Chemical Applicator With Piercing Elements for Internal Tissue Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chemical applicator methods, such as spraying and injecting, face challenges in accurately targeting specific organisms while minimizing exposure to non-target plants and animals, particularly under environmental conditions like rain or wind, and often result in reduced chemical efficacy due to wash-off and surface application.
Innovation Solution
A chemical applicator device with piercing elements that are coated with chemicals from a reservoir, allowing for precise delivery of chemicals to the internal tissues of plants and animals, reducing surface application and potential wash-off, and featuring a reusable design for efficient multiple applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If spraying methods are used to apply chemicals to large areas, then coverage efficiency is improved, but accuracy of targeting specific plants deteriorates and non-target plants are exposed to chemicals
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical application system is segmented into multiple independent applicator units, each equipped with its own chemical reservoir and piercing elements. This segmentation allows individual targeting of specific plants while maintaining overall system productivity through parallel operation of multiple units.
Solution Approach 2:
A flowable member acts as an intermediary between the chemical reservoir and the target plant tissue. This intermediary carries the chemical from the reservoir through the piercing elements directly into the plant, enabling precise delivery without broad spraying that would expose non-target plants.
2Productivity
If spraying methods are used under high wind or rain conditions, then application speed is maintained, but chemical concentration effectiveness deteriorates due to dispersion or dilution
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical is pre-loaded into reservoirs that are sealed until the moment of application. This preliminary preparation ensures the chemical is protected from environmental factors like wind and rain, maintaining its concentration effectiveness while allowing rapid deployment when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical is extracted from the reservoir only at the moment of application through the flowable member and piercing elements. This extraction method protects the chemical from environmental dispersion and dilution that would occur with spraying, ensuring concentration effectiveness is maintained regardless of weather conditions.
3Ease of operation
If chemicals are applied to the surface of plants using sponge or absorbent pad applicators, then ease of application is improved, but chemical retention deteriorates due to wash-off during rainfall
Solution Approach 1:
The application system is segmented into discrete piercing elements that deliver chemical directly into plant tissue rather than applying it to the surface. This segmentation of the delivery mechanism eliminates the wash-off problem inherent in surface application methods while maintaining ease of operation through simple piercing action.
Solution Approach 2:
The flowable member serves as an intermediary that transports the chemical from the reservoir through the piercing elements directly into the plant's internal tissues. This intermediary delivery system bypasses the plant surface entirely, preventing wash-off during rainfall while keeping the application process simple and easy to operate.
4Ease of operation
If surface application of chemicals is used to simplify the application process, then ease of application is improved, but effective dose delivery deteriorates due to wash-off reducing concentration on target plant
Solution Approach 1:
The flowable member acts as an intermediary that delivers the chemical directly into the plant's internal tissues through the piercing elements. This intermediary delivery system ensures the full effective dose is deposited inside the plant where it can act on target tissues, eliminating the wash-off losses that reduce effective dose in surface application methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical is extracted from the reservoir and delivered directly into the plant tissue through the piercing elements, bypassing the plant surface entirely. This extraction method ensures complete delivery of the effective dose without wash-off losses, while the simple piercing mechanism maintains ease of application.
5Quantity of substance
If repeated applications of chemical are used to compensate for wash-off, then effective dose is maintained, but non-target plant exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flowable member serves as a precise intermediary delivery system that transports chemical directly into target plants through piercing elements. This targeted delivery ensures the effective dose is deposited only where needed, eliminating the need for repeated applications that would increase non-target plant exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into individual applicator units with separate chemical reservoirs, enabling selective application to specific target plants. This segmentation allows precise delivery of the effective dose to only the intended targets, preventing the need for blanket re-application that would expose non-target plants to chemicals.
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 device effectively delivers chemicals to internal tissues, enhancing their efficacy, reducing the need for higher concentrations or repeated applications, and minimizing environmental contamination by minimizing surface exposure and allowing for rapid reuse without re-sterilization or re-priming.
Implementation Method 1
the one or more piercing elements are engageable with one or more reservoirs such that chemical is substantially specifically applied onto the one or more piercing elements
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for applying chemicals to internal tissue of living organisms, including the internal tissue of plants and animals, which organisms reside in mediums such as land, air or water. Piercing elements are engageable with a chemical reservoir in order to coat of the piercing elements with a chemical. Once coated, the piercing elements are used to pierce a living organism's tissue, such as plant tissue, to deliver the chemical.