KIT AND SKIN PATCH

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for producing magnetic based flexible test kit and skin patch.

Background of the Invention

Today, with the developments in the health sector, new products are introduced into the market for continuously following the health status of the people. One of these products is self-adhesive patch known as skin patch. Skin patches, which are considered as a product of the wearable technology, can be used for different purposes. These purposes include monitoring the changes in the human body, long-term wound protection, drug delivery and determination of the disease. Skin patches can be used as a test kit in the diagnosis of the disease. Currently, magnetic based flexible test kits and skin patches are widely produced in said technical field and presented to the users’ demands. However, studies for improving the production methods of said products still continue. For example, there is a need for novel methods in the technical field that will allow said products to be produced in an affordable and practical way.

Summary of the Invention

The main objective of the invention is to develop a method that allows a practical production with a lower cost compared to the current applications, in order to produce magnetic based flexible test kit or skin patch. Thanks to the method of the present invention, it is also possible to shorten the production time. The objective of the invention is to develop a production method that provides advantage of high magnetic flux.

The objective of the invention is to obtain a novel method that enables producing magnetic based flexible test kit or skin patch, without requiring the use of machine/equipment. Another advantage of the invention is that the components used in the method of the present invention are easily accessible components.

The objective of the invention is to obtain a product that can be used in different areas. Said product produced with the method of the present invention can be used in areas such as determination of the amount of hemoglobin in the blood, determination of cancerous cells in the body, determination of Covid-19 based antibody in the blood, and determination of urea in the blood. Additionally, it is also possible that this product can replace the hemodialysis filter part in the hemodialysis machine, as well as the filters in the factory waste pipes.

Detailed Description of the Invention

“A Novel Production Method for Magnetic Based Flexible Test Kit and Skin Patch”, which is realized for achieving the objective of the present invention, is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the process step of preparing particles with strong magnetic properties.

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of the process step of preparing polymer. Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of the process steps of placing the magnetic strips on top of each in order to provide configuration using the North pole and South pole properties, provided that the magnetic strips are not limited to an angle of 0-360°, and pouring the magnetic particles thereon; and pouring polymer, which is prepared with its own procedure, onto the magnetic particles whose configuration is prepared in a desired way.

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of the process steps of boring channels and magnetization. Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of micro/milli/macro fluidic channel.

The components shown in the figures are each given reference numbers as follows: 1. Magnetic Nanoparticle flow

2. Fluidic Channel Portion

3. Captured magnetic nanoparticle

4. NdFeB/PDMS Portion

5. NdFeB powder

The present invention relates to a method for producing magnetic based flexible test kit and skin patch. The said method comprises the process steps of:

• placing the flexible magnetic strips on top of each such that they will be in the desired arrangement, provided that they are not limited to 0- 360° between them,

• pouring the particles with magnetic properties on the said magnetic strips to form a particle configuration,

• adding polymer on the configured structure, which is obtained by pouring the said particles on the magnetic strips, in order to create magnetic flux distribution with the particles dispersing,

• boring micro/milli/macro fluidic channels, through which the liquid will pass, into the polymer added configured structure,

• magnetizing the structure obtained by boring fluidic channels. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one particle with magnetic properties selected from a group consisting of NdFeB powder, Fe powder, Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co), Sm-Co alloys, Sm-Fe-N alloys, Ferrite magnet powders, alnico group of permanent magnet powders, permalloy (Ni-Fe alloys), Mn-Bi/Ga alloys, Fe-N alloys, Fe-Co alloys, and the combinations thereof is used.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least one polymer selected from a group consisting of PDMS, Hydrogel, SU8, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, rubber, nylon, PVB, silicone, polystyrene, neoprene, polyacrylonitrile, and the combinations thereof is used.

In the method of the present invention, preferably two magnetic strips are placed on top of each other according to the desired shape without limiting them at a given angle between them. The use of the magnetic strips, without being limited to the particles exhibiting magnetic property such as NdFeB powder (5) or Fe flakes, is important in terms of forming a certain pattern and ensuring that the particles are trapped in the polymer with their patterns.

