Topical Applicator Head With Integrated Dose-Marking Compartment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing applicator heads for topical formulations lack a precise dosing mechanism, leading to inaccurate application of creams or gels, especially in medical contexts, and current dosing aids like cards are cumbersome, unhygienic, and difficult to use.
Innovation Solution
An applicator head with an integrated dosing aid featuring a dose marking on the applicator surface that circumscribes an inner dosing compartment, allowing for precise dosing by visual indication, and optionally using color contrasts or material borders to define the dose.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a medicament reservoir is integrated into the applicator head, then the applicator can be used as a standalone device without a separate syringe, but the filling process becomes more complex and requires additional mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The syringe is inserted into the applicator head for filling, with the syringe plunger fitting into the reservoir. This nesting approach allows the filling mechanism to be temporary and simple, rather than requiring a permanent complex integrated filling system. The syringe serves as a temporary filling device that is discarded after use.
Solution Approach 2:
The syringe is designed as a disposable component used only for filling the reservoir. After the reservoir is filled, the syringe is removed and discarded. This eliminates the need for a complex reusable filling mechanism in the applicator head, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining standalone usability.
2Productivity
If the reservoir is filled to maximum capacity, then the number of refilling operations is reduced, but the risk of bacterial contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is pre-filled at the factory in a sterile environment using automated filling equipment. This preliminary action ensures maximum capacity is achieved without manual handling, eliminating the contamination risk associated with user refilling operations while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filling operation is extracted from the user environment and performed separately at the factory in a controlled sterile environment. This separates the filling function from the application function, allowing the reservoir to be filled to maximum capacity without exposing the medicament to contamination risks during user handling.
3Productivity
If the reservoir volume is increased to reduce refilling frequency, then the applicator head size increases, but portability and ease of handling are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate components: a compact applicator head containing only the reservoir and application mechanism, and a separate syringe containing the bulk medicament supply. This segmentation allows the applicator head to remain small and portable while the reservoir can be efficiently filled from the separate syringe, resolving the contradiction between reservoir volume and applicator head size.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an applicator head (10) for administration of a topical formulation, comprising a dosing aid for application of a predefined dose of the topical formulation. The applicator head (10) comprises an applicator surface (20) adapted to apply the topical formulation to a user's skin. The applicator surface (20) comprises an outlet opening (40). The dosing aid comprises a dose marking, or dose markings (60, 60', 60'', 62', 62'') on the applicator surface (20), and wherein the dose marking (60, 60', 60'', 62', 62'') circumscribes an inner dosing compartment (64) that serves to measure the predefined dose of the topical formulation, and wherein the outlet opening (40) is disposed inside the inner dosing compartment.