Dispensing Head Copper Surface Antimicrobial Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cosmetic and pharmaceutical dispensing systems face challenges in preventing contamination by bacteria and fungi due to the migration of antimicrobial agents into products, reduced effectiveness of organic agents over time, and difficulty in maintaining preservative-free formulations under pressure.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing system with a dispensing head featuring a metallic copper surface to prevent microbial proliferation without antimicrobial agent migration, ensuring decontamination of the product and preventing air contact, which includes a pump with copper components and a narrow, non-tortuous dispensing path to minimize contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antimicrobial agents are added to the distribution system materials, then microbial contamination is prevented, but the agents migrate into the product causing uncontrolled preservative quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the antimicrobial function from the product formulation and relocates it to the distribution system's copper components. The copper surfaces (piston, pump chamber, dispensing orifice) provide antimicrobial activity independently, allowing the product itself to remain free of migrated preservatives while still receiving protection through contact with copper surfaces during dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies antimicrobial copper material specifically to localized areas where product contact occurs (piston surface, pump chamber, dispensing orifice) rather than using systemic preservatives throughout the entire product. This creates localized antimicrobial zones that protect the product without requiring widespread chemical additives.
2Reliability
If organic antimicrobial agents are used in the distribution system, then microbial growth is inhibited, but their activity is reduced after radio-crosslinking and natural ageing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of antimicrobial mechanism from chemical (organic agents) to physical (metallic copper). Copper's antimicrobial property is inherent and stable, not dependent on chemical stability against oxidation or degradation. This physical mechanism remains effective throughout the product's shelf life and after sterilization processes.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If preservatives are added to reinforce intrinsic preservative activity, then contamination resistance is improved, but the product becomes less stable under mechanical and thermal stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces copper surfaces as an intermediary between the product and microbial contaminants. Instead of adding chemical preservatives to the product formulation, the copper components act as a mediator that kills or inhibits microbes through contact during the dispensing process, protecting the product without altering its chemical composition or 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 system effectively prevents contamination and maintains product integrity by utilizing metallic copper surfaces to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth without adding preservatives to the product, ensuring reliable antimicrobial protection and compatibility with zero-preservative formulations.
Implementation Method 1
the wall 15 of the sleeve 12 has an outer surface which comprises metallic copper which, due to its microbiostatic properties, prevents the proliferation or even eliminates the contaminants in contact with said surfaces
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a dispensing head (2) for a system for dispensing a pressurised product, said head comprising a body (8) presenting a shaft (9) for mounting said head on a tube (7) supplying the pressurised product and a housing that communicates with said shaft, said housing having an insert (11) enveloped by a sleeve (12) thereby forming a path (13) for dispensing the product between said shaft and a dispensing orifice (14) formed in a wall (15) of said sleeve, which is arranged facing a wall (16) of said insert, where at least one of the walls (15, 16) of the sleeve (12) and the insert (11) present a surface suitable for entering into contact with the product, said surface comprising metallic copper. Figure