Skin-activated temperature-sensitive adhesive assemblies

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.degree. C. to about 28.degree. 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.

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.degree. 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.degree. C. to 35.degree. C. and a freezing point in the range of about 10.degree. C. to 28.degree. 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.

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.degree. 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.degree. C. to 35.degree. 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.

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.degree. C. to about 28.degree. 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.

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.degree. 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.degree. C. to 35.degree. C. and a freezing point in the range of about 10.degree. C. to 28.degree. 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.