3M has unveiled its new medical adhesive that can stick to the skin for up to 28 days and is intended for use with a wide array of health monitors, sensors, and long-term medical wearables. Prior to 2022, the standard wear time for extended medical adhesives was up to 14 days. 3M now doubles that standard to help deliver a more patient-centric model of care.

"Our 3M scientists created a technology and then pushed that tech to its boundaries without compromising skin health," said Chad Reed, director of global business for 3M Medical Materials and Technologies. "Medical wearables are a cornerstone for the future of health care, and we're committed to unlocking its potential with our world-class materials science."

The polyester fabric tape was created with the manufacturers of medical wearables in mind, such as sensors, monitors, and other devices that are supposed to measure a wearer's health over an extended length of time.

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For instance, sticky sensors are currently replaced every 10 to 14 days in continuous glucose monitoring devices like Abbott's FreeStyle Libre 3 and Dexcom's recently cleared G7. The vital sign monitors from BioIntelliSense, on the other hand, are designed to monitor health for up to three months, but the adhesive needs to be changed every week.

The use of a longer-wearing substance, such as 3M's 4578 tape, on those devices, might therefore both ease the remote monitoring process for patients and make it less hands-on while also ensuring fewer interruptions during the tracking period. Additionally, by reducing the number of moving parts, it might lower the cost of operating those devices.

The new adhesive, 3M™ Medical Tape 4578, also adds the feature of liner-free stability, which can be stored for up to one year, giving device makers more flexibility in the design process, 3M said in a press release.

3M touts more than 55 years of skin adhesion science and 3M Medical Tape 4578 adds to the extensive breadth of the company's medical adhesive offerings. Medtech manufacturers can utilize 3M's online "Find My Adhesive" tool to match their products with the best backing materials based on the functions and intended end users of the devices.