Skin-activated temperature-sensitive adhesive assemblies

Claim 2

A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly for application to the skin, comprising a body member having a surface coated with a polymeric adhesive composition which is substantially nontacky at or below about 25° C. and which becomes tacky upon contact with the skin, wherein the adhesive composition comprises a side-chain crystallizable polymer having a heat of fusion that is greater than about 20 Joules/g, and a melting point or first-order transition temperature in the range of about 20° C. to 35° C., and wherein the side-chain crystallizable polymer contains at least about 50% monomer units of the structure ##STR3## wherein M is a backbone atom and --S--C is a side-chain in which S is a spacer unit and C is a crystallizable group, and wherein the length of the side-chain is greater than five times the distance between adjacent side-chains in the polymer, and wherein the body member is a flexible backing, a cast, a splint, a transdermal drug delivery device, a bandaid, a medicated bandaid, a surgical dressing, or an EKG electrode.

Claim 3

The adhesive assembly of claim 1, wherein the side-chain crystallizable polymer has a melting point or first-order transition temperature in the range of about 25° C. to 30° C.

Claim 4

The adhesive assembly of claim 1, wherein the side-chain crystallizable polymer comprises at least 50 wt. % monomer units selected from the group consisting of: linear aliphatic C 14 -C 22 acrylates and methacrylates; linear aliphatic C 14 -C 22 acrylamides and methacrylamides; vinyl ethers and esters; siloxanes; and alpha olefins.

Claim 5

The adhesive assembly of claim 1 comprising temperature-sensitive adhesive tape, wherein the body member is a flexible backing.

Claim 6

The adhesive assembly of claim 1 comprising a temperature-sensitive adhesive sheet.

Claim 7

A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly for application to the skin which is readily removable therefrom upon cooling, comprising a body member having a surface coated with a polymeric adhesive composition comprising a side-chain crystallizable polymer which has a heat of fusion that is greater than about 20 Joules/g, and a freezing point in the range of about 10° C. to about 28° C., and wherein the side-chain crystallizable polymer contains at least about 50% units of the structure ##STR4## wherein M is a backbone atom, S is a spacer unit, and C is a crystallizable group and wherein the body member is a flexible backing, a the length of the side chains is greater than 5 times the distance between adjacent side chains in the polymer cast, a splint, a transdermal drug delivery device, a bandaid, a medicated bandaid, a surgical dressing, or an EKG electrode.

Claim 8

A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly for application to the skin which is readily removable therefrom upon cooling, comprising a body member having a surface coated with a polymeric adhesive composition comprising a side-chain crystallizable polymer which has a heat of fusion that is greater than about 20 Joules/g, and a freezing point in the range of about 10° C. to about 28° C., and wherein the side-chain crystallizable polymer contains at least about 50% units of the structure ##STR4## wherein M is a backbone atom, S is a spacer unit, and C is a crystallizable group and wherein the body member is a flexible backing, a the length of the side chains is greater than 5 times the distance between adjacent side chains in the polymer cast, a splint, a transdermal drug delivery device, a bandaid, a medicated bandaid, a surgical dressing, or an EKG electrode.

Claim 9

The adhesive assembly of claim 1, wherein the freezing point is in the range of about 15° C. to 25° C.

Claim 10

The adhesive assembly of claim 6, wherein the side-chain crystallizable polymer comprises at least 50 wt. % monomer units selected from the group consisting of: linear aliphatic C 14 -C 22 acrylates and methacrylates; linear aliphatic C 14 -C 22 acrylamides and methacrylamides; vinyl ethers and esters; siloxanes; and alpha olefins.

Claim 11

The adhesive assembly of claim 6 comprising temperature-sensitive adhesive tape, wherein the body member is a flexible backing.

Claim 12

The adhesive assembly of claim 6 comprising a temperature-sensitive adhesive sheet.

