pressure-sensitive adhesives have undergone a remarkable evolution to meet the dynamic requirements of the healthcare sector. A notable example is medical tape, a specific type of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape used in first aid and medicine for securing bandages or dressings onto wounds.

In this blog, we will learn about Pressure Sensitive Adhesives, their evolution, Technological Advancements and Innovations of Medical Tapes, lastly, Notable Breakthroughs.

Let’s begin by understanding the fundamentals of Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives.

What Are Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives?

Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are adhesives that form connections with surfaces instantly upon touch; they don’t require heat or solvents to activate.

Their rapid and simple application—which requires no specialized tools or intricate procedures—makes them especially vital for medical applications.

In addition to adhesion to a range of materials used in wound care, device wearables, device assembly, microfluidics, and many other medical applications. These adhesives can be customized to exhibit specific skin bonding and wearability properties, making them essential in the medical products industry.

You can learn in detail about Medical Adhesives, their types, uses, and advancements in our previous blog.

PSAs may be customized for a variety of applications, have great wearability attributes, and work well with a wide range of materials.

Evolution of Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Tape

• 1845 – The first recorded instance of adhesive tape dates back to 1845. Surgeon Dr. Horace Day created Surgical Tape, a novel technology, by applying rubber adhesive to fabric strips.
• 1921 – Earle Dickson, a cotton buyer, invented the Band-Aid after observing his wife Josephine’s frequent kitchen-related finger cuts. To assist her, he combined surgical tape and gauze, creating a prototype: he positioned gauze atop adhesive tape, shielding it with crinoline fabric to prevent adhesion. This enabled Josephine to effortlessly cut and apply the bandage herself. When Dickson showcased this innovation to his boss, it caught the attention of company president James Wood Johnson, birthing a revolutionary product.
• 1925 – In 1923, Richard Drew became part of 3M in St. Paul, Minnesota, a company primarily focused on producing sandpaper. While evaluating 3M’s Wet/Dry Sandpaper at a nearby auto body shop, Drew observed a challenge faced by auto painters in creating precise lines for two-color paint jobs. This observation sparked his innovation, leading him to create the world’s inaugural masking tape in 1925 as a solution to this particular issue encountered by auto painters.
• 1942 – During World War II in 1942, Johnson and Johnson created Duct Tape to meet the military’s demand for a waterproof tape capable of sealing and repairing gear. This versatile cloth tape was coated with Polyethylene, giving rise to the practical solution known as Duct Tape. [1]

The historical evolution of adhesive tape, from its surgical origins in the 1840s to wartime innovations like Duct Tape in 1942, seamlessly connects with recent advancements in the medical tape market. Today’s medical tapes feature silicone adhesives, nanotechnology, hydrogel adhesives, biodegradable materials, and smart functionalities, marking a progression of innovation that enhances patient care and monitoring.

Technological Advancements and Innovations in the Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Tape Market

Recent years have seen notable technological advancements in the medical tape industry. The following are some major advancements in medical tape:

1. Silicone Adhesives: Compared to traditional adhesives, silicone adhesives are gentler on the skin. When the tape is taken off, these adhesives are less likely to irritate or harm skin. They show quite a range of properties including biocompatibility, temperature stability, and chemical resistance. The silicone adhesives can also be customized to match individual patient needs, including skin tone matching.
2. Nanotechnology: Better-performing medical tapes have been created with the application of nanotechnology. For instance, nanofibers are increasingly used in the production of some medical tapes, which improves their breathability, flexibility, and comfort.
3. Hydrogel Adhesives: New hydrogel adhesives have been created to offer superior skin adhesion without causing irritation. Medical tapes that have to be worn for prolonged periods often contain these adhesives.
4. Biodegradable Materials: New biodegradable materials have been created for producing medical tapes, offering an eco-friendly alternative that naturally decomposes over time without adding to environmental pollution.
5. Smart Tapes: Advanced tapes have been designed to track a range of health parameters like heart rate, respiration, and body temperature, enabling real-time patient monitoring and delivering crucial data to medical professionals.
6. Telemedicine Adaptation: User-friendly tapes facilitate the secure fixation of remote patient monitoring devices in line with the growth of telemedicine. [2,3]

