Atmospheric Pump Air Permeable Membrane for Sterile Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pumps for delivering liquid or semi-liquid products, such as nasal sprays, face challenges in delivering precise doses while maintaining sterility, as high vacuum levels can lead to inaccurate dosing and the introduction of contaminants through air intake, which can compromise product sterility.
Innovation Solution
A pump design with an air passage using a non-porous, air-permeable polymer material that allows controlled air intake to equalize pressure, ensuring precise and reproducible dosing without introducing contaminants, as the air-permeable member is made of a solid material that allows gas diffusion but not liquid or particle passage, reducing the risk of bacterial contamination and evaporation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If air intake is introduced to equalize pressure and improve dosing precision, then dosing precision is improved, but product sterility deteriorates due to potential bacterial contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a breathable membrane made of porous material that allows air molecules to pass through while blocking larger bacterial particles. The membrane contains pores with specific size characteristics that permit gas diffusion necessary for pressure equalization during pumping operations, yet physically block contaminants from entering the product reservoir, thus resolving the contradiction between needing air intake for dosing precision and preventing bacterial contamination
Solution Approach 2:
The breathable membrane acts as an intermediary element between the external environment and the sterile product reservoir. It mediates the air intake function by allowing necessary gas exchange for pressure equalization while simultaneously filtering out harmful contaminants, thus enabling dosing precision improvement without compromising product sterility
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high vacuum is created in the reservoir to deliver product without air intake, then product sterility is maintained, but dosing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The breathable membrane with controlled pore structure enables gradual air intake to equalize pressure differences during pumping, preventing the high vacuum conditions that cause dosing imprecision while maintaining product sterility through contaminant filtration. The membrane allows sufficient gas permeability to avoid vacuum-related dosing errors without compromising the sterile barrier function
3Object-affected harmful factors
If porous filter is used to filter incoming air, then bacterial contamination is reduced, but manufacturing complexity and assembly precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The breathable membrane serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a breathable barrier for air intake, provides pressure equalization during pumping, filters out bacterial contaminants, and integrates directly into the pump body structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate filter assemblies and complex positioning mechanisms, reducing manufacturing complexity and assembly precision requirements while maintaining contamination protection
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 solution enables precise and reproducible dosing by controlling air intake through a non-porous air-permeable member, maintaining product sterility and preventing air bubble formation, while minimizing manufacturing costs and assembly complexity, ensuring the product is delivered effectively without contamination or evaporation issues.
Implementation Method 1
the air-permeable member is made of a solid material that allows gas diffusion but not liquid or particle passage
Implementation Method 2
the pump comprises an elastic membrane comprising a part forming a non-return valve so as to prevent the reflux of product
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (10) for delivering a product by spraying. This device (10) has a reservoir (16) for storing the liquid to be dispensed, and a pump (12). The pump (12) has a pump body (24) that is mounted in a fixed manner on the reservoir (16) and the pump body (24) has an air passage orifice (72) from the outside to the inside of the reservoir (16). The device (10) also has an air passage from the outside to the inside of the reservoir (16), said air passage passing through the air passage orifice (72), the air passage being closed off by a member made of an air-permeable polymer material, this material being non-porous, the member being referred to as an air-permeable member (74).