Claim 13

A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly for application to the skin which is readily removable therefrom upon cooling, comprising a body member having a surface coated with a polymeric adhesive composition which is substantially nontacky at or below about 25° C. and which becomes tacky upon contact with the skin, comprising a side-chain crystallizable polymer having a heat of fusion of greater than about 20 Joules/g and which has a melting point or first-order transition temperature in the range of about 20° C. to 35° C. and a freezing point in the range of about 10° C. to 28° C., and wherein the side-chain crystallizable polymer contains at least 50% monomer units of the structure ##STR5## wherein M is a backbone atom, S is a spacer unit, and C is a crystallizable group, and wherein the body member is a flexible backing, a the length of the side chain is greater than 5 times the distance between adjacent side chains in the polymer cast, a splint, a trandermal drug delivery device, a bandaid, a medicated bandaid, a surgical dressing, or an EKG electrode.

Claim 14

A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly for application to the skin which is readily removable therefrom upon cooling, comprising a body member having a surface coated with a polymeric adhesive composition which is substantially nontacky at or below about 25° C. and which becomes tacky upon contact with the skin, comprising a side-chain crystallizable polymer having a heat of fusion of greater than about 20 Joules/g and which has a melting point or first-order transition temperature in the range of about 20° C. to 35° C. and a freezing point in the range of about 10° C. to 28° C., and wherein the side-chain crystallizable polymer contains at least 50% monomer units of the structure ##STR5## wherein M is a backbone atom, S is a spacer unit, and C is a crystallizable group, and wherein the body member is a flexible backing, a the length of the side chain is greater than 5 times the distance between adjacent side chains in the polymer cast, a splint, a trandermal drug delivery device, a bandaid, a medicated bandaid, a surgical dressing, or an EKG electrode.

Claim 15

The adhesive assembly of claim 1, wherein the melting point or first-order transition temperature is in the range of about 25° C. to 30° C. and the freezing point is in the range of about 15° C. to 25° C.

Claim 16

The adhesive assembly of claim 11, wherein the side-chain crystallizable polymer comprises at least 50 wt. % monomer units selected from the group consisting of: linear aliphatic C 14 -C 22 acrylates and methacrylates; linear aliphatic C 14 -C 22 acrylamides and methacrylamides; vinyl ethers and esters; siloxanes; and alpha olefins.

Claim 17

The adhesive assembly of claim 11 comprising temperature-sensitive adhesive tape, wherein the body member is a flexible backing.

Claim 18

The adhesive assembly of claim 11 comprising a temperature-sensitive adhesive sheet.

Claim 19

A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly for application to the skin which is readily removable therefrom upon cooling, comprising a body member having a surface coated with a polymeric adhesive composition which is substantially nontacky at or below about 25° C. and which becomes tacky upon contact with the skin, comprising a side-chain crystallizable polymer having a heat of fusion of greater than about 20 Joules/g and a melting point or first-order transition temperature in the range of about 20° C. to 35° C. and a freezing point in the range of about 10° C. to 28° C., wherein the side-chain crystallizable polymer comprises at least 50 wt. % monomer units selected from the group consisting of: linear aliphatic C 14 -C 22 acrylates and methacrylates; linear aliphatic C 14 -C 22 acrylamides and methacrylamides; vinyl ethers and esters; siloxanes; and alpha olefins, and wherein the body member is a flexible backing, a cast, a splint, a transdermal drug delivery device, a bandaid, a medicated bandaid, a surgical dressing, or an EKG electrode.

Claim 20

A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly for application to the skin which is readily removable therefrom upon cooling, comprising a body member having a surface coated with a polymeric adhesive composition which is substantially nontacky at or below about 25° C. and which becomes tacky upon contact with the skin, comprising a side-chain crystallizable polymer having a heat of fusion of greater than about 20 Joules/g and a melting point or first-order transition temperature in the range of about 20° C. to 35° C. and a freezing point in the range of about 10° C. to 28° C., wherein the side-chain crystallizable polymer comprises at least 50 wt. % monomer units selected from the group consisting of: linear aliphatic C 14 -C 22 acrylates and methacrylates; linear aliphatic C 14 -C 22 acrylamides and methacrylamides; vinyl ethers and esters; siloxanes; and alpha olefins, and wherein the body member is a flexible backing, a cast, a splint, a transdermal drug delivery device, a bandaid, a medicated bandaid, a surgical dressing, or an EKG electrode.

Claim 21

The adhesive assembly of claim 16, wherein the side-chain crystallizable polymer comprises at least 50 wt. % monomer units selected from the group consisting of linear aliphatic C 14 -C 22 acrylates and methacrylates.