Notable Breakthroughs in Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives in the Medical Field

• Medical-Grade Urethane Adhesives: An Affordable, Low-Trauma Alternative to Silicone

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Tokyo-based Toyo Ink Group’s division, Toyochem, introduces polyurethane-based pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) as a low-cost, low-trauma alternative to silicone. Ideal for sensitive skin, these PSAs offer high moisture permeability and minimal skin exfoliation, ensuring pain-free removal and repositioning for custom surgical tapes and dressing films. Developed leveraging expertise in urethane chemistry, the silicone-free PSA system strikes a delicate balance between adhesion and release, meeting the ISO 10993-1 standard and providing a cost-effective advancement in medical adhesive technology. [4]

• DuPont Unveils Advanced Liveo Soft Skin Conductive Tape for Pioneering Biosignal Monitoring

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DuPont introduces Liveo Soft Skin Conductive Tape 1-3150, a silicone-based thermoset adhesive marking a significant advancement in biosignal monitoring. This innovative tape combines silicone technology with electrically conductive properties, serving as a skin-dry electrode for prolonged patient monitoring with superior data quality and comfort. Addressing industry demands, the tape offers good skin conformability, repositionability, and gentle adhesion, making it ideal for medical wearable patches. [5,6]

• Ethicon Introduces ETHIZIA™ Hemostatic Sealing Patch, Clinically Proven to Stop Disruptive Bleeding

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Ethicon, part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech, has unveiled ETHIZIA™ Hemostatic Sealing Patch, proven to halt challenging bleeding in surgeries, offering rapid hemostasis in 30 seconds for 80% of patients. This innovative patch, set to launch in early 2024, enhances Ethicon’s surgical solutions, addressing critical unmet needs in controlling disruptive bleeding across global markets. The introduction of ETHIZIA™ complements their biosurgery portfolio, reinforcing their commitment to delivering breakthrough solutions for surgical complications. [7,8]

Conclusion

Over time, pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes have not only revolutionized wound care but have also adapted to diverse medical needs.

Recent advancements in materials like silicone, nanotechnology, hydrogel, and biodegradability have reshaped the landscape of pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes, offering improved skin compatibility, durability, and environmental sustainability.

The integration of technology in these tapes, enabling functionalities like remote monitoring and compatibility with electronic medical records, marks a significant stride towards efficient healthcare delivery.

As the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape industry continues to progress, focusing on customization, eco-friendly approaches, and support for wearable devices, it paves the way for a more interconnected and patient-centric healthcare ecosystem.

As technology continues to evolve, it’s crucial to stay abreast of the latest developments. Services like Technology Research offered by Wissen Research can play a pivotal role in keeping the medical industry informed about cutting-edge advancements, ensuring that healthcare professionals have access to the most advanced and effective solutions.

Authored by: Guniyal Bagga

References

[1] https://www.can-dotape.com/adhesive-tape-consultant/adhesive-tape-history/

[2] https://www.openpr.com/news/2991001/the-future-of-medical-tapes-nanotechnology-and-biodegradable

[3] https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2023/04/20/2650895/0/en/Medical-Adhesive-Tapes-Market-Sales-Projected-to-Grow-at-5-9-CAGR-by-2032-Research-by-Market-us.html#:~:text=New%20York%2C%20April%2020%2C%202023,period%20from%202022%20to%202032.

[4] https://www.plasticstoday.com/medical/medical-grade-urethane-adhesives-offer-low-cost-low-trauma-alternative-to-silicone

[5] https://www.med-technews.com/news/medtech-materials-and-assembly-news/dupont-introduces-new-liveo-soft-skin-conductive-tape/

[6] https://www.dupont.com/products/LiveoSoftSkinConductiveTape.html

[7] https://www.jnjmedtech.com/en-EMEA/news-events/ethicon-introduces-ethizia-hemostatic-sealing-patch-clinically-proven-stop-disruptive

[8] https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethicon_were-thrilled-to-share-that-ethiziahemostatic-activity-7130963854984966144-lQRN