Electrostatically Charged Pest Control Powder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for controlling insect pests like termites and cockroaches are often ineffective and can pose risks to humans and other animals due to the use of concentrated insecticides, necessitating a safer and more targeted approach.

Innovation Solution

Development of electrostatically charged pesticidal powder compositions that include a combination of pesticidal ingredients, anticaking agents, and attractants, which can be applied via pressurized air columns, adhering to the pest's cuticle and being attractive to social insects for translocation into nesting structures, thereby controlling pest populations effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If concentrated insecticides are used to control pest populations, then pest control efficacy is improved, but safety risks to humans and animals increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepest control efficacyVSAvoidsafety risks to humans and animals

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration parameter of the pesticidal ingredient from high (concentrated) to low (0.01% to 2% w/w), thereby reducing harmful effects while maintaining control efficacy through electrostatic delivery mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical spray application with an electrostatic delivery system that charges particles, enabling enhanced adhesion to pest cuticles and improved penetration into nesting structures without requiring concentrated chemicals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Area of stationary object

If conventional spray methods are used to apply pesticidal compositions, then application coverage is achieved, but adherence to pest cuticle and translocation into nesting structures is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication coverageVSAvoidadherence and translocation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical spray deposition with electrostatic charging of particles, which enables the composition to adhere to the charged cuticle of insects and be carried into nesting structures through electrostatic attraction and social insect translocation behavior

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses electrostatic charge as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates both adherence to the pest body and subsequent translocation into nesting structures, bridging the gap between application coverage and effective delivery to target sites

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If delayed-acting pesticidal compositions are used to allow translocation, then social insect colony control is improved, but time to achieve mortality increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolony control effectivenessVSAvoidtime to achieve mortality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the pesticidal composition in advance to nesting structures and pathways where social insects travel, allowing the delayed-acting ingredient to be present and effective when insects contact it during their natural behavior, thus achieving colony control while minimizing waiting time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 electrostatically charged compositions demonstrate high efficacy in controlling termite and cockroach populations by ensuring adherence and translocation within insect colonies, reducing tunneling activity, and achieving significant mortality rates while minimizing exposure risks to humans and other animals.

Implementation Method 1

The composition is electrostatically charged on application. The composition can be electrostatically charged during application using a device capable of electrostatically charging the composition during application.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic charge: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 2

The device can be operable to deliver the composition via pressurized air columns.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressurized air flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20240397949A1Powder pest control compositions and methods of using

Publication Date: 2024.12.05 CONTROL SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

Compositions and methods for controlling pests are disclosed. The compositions can be electrostatically charged, can be attractive for translocation by the social insects into nesting, tunneling, and/or gathering structures of the social insects, or both. Kits comprising the compositions and a powder delivery device operable to electrostatically charge a pest control composition during delivery are also disclosed.