title: Novel instrumentation to determine peel force in vivo and preliminary studies with adhesive skin barriers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adhesive barriers secure medical devices to skin. Laboratory adhesion models are not predictive of in vivo performance. The objectives of these studies were to validate a novel peel force device, and to investigate relationships between barrier formulations, barrier width, subjective discomfort during barrier removal, and substrates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hydrocolloid barrier formulations in three widths were adhered to ethylene/methyl acrylate film (EMA), VITRO-SKIN(®) and human abdominal skin. Peel force was measured using a MTS Insight™ and a cyberDERM Inc. Mini Peel Tester (CMPT). Subjects reported their discomfort.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peel forces were highly correlated between devices and highly dependent on substrate. Data suggested a weak direct association between peel force in vivo and discomfort. The 0.5″-wide barriers had the most precise peel forces measurements in vivo. A weak negative relationship between normalized peel force and barrier width on human skin was found. There was a strong positive relationship between peel force in vivo and on EMA, whereas no correlation was observed with VITRO-SKIN(®).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CMPT correlates with a standard instrument and can advantageously investigate adhesion in vivo. Barrier width and substrate impact the reliability and predictability of peel force measurements.
authors.affiliation: Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Evan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: Malford E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cullum
authors.forename: Thom R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Sexton
authors.forename: Richard I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Murahata
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000179:Acrylates; D003102:Colloids / Q000378:metabolism; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D053832:Surgical Tape / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D003102:Colloids; D011095:Polyethylenes; C035956:methyl acrylate
keywords: adhesion; discomfort; methodology; normalized peel force; peel force; precision