Fiber Brush Attachment Using Rotation for Gentle Tick Detachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for removing mite-like parasites, particularly ticks, from the skin of hosts often risk damaging the tick and increasing the risk of pathogen transmission due to pressure or leverage during removal.

Innovation Solution

A device with a brush attachment featuring a fiber arrangement that rotates around the tick without applying pressure, utilizing a recess to gently detach the tick by simulating its natural detachment mechanism, ensuring the tick's biting apparatus remains intact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional gripping tools or pressure devices are used to remove ticks, then the tick can be grasped and removed, but the tick body may be damaged or torn off, increasing pathogen transmission risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafe tick removalVSAvoidtick damage and pathogen transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical gripping tools with a rotational brush mechanism. The brush rotates the tick gently around its axis without applying direct pressure or leverage, allowing the tick to detach naturally while maintaining body integrity. This mechanical substitution eliminates the harmful compression and leverage forces that cause tick damage in traditional methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fundamental parameter of tick removal from linear pulling/compression forces to rotational motion. By applying gentle rotational force instead of direct mechanical pressure, the tick is stimulated to detach naturally without body damage, transforming the removal mechanism from forceful extraction to gentle rotation-induced detachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If gripping arms with closing force are used to hold the tick, then the tick can be secured for removal, but the closing force may compress and damage the tick body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetick grasping and holdingVSAvoidcompression force on tick

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the gripping arms compression mechanism with a rotational brush system. Instead of using elastic gripping arms that apply closing force to hold the tick, the rotating brush gently stimulates the tick to release its grip and rotate freely, eliminating compressive stress while maintaining operational effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than actively grasping and holding the tick with closing force, the invention inverts the approach by using rotational motion to stimulate the tick to release its grip voluntarily. The tick is not held by compression but rather encouraged to detach and rotate, reversing the traditional grasping-holding-compressing sequence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If leverage is applied during tick removal to pull the tick off, then the tick can be removed efficiently, but the leverage may tear the tick body and leave mouthparts embedded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetick removal efficiencyVSAvoidtick body tearing and mouthpart retention

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces leverage-based pulling mechanisms with a rotational brush system. The rotating brush stimulates the tick to detach and rotate around its axis, allowing efficient removal without the tearing forces and mouthpart retention problems associated with traditional leverage-based pulling methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the removal parameter from linear pulling with leverage to rotational motion. This parameter change eliminates the tearing forces that cause mouthpart retention while maintaining removal efficiency through the gentle rotational stimulation that prompts natural tick detachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3937804B1Device and brush attachment for removing acarine parasites by rotation

Publication Date: 2025.09.10 MALIPANO GMBH

Figure 1
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Figure 3a~3c

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for moving an acarine parasite which has penetrated the skin of a host, in particular a tick, having a drive (5), in particular an electromotive drive, which is received in a housing (2), and an attachment (3, 3a), which has an interface (10) on the drive side and can be rotated about a rotational axis (D) and which comprises a number of fibers (20) arranged in the form of bristles as a fiber assembly (3b). The fiber assembly (3b) has a recess (19), preferably a coaxial recess, in particular a conical or truncated conical or parabolic recess, and a fiber wreath assembly, which is formed by the fibers (20) at the free ends thereof along the circumference of the recess (19) and which has at least one fiber wreath (Fn), has a wreath width (b) which is greater than or equal to 0.3 mm, preferably (0.8 ± 0.4).