Therapeutic Foot Patch for Cough Relief via Transdermal Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current over-the-counter cough treatments, especially those for young children and individuals with certain medical conditions, often contain unsuitable ingredients like cough suppressants and decongestants, and existing topical ointments are greasy and undesirable, making them less appealing for use on the chest or neck.
Innovation Solution
A therapeutic foot patch with a flexible backing and adhesive skin contact side, carrying cough-reducing active ingredients such as menthol or eucalyptus, is applied to the sole of the foot, providing a chemesthetic sensation through transient receptor potential channels to relieve cough symptoms without the need for oral administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If topical ointment is applied to chest or neck, then cough symptoms are relieved, but the ointment is greasy and sticky making it undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the active ingredient to the foot instead of the chest or neck. This inversion of the application site eliminates the greasy and sticky sensation on the face and chest while still delivering therapeutic benefit through transdermal absorption and neural pathway stimulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot acts as an intermediary site for drug delivery. The active ingredient is applied to the foot where it can be absorbed transdermally and stimulate neural pathways that indirectly relieve cough symptoms, avoiding direct contact with the face and chest.
2Reliability
If oral cough medication is administered, then cough symptoms are treated, but young children and people with certain medical conditions cannot take these medications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the oral administration route with transdermal delivery. This substitution eliminates the need for swallowing pills or liquids, making the treatment suitable for young children and people who cannot take oral medications while still delivering the active ingredient systemically.
3Temperature
If aromatic vapors are released from topical ointment, then cooling sensation is delivered, but the aromatic vapors are considered undesirable by many people
Solution Approach 1:
By applying the aromatic active ingredient to the foot instead of the chest, the patent eliminates the release of undesirable aromatic vapors in the breathing zone while still providing cooling sensation through transdermal absorption and TRP channel activation.
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 foot patch effectively reduces cough symptoms by delivering active ingredients transdermally, offering a non-greasy and comfortable alternative that can be reused, suitable for children and those who cannot take oral medications, providing relief through chemesthetic modulation of nerve receptors.
Implementation Method 1
The active ingredient carrier section carries a cough-reducing active ingredient that imparts a chemesthetic sensation to the foot
Implementation Method 2
a flexible backing having an adhesive skin contact side that is adhered to the bottom of the foot
Data Source
AI summary
A method of treating cough includes applying a therapeutic foot patch to a bottom of a foot. The therapeutic foot patch has a flexible backing with a skin contact side that contacts the bottom of the foot. An active ingredient carrier section on the skin contact side carries a cough-reducing active ingredient that imparts a chemesthetic sensation to the foot.