Claim 22

A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly for application to the skin, comprising a body member having a surface coated with a polymeric adhesive composition which is substantially nontacky at or below about 25° C. and which becomes tacky upon contact with the skin, wherein the adhesive composition comprises a main-chain crystallizable polymer having a heat of fusion that is greater than about 20 Joules/g, and a melting point or first-order transition temperature in the range of about 20° C. to 35° C., and wherein the main-chain crystallizable polymer is selected from the group consisting of a water-insoluble polyethylene oxide, a lower alkyl polyester, and polytetrahydrofuran, and wherein the body member is a flexible backing, a cast, a splint, a transdermal drug delivery device, a bandaid, a medicated bandaid, a surgical dressing, or an EKG electrode.

Claim 23

A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly for application to the skin, comprising a body member having a surface coated with a polymeric adhesive composition which is substantially nontacky at or below about 25° C. and which becomes tacky upon contact with the skin, wherein the adhesive composition comprises a main-chain crystallizable polymer having a heat of fusion that is greater than about 20 Joules/g, and a melting point or first-order transition temperature in the range of about 20° C. to 35° C., and wherein the main-chain crystallizable polymer is selected from the group consisting of a water-insoluble polyethylene oxide, a lower alkyl polyester, and polytetrahydrofuran, and wherein the body member is a flexible backing, a cast, a splint, a transdermal drug delivery device, a bandaid, a medicated bandaid, a surgical dressing, or an EKG electrode.

Claim 24

A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly for application to the skin which is readily removable therefrom upon cooling, comprising a body member having a surface coated with a polymeric adhesive composition comprising a main-chain crystallizable polymer which has a heat of fusion that is greater than about 20 Joules/g, and a freezing point in the range of about 10° C. to about 28° C., and wherein the main-chain crystallizable polymer is selected from the group consisting of a water-insoluble polyethylene oxide, a lower alkyl polyester, and polytetrahydrofuran, and wherein the body member is a flexible backing, a cast, a splint, a transdermal drug delivery device, a bandaid, a medicated bandaid, a surgical dressing, or an EKG electrode.

Claim 25

A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly for application to the skin which is readily removable therefrom upon cooling, comprising a body member having a surface coated with a polymeric adhesive composition comprising a main-chain crystallizable polymer which has a heat of fusion that is greater than about 20 Joules/g, and a freezing point in the range of about 10° C. to about 28° C., and wherein the main-chain crystallizable polymer is selected from the group consisting of a water-insoluble polyethylene oxide, a lower alkyl polyester, and polytetrahydrofuran, and wherein the body member is a flexible backing, a cast, a splint, a transdermal drug delivery device, a bandaid, a medicated bandaid, a surgical dressing, or an EKG electrode.

Claim 26

A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly for application to the skin which is readily removable therefrom upon cooling, comprising a body member having a surface coated with a polymeric adhesive composition which is substantially nontacky at or below about 25° C. and which becomes tacky upon contact with the skin, comprising a main-chain crystallizable polymer having a heat of fusion of greater than about 20 Joules/g and which has a melting point or first-order transition temperature in the range of about 20° C. to 35° C. and a freezing point in the range of about 10° C. to 28° C., and wherein the main-chain crystallizable polymer is selected from the group consisting of a water-insoluble polyethylene oxide, a lower alkyl polyester, and polytetrahydrofuran, and wherein the body member is a flexible backing, a cast, a splint, a transdermal drug delivery device, a bandaid, a medicated bandaid, a surgical dressing, or an electrode.

Claim 27

A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly for application to the skin which is readily removable therefrom upon cooling, comprising a body member having a surface coated with a polymeric adhesive composition which is substantially nontacky at or below about 25° C. and which becomes tacky upon contact with the skin, comprising a main-chain crystallizable polymer having a heat of fusion of greater than about 20 Joules/g and which has a melting point or first-order transition temperature in the range of about 20° C. to 35° C. and a freezing point in the range of about 10° C. to 28° C., and wherein the main-chain crystallizable polymer is selected from the group consisting of a water-insoluble polyethylene oxide, a lower alkyl polyester, and polytetrahydrofuran, and wherein the body member is a flexible backing, a cast, a splint, a transdermal drug delivery device, a bandaid, a medicated bandaid, a surgical dressing, or an electrode.