Leak-Resistant Elastomeric Barrier with Hydrophobic Coating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elastomeric gloves fail to effectively resist leakage of aqueous fluids through small holes and detect fluid breaches in surgical settings due to adhesion issues and low visual contrast, leading to unnoticed breaches by medical users.
Innovation Solution
A combination glove system with a hydrophobic outer glove and a hydrophilic inner glove, where the outer glove is treated with a hydrophobic coating and hydrophobic silica particles to prevent fluid permeation through 3 mm cut holes, and the inner glove has a hydrophilicity-promoting composition to enhance fluid detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a double glove system with contrasting color layers is used to detect fluid leakage, then breach detection capability is improved, but the visual impact remains low and breaches are frequently unnoticed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a hydrophilic composition to the outer surface of the elastomeric article that changes color upon contact with aqueous fluids. This color change provides high visual contrast and immediate detection of breaches, resolving the issue of low visual impact in traditional contrasting color double glove systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hydrophilic composition as an intermediary layer on the outer surface that mediates between the elastomeric barrier and the aqueous fluid. This composition enhances fluid wettability and provides visual indication through color change, improving detection capability without compromising barrier function.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If blood adhesion to elastomer is reduced to improve detection, then color/contrast change visibility is improved, but fluid leakage resistance through small holes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different locations: the outer surface has hydrophilic composition for fluid attraction and color change visibility, while the inner barrier maintains elastomeric properties for leakage resistance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between detection visibility and leakage resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure combining elastomeric polymer material with hydrophilic composition on the outer surface. This composite provides both the fluid interaction properties needed for detection and the barrier properties needed for leakage resistance, resolving the contradiction between visibility and reliability.
3Reliability
If hydrophobic coating is applied to resist fluid permeation through holes, then leakage resistance is improved, but fluid detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydrophobic coating to specific areas or layers while maintaining hydrophilic properties on the outer detection surface. This local differentiation allows the system to simultaneously achieve leakage resistance in critical areas and fluid detection capability on the outer surface.
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 leakage and enhances the visual detection of fluid breaches, reducing bacterial contamination and improving user safety by maintaining high water repellency and contrast visibility even after immersion in fluids.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric barrier comprising elastomeric polymer, having two sides, and coated on at least a portion of a first side with a hydrophobic coating (e.g., hydrophobic silica particles) such that the initial contact angle with water is about 130° or more
Implementation Method 2
to either the inner-barrier or the outer-backstop surface has been applied a hydrophilicity promoting composition, wherein the hydrophilicity promoting composition enhances the spreading in the space or seam of any of the hydrophilic or aqueous fluid that breaches the top elastomer or bottom layer
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Provided, among other things is a leak-resistant elastomeric barrier comprising: an elastomeric barrier comprising elastomeric polymer, having two sides, and coated on at least a portion of a first side with a highly hydrophobic coating such that the initial contact angle with water is about 130° or more, and that contact angle does not decay by more than about 10% over 40 minutes. In embodiments the highly hydrophobic coating comprises hydrophobic silica particles are disposed on a hydrophobic coating disposed on the first side, for example with a hydrophobic coating comprises that a fluorocarbon compound, a polypropylene wax, a polyethylene wax, or a mixture thereof.