3M: A medical adhesive that allows a variety of backings
3M’s new 4075 medical tape may be used with different backings. (Image from 3M)
3M (NYSE:MMM) has added an extended-wear medical transfer adhesive that allows medtech design engineers to use a variety of backings.
Company studies have shown that medical transfer adhesive 4075 offers up to 14-day wear time, depending on the backing material used. It meets requirements for use on intact skin and has been tested to ISO:10993-5 and ISO:10993-10, which assess in-vitro cytotoxicity and a product’s potential to produce irritation and skin sensitization, respectively, according to 3M. The new adhesive is also compatible with ethylene oxide sterilization.
“It’s unique that it allows the design engineers to use the backing of their choice to meet their specific design needs,” 3M Medical Solutions division VP Marcello Napol said of the new adhesive. “We encourage people to connect with us and work with us specifically in what they’re trying to accomplish and what their desired outcomes are.”
Medical transfer adhesive 4075 is the latest in a series of specialty medical adhesives in 3M’s extended-wear portfolio. The company introduced medical tapes 4077 last year and 4076 in 2017 specifically for use with wearable devices such as continuous glucose monitors.
“With this third arm of the family, we were trying to anticipate the unknowns,” Napol said. “We don’t understand the end-use cases because literally, we can’t be at the table with everyone… We could come up with multiple backings to fit different applications but this allows the end partner to choose their backing. This is a way for us to capture a broader audience with a more flexible design.”
To determine which might be best-suited to their needs, 3M suggests that device designers check out the “Find my Adhesive” portion of its website, which offers a series of project-specific questions.
“If they want extended wear and skin friendliness, they’ll likely come up with one of these three options, and they can connect with us,” Napol said. “And then we can talk about their patient population, the location on the body, wear time, and what exactly is going to be adhered to the skin… Our portfolio is vast, and these are just three of the options that we’ve got.”
