Biological Material Capsule Delivery With Frangible Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many species of microorganisms used in agricultural applications are fragile and cannot survive long-term outside their natural environment, leading to reduced efficacy when premixed with agricultural inputs.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a capsule with a plunger mechanism that maintains biological material in a sealed environment, using a frangible bottom to release the material into a liquid medium, ensuring the material remains viable and can be dispersed effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If biological material is premixed with agricultural inputs, then convenience of application is improved, but viability of biological material deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the biological material and agricultural inputs into separate compartments within a single container system. The biological material is contained in a capsule while the agricultural input is in the main container, allowing them to be applied together without direct contact that would harm the biological material's viability.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule acts as an intermediary carrier that interfaces between the biological material and the agricultural input liquid. It allows the biological material to be delivered into the liquid medium without requiring direct premixing, thus protecting viability while enabling combined application.
2Ease of operation
If biological material is stored outside natural environment, then ease of application is improved, but survival rate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule creates a protected, inert environment for the biological material during storage and transport. This sealed environment mimics natural conditions and protects the biological material from harmful external factors until application, enabling storage outside the natural environment without compromising survival rate.
3Productivity
If frangible bottom is used for release, then delivery efficiency is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible bottom is pre-prepared during manufacturing with predetermined weak points or fracture lines. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid, efficient release when activated, while the actual release mechanism remains simple and requires minimal additional structural complexity beyond the pre-designed frangible features.
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 maintains the viability of biological material during storage and ensures efficient delivery into liquid mediums for agricultural applications, enhancing the effectiveness of foliar and soil treatments.
Implementation Method 1
The plunger includes a first end and a second end, one or more walls defining an internal volume of the plunger, where the one or more walls moveable along an inner surface of the capsule when the plunger is depressed
Data Source
AI summary
A device for delivering biological material includes a capsule including a cap portion to removably secure the capsule to a container and an elongate portion including a cavity with a frangible bottom, where the cavity includes biological material therein. The device further includes a plunger including walls defining an internal volume of the plunger, where the walls are moveable along an inner surface of the capsule when the plunger is depressed, and a shaft disposed within the internal volume and connected to a second end of the plunger, where the shaft includes a disrupting mechanism at a first end of the plunger for breaking the frangible bottom when the plunger is depressed. The first end of the plunger extends within the cavity of the capsule, and the second end of the plunger extends outward from the cavity and the elongate portion of the capsule.