Drug-Detection Glove Coating for Visual Opioid Contact Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical personnel and first responders face challenges in identifying the presence of illicit drugs, particularly opioids, on patients during emergencies, as they are often unaware of the substances and may not be able to communicate their use, posing a risk of exposure and injury.
Innovation Solution
A glove with a drug-detecting coating that changes color or texture upon contact with opioids, allowing users to visually identify the presence of these substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If medical personnel wear standard gloves to protect against toxic substances, then protection against harmful factors is improved, but the ability to detect the presence of drugs is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a coating to the glove exterior that changes color when it comes into contact with opioids or other toxic substances. This color change provides immediate visual feedback to the medical personnel wearing the glove, allowing them to detect the presence of drugs while maintaining the protective function of the glove.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating on the glove acts as an intermediary substance that reacts with toxic substances. When the coated glove contacts an opioid-laced substance, the coating undergoes a detectable color change, serving as a mediator between the protective glove and the toxic substance detection function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If medical personnel handle patients carefully to avoid contact with drugs, then exposure risk is reduced, but the ability to identify drug presence is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The coating provides immediate visual feedback when toxic substances are detected. The color change occurs at the point of contact, giving real-time information to the medical personnel about the presence of drugs, eliminating the information loss that occurs when patients cannot communicate their drug use.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the coating is applied to the entire exterior surface of the glove, then detection capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is applied to cover substantially the entire exterior surface of the glove, including the palm and finger regions. This universal application ensures that no matter where the glove contacts a toxic substance during patient handling, detection is possible, maximizing the detection capability across all functional areas of the glove.
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
Enables immediate visual detection of opioids, providing a safety mechanism for medical personnel and first responders by indicating contact with hazardous drugs, thereby promoting safer handling practices.
Implementation Method 1
When the glove is brought into direct physical contact with the toxic substance it is formulated to detect, at least one characteristic of the coating changes. In some instances, the coating will change color when the toxic substance is contacted.
Data Source
AI summary
A glove and method of detecting a toxic substance on a surface is disclosed. A coating is applied over an exterior surface of at least a portion of the glove. The coating is formulated to detect toxic substances when the glove is donned and brought into contact with an object or surface. In particular, the coating may be formulated to detect toxic substances such as opioids and drug mixtures which include opioids. The coating may be applied over substantially the entire exterior surface of the glove or as coated regions formed on the palm region and/or digit regions of the glove. When the glove is brought into direct physical contact with the toxic substance it is formulated to detect, at least one characteristic of the coating changes. In some instances, the coating will change color when the toxic substance is contacted.