Designing new medical wearable devices involves an adhesive selection process that delves deep into considerations of skin biomechanics, adhesive chemistry, and substrate compatibility, ensuring not only secure skin adhesion but also patient safety and product efficacy across diverse usage scenarios.

When selecting an adhesive solution for skin-contact materials that attach a device directly to the patient’s body, it is important to prioritize biocompatibility, adhesion performance, and patient comfort. The patients’ skin type, the device’s characteristics, and required moisture resistance are crucial inputs to this process. One of the skin’s most prominent features to consider is its remarkable elasticity, allowing relatively unrestricted contraction and expansion.

An effective wearable device contains adhesive material that is suitable for the device’s functionality, the end user’s skin type and level of activity. If these conditions are met, the device will feature conformability, which is not only important for stable attachment to the skin, but also for providing comfort and effective physiological monitoring. Excellent conformability, which reduces voids between the skin and the device, enables accurate and consistent data acquisition through close adherence to the skin surface.

Besides secure attachment to the skin throughout its intended wear time, the adhesive material should also minimize pain, irritation, or damage upon removal. As part of the materials’ selection process, it is important to evaluate the adhesive's durability under various conditions, including exposure to sweat and movement, to maintain optimal performance, safety, and comfort. Depending on the performance requirements of the wearable device, various adhesive options exist to bond a device securely to the skin such as acrylics, acrylic hybrids, hydrocolloids, and silicone gels. Avery Dennison Medical’s adhesives are specifically designed for skin application, considering factors like skin type, moisture resistance, and the device's characteristics.