Cold Applicator Liquid Composition Balancing Cooling and Flammability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cold applicator assemblies face issues with alcohol content regulations, flammability, and skin drying effects, limiting their sale and use in certain institutions, and they do not effectively cool all parts of a limb simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A liquid composition comprising water, alcohol denatured, anti-freeze agent, detergent, vasodilator, relaxant, and preservatives is used, reducing alcohol content, adding anti-freeze to prevent skin damage, and incorporating preservatives for durability, allowing the assembly to be reused.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If alcohol content is increased to enhance cooling effect, then cooling efficiency is improved, but flammability increases and regulatory compliance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing a portion of ethanol with isopropanol and adjusting the overall alcohol content to 65-75% range. This parameter modification maintains the cooling efficacy through alcohol's evaporative cooling property while reducing flammability risks and improving regulatory compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite liquid composition combining multiple components: water (25-40%), ethanol (20-35%), isopropanol (20-35%), and glycerin (5-15%). This composite formulation leverages the cooling properties of alcohols while using glycerin as a humectant to prevent skin drying and water to reduce overall flammability, achieving a balanced formulation that satisfies both performance and safety requirements.
2Temperature
If alcohol content is increased to improve cooling effect, then evaporative cooling is enhanced, but skin drying effect worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces glycerin as an intermediary substance that mediates between the alcohol's cooling effect and skin moisture retention. Glycerin serves as a humectant that attracts and retains moisture on the skin surface, counteracting the drying effect of alcohol evaporation while allowing the alcohol to maintain its cooling function.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite liquid composition combines ethanol and isopropanol for cooling with glycerin for moisture retention. This composite approach allows the formulation to deliver effective evaporative cooling while the glycerin component prevents excessive skin drying, resolving the contradiction between cooling performance and skin care.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If alcohol content is reduced to decrease flammability, then safety is improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite alcohol system combining ethanol and isopropanol in specific proportions within a 65-75% total alcohol range. This composite formulation maintains sufficient cooling efficiency through the combined evaporative cooling effects of both alcohols while keeping the overall concentration in a range that reduces flammability compared to higher alcohol content formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the alcohol concentration parameter to 65-75%, which is lower than traditional high-alcohol formulations but sufficient for effective cooling when combined with the dual-alcohol system and glycerin. This parameter change reduces flammability while maintaining cooling efficiency through the synergistic composition.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If preservatives are added to enable reuse, then durability is improved, but composition complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the liquid composition by adding preservatives to enable multiple uses of the cold applicator assembly. This parameter change transforms the product from single-use to reusable, extending its duration of action and practical lifespan while the preservative components integrate seamlessly into the existing liquid formulation.
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 new composition reduces flammability, allows wider distribution, prevents skin drying and damage, and enables simultaneous cooling of the entire limb, enhancing usability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
alcohol denat, about 20-28% of the total, an anti-freeze agent, about 15-20% of the total
Implementation Method 2
alcohol denat, about 20-28% of the total
Implementation Method 3
a tubular fabric immersed in a liquid composition is contained in an airtight pack
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Comprises a tubular fabric (1) contained in a pack (2) is immersed in such liquid, characterized in that said liquid comprises: - Water or distilled water, about 50-60% of the total, - Alcohol denat, about 20-28% of the total, - An anti-freeze agent, about 15-20% of the total, - A detergent, about 1,5-2,5% of the total, - A vasodilator product 0,2-0,7% of the total, - Relaxant products 0,7-1% of the total, and - Preservatives in a proportion of about 0,075-0,090% of the total.