Particles with the desired magnetic properties (NdFeB flakes (N-F) or Fe flakes) are poured on the said magnetic strips. In accordance with this objective, the method of the present invention comprises the process step of preparing magnetic particles. Accordingly, particles with strong magnetic properties such as NdFeB flakes (N-F) or Fe flakes are dried and prepared for being trapped in the polymer portion. In Figure 1, the process step of preparing NdFeB flakes (N-F) (Ball- milled NdFeB flakes (N-F)) by drying is given as an example. By means of the magnetic field properties of the magnetic strips, the particles poured on them have an ordered configuration. Magnetic particles are dispersed into the polymer and thereby providing magnetic flux distribution.

The subsequent process step is to prepare the polymer. Without being limited to polymers such as PDMS, Hydrogel and SU8, the polymer is passed through a preparation stage to become skin patch/flexible test kit. This process is performed at room temperature the said process step is given in Figure 2. Accordingly, if PDMS is desired to be used as polymer, in the preparation step, its preparation with the curing agent at a ratio of 10:1 (by weight (w/w)) can be given as example. Preparation of PDMS according to usage instructions should be at a ratio of 10:1, if it is desired to be prepared by weight, volume, or mole. According to the instructions, the 10:1 ratio is maintained for each preparation method.

The prepared polymer is poured on the said structure comprising the ordered configuration which is obtained by pouring the prepared particles on the magnetic strips, and it becomes a stable skin patch/flexible test kit. The process steps of pouring magnetic particles on the strips (having a configuration such as N, S, N, S, ...) placed with a desired angle and adding the prepared polymer thereon are given respectively in Figure 3.

Drying the polymer is performed at room temperature within 24 hours by means of the specifically added curing agents. However, it is also possible to increase the temperature for polymer (e.g., PDMS/curing agent) to dry quickly. For example, the magnetic particles (e.g., NdFeB) and polymer (e.g., PDMS/curing agent) are heated at 120 °C to harden on the heater, hardened in a time shorter than 24 hours and become a flexible test kit. At the end of the said process steps, a flexible layer having the magnetic particles therein is formed. The layer of the flexible test kit, which is placed on the magnet and configured, is given in Figure 5.

In the subsequent process step, micro/macro/milli fluidic channels are bored on the flexible test kit. The said fluidic channels enable passage of the sample (liquid) that can be determined through the flexible test kit. The fluidic channel structures, through which the liquid is passed, are also obtained with 3D printer, if desired, and it is ensured that fluidic channel layer is formed by pouring polymer therein. The layer of the flexible test kit which is placed on the magnetic strips and configured (Figure 5) and for example, channel structure printed with 3D printer are placed on top of each and adhered, thereby the channel is bored.

Then, the product (patch/flexible test kit) is magnetized under high magnetic field. Preferably, electromagnet is used for enabling magnetization. The test kit becomes ready to use when its magnetization is completed. The functionality of the strips used in the said method is achieved both without using configuration machines (spin coater, clean room, lithography, and physical storage devices (magnetron sputtering system)) and in a very short time.

The configuration of particles with magnetic properties, such as NdFeB powder and Fe powder, is provided by means of the magnetic strips without using the configuration machines. This enables the method of the present invention to be cheap and easily accessible.

The substance exhibiting magnetic properties, which is desired to be passed through the channel of said magnetic flexible test kit obtained by the method of the present invention and which is desired to be tagged and trapped, is drawn into the injector. Micro/macro/milli fluidic channels comprise input and output parts. The sample, which is desired to be determined, is sent into the channel by means of the injector from the input part. The particles (NdFeB powder or Fe powder etc.) with magnetic properties inside the channel attract the structures with magnetic properties inside the sample, which are desired to be determined. By means of this magnetic attraction, the liquid without magnetic properties fills the injector when the liquid inside the channel is withdrawn by another injector from the output. The particles which are desired to be tagged remains in the magnetic flexible test kit.

The method of the present invention being cheap and practical will allow to perform several tests such as determination of urea in the urine and determination of cancerous cells, and to diagnose the disease in an easy and quick way. For example, when it is desired to determine the hemoglobin in the blood, the blood sample which is injected from one side of the produced microfluidic channel (input) is withdrawn by the injector from the other side (output). As a result, in the withdrawn blood sample (output), there are no biological structures, which are tagged with magnetic particle or due to their own magnetic characteristics.