Flexible Transdermal Hydrogen Device Using External Electrolysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrogen therapy methods for treating inflammatory and oxidative stress-related conditions are invasive, inefficient, and suffer from variations in dihydrogen concentration and compliance issues, particularly due to the need for complex equipment or implantable devices.
Innovation Solution
A transdermal dihydrogen delivery device comprising a flexible body with an anode and cathode connected to an electrical energy source, allowing dihydrogen production through water electrolysis within a water receptacle, enabling non-invasive delivery of dihydrogen through the skin, independent of bodily fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If implantable devices are used for dihydrogen production, then sufficient dihydrogen delivery is achieved, but the invasiveness to the patient increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the skin as an intermediary interface between the external electrolyte chamber and the internal body tissues. The electrolyte chamber is positioned externally against the skin, and dihydrogen produced by electrolysis diffuses through the skin into the underlying tissues, eliminating the need for implantable electrodes while still achieving sufficient delivery to treat conditions like obesity and diabetes
2Ease of operation
If water electrolysis is performed using bodily fluids, then the device can be implantable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrolyte system from the body by positioning the electrolyte chamber externally. Instead of using internal bodily fluids (blood, interstitial fluid) as the electrolyte, the system uses an external electrolyte solution contained in a separate chamber, simplifying the device design while maintaining electrolytic function
Solution Approach 2:
The skin serves as a mediator that allows the external electrolyte system to interact with internal body tissues. Hydrogen produced in the external chamber diffuses through the skin barrier into the subcutaneous and underlying tissues, enabling the external device to achieve internal therapeutic effects without complex implantable components
3Object-affected harmful factors
If transdermal delivery is used, then the device becomes non-invasive, but the dihydrogen delivery quantity may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by positioning the electrolyte chamber in direct contact with the skin surface before activation. The chamber is pre-filled with electrolyte solution and electrodes are positioned to maximize surface area contact, ensuring that when electricity is applied, hydrogen is produced directly at the skin interface for immediate transdermal diffusion into target tissues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by controlling the electrical current applied to the electrodes to optimize hydrogen production rate. By adjusting voltage and current parameters, the system produces sufficient dihydrogen to overcome the diffusion limitation of transdermal delivery, achieving therapeutic quantities (1-40 μmol/hour) while maintaining non-invasive operation
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 device provides a sufficient and controlled delivery of dihydrogen, ranging from 1 μmol/hour to 40 μmol/hour, effectively treating conditions like diabetes, obesity, psoriasis, and oxidative stress-related issues without the invasiveness of implantable devices, while minimizing dihydrogen loss and ensuring targeted delivery.
Implementation Method 1
Dihydrogen is thus produced by electrolysis of water from a bodily fluid, inside the human body
Implementation Method 2
As dihydrogen is a rapidly diffused molecule, involving a low remanence at the release site thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A transdermal dihydrogen delivery device including a body including an anode and a cathode, and an electrical energy source, wherein the body is based on a flexible material, capable of shaping to the skin of a human or animal body, and the body includes a water receptacle, the relative arrangement of the receptacle, the anode and the cathode being configured such that the water contained in the receptacle is in contact with the anode and the cathode to form a closed electrical circuit, so as to produce dihydrogen at the cathode from the water taken from the receptacle, to release transdermally the dihydrogen produced. The proposed delivery device is relatively non-invasive, while allowing dihydrogen delivery.