Bionic Digestive Tract with Gastric Glands for Food Grinding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current bionic digestive tract models made of silica gel and latex lack the functionality to grind solid foods and simulate the 'back flow' function between the stomach antrum and body, leading to inaccurate testing results and insufficient simulation of the human digestive tract's physiological structures and functions.
Innovation Solution
A bionic digestive tract is developed using a mixture of silica gel, latex, or hydrogel with silicone oil and a curing agent in specific mass ratios, which includes detailed preparation methods for each digestive tract section to replicate the true human digestive system's structures and functions, such as the stomach, large intestine, ileum, duodenum, and jejunum, with features like intestinal villi and 'back flow' functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional materials like silica gel and latex are used to make simulated digestive tract models, then the models can reproduce digestive environments (no viscosity, water insolubility, chemical stability), but the internal physiological structures become smooth and lack food-grinding function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different surface textures in different regions of the simulated stomach. Specifically, the gastric glands are formed with protruding structures that have rough surfaces, while other regions maintain smooth surfaces. This allows the model to have both smooth areas for liquid mixing and rough areas with gastric glands that can grind solid foods, resolving the contradiction between maintaining chemical stability and adding food-grinding function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining traditional silicone rubber with additional components such as gastric gland structures made from different materials or formed through multi-step molding processes. The simulated digestive tract model incorporates multiple material layers or components, where the base material provides chemical stability and the added gastric gland structures provide mechanical grinding functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If the simulated digestive tract is made as a whole structure, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the 'back flow' function between stomach antrum and body cannot be simulated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the simulated stomach into distinct functional regions: the stomach body, the antrum, and the connecting regions. These segmented parts are molded separately with specific structural features (such as the antrum having a narrower opening and different wall thickness) and then assembled together. This segmentation allows the model to simulate the back flow function between regions while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes for each individual component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements the nested doll principle by creating a multi-layered structure where the simulated digestive tract walls have multiple functional layers. The walls include inner and outer surfaces with different textures, intermediate layers with embedded structures, and nested compartments that represent different physiological functions. This nested structure allows complex back flow simulation capabilities within a unified model framework.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional simulated digestive tract models are used, then the basic digestive environment can be reproduced, but the simulation performances in terms of hardness, expansion rate and elasticity are not satisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically adjusting the formulation and processing parameters of the silicone rubber material. The patent specifies particular ranges for silicone rubber hardness (Shore A 20-40), elongation at break (150-300%), and tear strength, and uses specific curing agents and catalysts in controlled amounts. These parameter changes enable the simulated digestive tract to achieve physiological-like mechanical properties, including appropriate hardness for containing digestive contents, elasticity for peristalsis simulation, and expansion rate for accommodating food volume changes.
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 bionic digestive tract provides an accurate simulation of the human digestive system, capable of grinding solid foods and replicating the 'back flow' function, offering improved simulation performance, transparency, and durability, enhancing the accuracy of food and drug research.
Implementation Method 1
mixing a base material (one or more of silica gel, latex and hydrogel) and auxiliary materials (silicone oil and a curing agent)
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure discloses a bionic digestive tract as well as a preparation method and application thereof, belonging to the field of bionic technologies and the field of biological technologies. The bionic digestive tract of the disclosure is prepared by mixing a base material (one or more of silica gel, latex and hydrogel) and auxiliary materials (silicone oil and a curing agent) in a certain mass ratio (the mass ratio of the base material to the silicone oil to the curing agent is 100:(0.5 to 10):(0.5 to 3.5)). The simulation performance of the bionic digestive tract is excellent, has strong consistency with a true human digestive tract in terms of performance, structure and function, can simulate the true states of food, drugs and microorganisms in a digestive system, and has great application prospects in the research process of food and drugs.