Coin Cell Aversive Coating With Visible Ingestion Warning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coin cell batteries pose a risk of severe injury and death due to accidental ingestion, as they can cause electrolysis reactions when in contact with bodily fluids, leading to alkaline burns, and existing anti-swallow features like bitter coatings and raised borders do not fully prevent injuries.
Innovation Solution
Development of aversive coatings for coin cell batteries comprising aversive taste agents like denatonium benzoate, capsaicin, or piperine, combined with water-soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, and optional colorants, applied to a significant portion of the battery surface to deter ingestion and provide a visible warning of ingestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a bitter-tasting coating is applied to the battery surface, then children are deterred from putting the battery in their mouths, but the coating does not prevent electrolysis reactions and severe injuries if the battery is swallowed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating a colorant into the bitter-tasting coating that stains bodily fluids (saliva, mucus, esophageal lining fluids, stomach fluids) a visible color. This preliminary staining action occurs before severe injury can happen, providing early warning to caregivers that ingestion has occurred, enabling prompt medical intervention to prevent or reduce the severity of electrolysis reactions and alkaline burns
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes by incorporating a colorant into the aversive coating composition. When the coating contacts bodily fluids, the colorant stains these fluids, producing a visible color change that serves as a warning signal. This allows caregivers to detect ingestion through visual observation of stained saliva, drool, or other body fluids, thereby enabling early response to prevent severe injury
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a raised border is added to the battery, then it becomes difficult for children to swallow, but it does not prevent electrolysis reactions if the battery is still ingested
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating a colorant into the bitter-tasting coating that stains bodily fluids (saliva, mucus, esophageal lining fluids, stomach fluids) a visible color. This preliminary staining action occurs before severe injury can happen, providing early warning to caregivers that ingestion has occurred, enabling prompt medical intervention to prevent or reduce the severity of electrolysis reactions and alkaline burns
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes by incorporating a colorant into the aversive coating composition. When the coating contacts bodily fluids, the colorant stains these fluids, producing a visible color change that serves as a warning signal. This allows caregivers to detect ingestion through visual observation of stained saliva, drool, or other body fluids, thereby enabling early response to prevent severe injury
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an aversive coating with high aversive agent content is applied, then deterrence effectiveness increases, but adhesion and coating stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by formulating an aversive coating composition that combines multiple components: an aversive taste agent (such as denatonium benzoate, capsaicin, or piperine), a colorant, and a polymer binder. This composite formulation allows the coating to simultaneously provide strong aversive taste effectiveness, visible staining through the colorant, and adequate adhesion through the polymer binder, resolving the contradiction between high aversive agent content and coating stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the concentration ratios of components in the aversive coating composition. The patent specifies that the aversive taste agent comprises 0.5 wt% to 65 wt% of the coating composition, with the polymer binder comprising 5 wt% to 98.5 wt%. By adjusting these parameters within specified ranges, the patent achieves both high aversive taste effectiveness and adequate coating adhesion and stability
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 aversive coatings effectively deter children from ingesting the batteries through unpleasant tastes and visible staining, while ensuring adequate adhesion and safety without interfering with the battery's functionality, thereby reducing the risk of alkaline burns and injuries.
Implementation Method 1
For adherence of the aversive coating to the electrochemical cell, the ratio of aversive taste agent to water soluble polymer is between 0.015 and 1.0
Implementation Method 2
The aversive coatings effectively deter children from ingesting the batteries through unpleasant tastes
Implementation Method 3
Such signal can be achieved by use of a colorant to stain the mouth, hands, or other areas wetted by body fluids like saliva that have been in contact with a lithium coin cell
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are aversive coatings and electrochemical cells with at least a portion of the exterior surface coated in the aversive coating to deter children from eating the electrochemical cell. Described are compositions and methods for preparing electrochemical cells coated in aversive coatings with ratios of aversive taste agent to water-soluble polymer that adequately adhere the aversive coating to the electrochemical cell.