Pharmaceutical Capsule Sealing Structure With Fluid Stop Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pharmaceutical capsule designs are prone to deformation and failure due to liquid sealing processes, particularly with pullulan-based capsules, as they dissolve in water or transition to a liquid state, leading to improper sealing and brittleness issues.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a snap fit joint and a fluid stop joint, with a fluid gap between the cap and body, restricts sealing fluid to minimize deformation and failure, using a combination of channels to control the sealing fluid and prevent excess fluid from weakening the capsule walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid sealing is applied to pullulan-based capsules, then sealing is achieved, but capsule deformation and failure occur due to dissolution and stress
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing surface is divided into multiple discrete pillars rather than a continuous surface. This segmentation reduces the total contact area between sealing surfaces, limiting the amount of sealing fluid that can penetrate and dissolve the pullulan material, while still providing effective sealing through the distributed pillar structures
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule wall structure is modified locally by adding pillars with specific geometric properties (height, diameter, spacing) at the sealing region. This creates a localized reinforcement that prevents deformation while the reduced contact area minimizes fluid penetration and dissolution of the pullulan material
2Reliability
If excess sealing fluid is used, then sealing is achieved, but capsule wall thinning and weakening occur
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing surface is segmented into discrete pillars that limit the spread and penetration of sealing fluid. This segmentation prevents excess fluid from contacting large areas of the capsule wall, thereby avoiding thinning and weakening while still achieving effective sealing at the pillar contact points
3Reliability
If friction and locking mechanisms are increased to prevent separation, then capsule security is improved, but microcracks and brittleness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pillars are pre-formed as integral parts of the capsule wall structure before sealing. This preliminary formation provides built-in reinforcement that prevents stress concentration and microcrack development during the sealing process, while the pillar geometry is designed to provide sufficient friction and locking for capsule security
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 provides a tamper-proof seal with reduced deformation and failure rates, maintaining the integrity of the capsule by restricting sealing fluid and preventing brittleness, thus enhancing the reliability of pharmaceutical capsule delivery systems.
Implementation Method 1
such liquid may result in the partial dissolution or disintegration of portions of the capsule parts, whereby the capsule parts are fused or sealed upon evaporation of the liquid
Implementation Method 2
whereby the capsule parts are fused or sealed upon evaporation of the liquid
Implementation Method 3
a first channel of the cap and a first channel of the body form a snap fit joint and a second channel of the cap and a second channel of the body form a fluid stop joint whereby a sealing fluid is substantially restricted to the fluid gap by the fluid stop joint
Data Source
AI summary
A container and more specifically a container such as a capsule used to deliver dosages of pharmaceuticals, medicines, vitamins, etc. to an individual is discussed. In one embodiment, the invention includes a container comprising: a cap; a body slidably engagable inside the cap; and a fluid gap positioned between the cap and the body adjacent an end of the cap, wherein a first channel of the cap and a first channel of the body form a snap fit joint and a second channel of the cap and a second channel of the body form a fluid stop joint whereby a sealing fluid is substantially restricted to the fluid gap by the fluid stop joint.