Medical Liquid Dispensing Applicator with Rotational Sound Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid dispensing applicators face challenges with reliability, ease of use, safety, and manufacturing due to inconsistent fluid flow and complex design requirements, particularly in medical applications where precise and hygienic liquid application is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A liquid dispensing applicator design featuring a rotatable container body and head component with a slot system and sound-generating mechanism, where the container body and head component engage to form a fluid communication breach upon rotation, allowing controlled liquid flow and featuring a radial locking system to secure the components post-rotation, ensuring consistent and hygienic fluid application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a frangible applicator tip with a tongue element is used to hold and liberate liquid, then the liquid can be dispensed upon breaking the tip, but the structural support requirement leads to inconsistent performance and complicated manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator is divided into distinct components: a container body with a frangible end wall, a separate absorbent member, and a coupling mechanism. The frangible end wall is segmented into a main body and a breakable portion that separates upon activation, allowing liquid to pass through pre-formed apertures. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing while ensuring reliable liquid dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible end wall is pre-formed with apertures during manufacturing, and the breakable portion is pre-positioned to cover these apertures. When the user applies force, the breakable portion separates along pre-determined fracture lines, automatically exposing the apertures and initiating liquid flow without requiring complex control mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the tongue element is deflected to fracture the frangible region, then liquid flow is enabled, but the deflection method results in complicated design requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator incorporates a vibration mechanism that oscillates the breakable portion of the frangible end wall. This vibration creates fatigue stress that facilitates clean separation along the fracture lines, enabling reliable liquid release through the pre-formed apertures without requiring complex manual deflection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible end wall is designed to automatically break and expose the apertures when a specific force or vibration is applied. The breakable portion self-separates along predetermined fracture lines without requiring complex control systems, sensors, or automated mechanisms, simplifying both design and operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If excessive or insufficient amount of liquid is applied to the surface, then the fluid application purpose is compromised, but controlling fluid flow adds complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent member is positioned in direct contact with the liquid source and has specific local properties (absorbency, capillary action) that control liquid uptake and distribution. The frangible end wall has pre-formed apertures with specific sizes and distributions that regulate initial liquid flow. This localized control of liquid properties and flow paths ensures consistent liquid application without requiring complex flow control mechanisms.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the applicator is designed for single use to improve hygiene, then safety is improved, but manufacturing and disposal complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible end wall, absorbent member, and coupling mechanism are designed as an integrated assembly that is pre-assembled and sealed. This merging of components into a single disposable unit ensures hygiene by preventing contamination between uses, while the integrated design simplifies manufacturing through reduced assembly steps and automated production processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design ensures reliable, consistent, and hygienic liquid dispensing with controlled fluid flow, improving user safety and manufacturing simplicity by providing a recognizable breakage mechanism and secure locking system, enhancing the applicator's reliability and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
container body and the head component are rotatable with respect to each other to enable engagement of the projection and the slot system and cause breakage of part of the container body to form a fluid communication breach
Implementation Method 2
allowing the liquid to flow from the container body into the passageway of the head component
Implementation Method 3
a sound-generating system for generating a sound during rotation of the container body about the longitudinal axis to indicate to a user that the rotation is performed
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid dispensing applicator that can include a sound-generating system for generating a sound during rotation of the container body to indicate to a user that the rotation is performed. The sound-generating system includes at least one knob and a plurality of ribs. The at least one knob cooperates with at least some of the ribs during rotation of the container body, in order to generate the sound. The liquid dispensing applicator can alternatively or also include a wing element insertable into a slot provided in an absorbent material. The wing element extends from an outer surface of the head component and comprises opposing surfaces and a at least one edge spike provided on an edge of the at least one wing element, and configured to prevent the absorbent material from being removed after insertion of the wing element into the slot.