Detectable Gloves for Contamination Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gloves used in industries like food and medicine preparation can detach and contaminate products, leading to health risks and significant costs due to undetected presence in final products, as existing metal-detectable gloves may not reliably prevent such contamination.
Innovation Solution
A glove made from a pliable sheet material with uniformly dispersed electro-magnetically and X-ray detectable components, such as ferrous oxide and barium particles, added to the material in a liquid form, ensuring detection by non-contact apparatus and potentially including antimicrobial agents and a biodegradable composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gloves are made thin and stretchable to allow manipulation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of contamination prevention deteriorates due to glove detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates detectable materials (metal particles, electro-magnetic detectable materials) into the glove structure that enable detection of glove detachment through changes in detectable properties, allowing reliable identification of contamination events while maintaining thin, stretchable glove construction for ease of manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
The detectable materials provide a feedback mechanism that signals when a glove has detached or compromised, enabling real-time monitoring of contamination risk without affecting the glove's thin, flexible design for manual dexterity
2Reliability
If metal detectable materials are added to gloves, then reliability of contamination detection is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detectable materials (metal particles, electro-magnetic detectable materials) into a single integrated glove structure, achieving enhanced detection reliability through one manufacturing process rather than multiple separate steps, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The glove is constructed as a composite material system incorporating detectable particles within the glove matrix, enabling simultaneous detection capabilities while maintaining a unified manufacturing approach that does not significantly increase process complexity
3Reliability
If detectable components are dispersed in liquid material before glove formation, then detection reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detectable particles are incorporated into the liquid glove material before the glove formation process begins, ensuring uniform distribution is achieved during the natural mixing and forming process, thereby reducing the need for additional precision-controlled dispersion steps
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
Enhances the reliability of detecting detached glove parts in products, allowing for timely removal and prevention of contamination, reducing health risks and costs, while being environmentally friendly through biodegradability.
Implementation Method 1
the said sheet material includes therein one or more components so as to render the glove, or portions thereof, detectable by non-contact detection apparatus... the component which is detectable by the metal detection apparatus, is a magnetically attractive metal or metal alloy
Implementation Method 2
the glove includes components therein to allow the same to be rendered detectable by X-ray detection apparatus and metal detection apparatus... the component which is detectable by X-ray apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A glove of a form typically, although not necessarily exclusively, provided for single or limited use purposes and discarded thereafter. The glove is to prevent contact between a product and a person's hand and to avoid contamination. The glove material includes components capable of detection by at least one form of noncontact detection apparatus which renders the glove or portion detectable if discarded and inadvertently becomes part of a manufacturing process or product. The components render the glove detectable by using metal detection apparatus and/or X-ray detection apparatus which may allow removal of the glove. The glove may also include an antimicrobial agent as part to prevent or reduced contamination on the surface of the glove. The glove can also be rendered biodegradable.