Color Changeable Dye for Medical Product Expiration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Disposable and limited-use medical and ophthalmic products pose a risk of contamination and infection if reused or used beyond their recommended time, as they often lack effective indicators to signal expiration or improper use.
Innovation Solution
A color changeable dye that changes color upon exposure to oxygen after a predetermined period, comprising a redox indicator, reduction reaction initiator, electron donor, oxygen scavenger, indicator barrier agent, and thickening agent, allowing the dye to be applied in an oxygen-rich environment and then reduced in a sealed, oxygen-free environment, reversing color change when exposed to oxygen, thus indicating the product's intended use time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a color changeable dye is applied to indicate product expiration time, then product safety and compliance are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing process become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components (redox indicator, reduction reaction initiator, electron donor, oxygen scavenger, indicator barrier agent, thickening agent) into a single integrated color changeable dye composition that can be applied as one coating layer, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining the complex safety indication functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The dye composition serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a color indicator, an oxygen sensor, a time tracker, and a safety warning system, eliminating the need for separate components for each function and thereby reducing device complexity
2Ease of manufacture
If the dye is applied in the presence of oxygen in its oxidized state, then ease of manufacture is improved, but premature color change may occur during packaging and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen scavenger component is incorporated into the dye formulation to preemptively consume any oxygen that penetrates the packaging, preventing oxidation and premature color change of the redox indicator during storage, thereby maintaining color stability without requiring complex inert atmosphere packaging
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator barrier agent acts as an intermediary layer that delays oxygen diffusion to the redox indicator, providing a time buffer that prevents premature color change during packaging and storage while allowing the dye to be applied in its oxidized state during manufacturing
3Measurement precision
If the color change time is precisely controlled to coincide with expiration time, then measurement precision is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls color change time by adjusting the parameters of individual dye components (concentrations of redox indicator, reduction reaction initiator, electron donor, oxygen scavenger) rather than requiring precise control of the entire system, allowing flexible tuning of expiration indication time through simple compositional adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The dye composition is designed to dynamically adapt to different oxygen environments and storage conditions, with the color change time automatically adjusting based on the actual oxygen penetration rate and consumption rate, reducing the need for precise manufacturing control
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 dye effectively warns users of product expiration or improper use by changing color, preventing contamination and infection by clearly indicating when the product should no longer be used, enhancing safety and compliance with usage guidelines.
Implementation Method 1
The color changeable dye can be a first color in the presence of oxygen, capable of changing to a second color upon reduction in a substantially oxygen free environment, and capable of changing back to the first color after exposure to oxygen
Data Source
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AI summary
According to embodiments of the present application, a color changeable dye can comprise a redox indicator, a reduction reaction initiator, an electron donor, an oxygen scavenger, an indicator barrier agent, a thickening agent and an agent to facilitate mixing. The color changeable dye is a first color in the presence of oxygen, capable of changing to a second color upon reduction in a substantially oxygen free environment, and capable of changing back to the first color after exposure to oxygen for a period of time corresponding to the intended use time of a disposable or limited use product. Methods of making and using the color changeable dye and apparatuses incorporating such dye are also disclosed.