Breakable Vial with Integrated Brush Applicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for topical application of therapeutic agents lack a sterile and convenient method to maintain sterility and facilitate easy application to specific body areas like the eyelids and eyebrows, often requiring separate applicators and risking contamination.
Innovation Solution
A breakable vial with an integrated applicator, such as a brush, that maintains sterility through a hermetic seal until manually separated, exposing the applicator for immediate use, ensuring the therapeutic agent remains immersed and ready for application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate applicator is used for topical application, then sterility can be maintained, but device complexity increases and convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the applicator and the therapeutic agent container into a single integrated unit. The applicator shaft and brush are permanently attached to the vial, eliminating the need for separate applicators while maintaining sterility through the hermetic seal until activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated applicator-vial unit serves multiple functions: it stores the therapeutic agent, maintains sterility, and applies the medication. The single unit replaces what would traditionally require separate components (vial + separate applicator), reducing complexity while maintaining all necessary functions.
2Reliability
If a hermetic seal is used to maintain sterility, then sterility is preserved, but ease of operation decreases due to required manual separation
Solution Approach 1:
The breakable seal is pre-configured at the interface between the vial and applicator handle, allowing for easy manual separation. The frangible barrier is designed in advance to break cleanly when force is applied, making the activation process simple while maintaining sterility until that moment.
3Reliability
If the applicator is enclosed within the vial, then sterility is maintained, but accessibility of the applicator is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator is segmented into components (handle, shaft, brush) that can be sequentially exposed. When the vial is activated, the breakable seal allows the applicator to be pulled out from the vial, transitioning from an enclosed sterile state to an accessible application state.
4Ease of operation
If a breakable vial design is used, then ease of operation improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The breakable seal utilizes material property changes - specifically, a frangible barrier with controlled break strength that is weaker than the bond between the applicator handle and the seal. This parameter differentiation allows the seal to break cleanly at the intended location during activation while maintaining structural integrity during manufacturing and storage.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present application refers to a disposable apparatus for topical application of a therapeutic agent, comprising: a breakable vial (100) comprising a handle section (122) and a vial section (102), wherein the breakable vial is completely separable into the handle section and the vial section in response to a manually applied separation force. The vial section (102) comprises a void (104) dimensioned to contain a unit dose of a sterile therapeutic topical agent. The apparatus further comprises an elongated member comprising a proximal portion supported by the handle section (124) and a distal portion provided with a sterile applicator element, at least the applicator element completely enclosed within the vial section with the applicator element immersed within the therapeutic topical agent, and a hermetic seal (129) between the handle section (122) and vial section (102), wherein complete separation of the handle section (122) and the vial section (102) exposes the elongated member and the applicator element for topical application of the therapeutic agent saturating the applicator element. According to the invention, the void (104) is sterile, the hermetic seal (129) maintains sterility of at least the vial section (102) prior to handle section (122) and vial section (102) separation, the therapeutic topical agent comprises a prostaglandin analog, and the applicator element comprises a brush having a generally tapered shape that serves to trap the therapeutic topical agent using capillary action.