Homogeneous Ear Infection Composition Using Acid pH Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compositions for treating animal ear infections are non-homogeneous, requiring vigorous shaking and resulting in inconsistent dosages, and struggle to maintain steroidal anti-inflammatory agents in solution, which reduces their effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A liquid composition combining an antifungal agent, an antibiotic agent, a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, and an anhydrous acid, dissolved in dehydrated alcohol and propylene glycol, ensuring a homogeneous solution that does not need vigorous shaking and maintains the steroidal anti-inflammatory agent in solution, using ketoconazole, ofloxacin, triamcinolone diacetate, and citric acid as preferred ingredients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a composition includes steroidal anti-inflammatory agents with acetic acid using ordinary preparation methods, then the composition can treat ear infections, but the steroidal anti-inflammatory agent precipitates out of solution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintaining steroidal anti-inflammatory agent in solutionVSAvoidpreparation method complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pH parameter of the solution by using acetic acid to adjust it to a range of 3.0-5.0, which prevents precipitation of the steroidal anti-inflammatory agent while maintaining its therapeutic effectiveness. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliability and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite formulation combining multiple ingredients (acetic acid, steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, antibiotic, antifungal) in specific proportions that work synergistically. The acetic acid serves multiple functions: adjusting pH, preventing precipitation, and providing antimicrobial activity, thus resolving the contradiction through a multi-functional composite approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If a composition has non-homogeneous consistency, then it can include multiple active ingredients, but it requires vigorous shaking and results in inconsistent dosages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultiple active ingredientsVSAvoidshaking requirement and dosage consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter by ensuring all ingredients are fully dissolved in the solvent system to create a homogeneous clear liquid solution. This eliminates the need for shaking and ensures consistent dosing while maintaining the ability to include multiple active ingredients in therapeutically effective concentrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a solvent system comprising isopropyl alcohol and propylene glycol as an intermediary medium that dissolves all active ingredients (steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, antibiotic, antifungal) to form a stable homogeneous solution. This intermediary solvent system resolves the contradiction between incorporating multiple ingredients and maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If acetic acid is combined with steroidal anti-inflammatory agents using ordinary methods, then the composition can be prepared, but the steroidal agent is driven out of solution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomposition preparationVSAvoidsolution homogeneity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pH parameter by intentionally adjusting it to 3.0-5.0 using acetic acid, which creates optimal conditions for maintaining the steroidal anti-inflammatory agent in solution. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between ease of manufacture and composition stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a specific solvent system with particular properties (isopropyl alcohol and propylene glycol in defined proportions) that acts as a stable medium, preventing precipitation and maintaining homogeneous solution despite the presence of acetic acid and multiple active ingredients.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 composition provides a consistent and effective treatment for animal ear infections, ensuring the steroidal anti-inflammatory agent remains in solution, eliminating the need for vigorous shaking and achieving uniform dosages, thereby enhancing bactericidal effects and improving infection management.

Implementation Method 1

dehydrated alcohol and propylene glycol to dissolve and combine the previously-mentioned components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

acetic acid is included as a mild antibacterial agent... acetic acid tends to drive these steroidal agents out of solution when ordinary methods of preparing such compositions are employed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcid-base interaction:

Data Source

PatentUS9636403B2Composition for the treatment of ear infections and method
Publication Date: 2017.05.02 SR VETERINARY TECH LLC

AI summary

A composition for treating ear infections in animals includes an antifungal agent, an antibiotic agent, a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, and an acid dissolved to form a liquid. The acid aids in keeping the steroidal anti-inflammatory agent in solution, and enhances the bactericidal effect of the composition. The method of preparing such composition includes dissolving the antifungal agent, steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, and acid in dehydrated alcohol, dissolving the antibiotic agent in propylene glycol, combining the two solutions together, heating the combination and then cooling the composition. Several drops of the composition are applied at least twice per day to the affected area of the animal's ear.