Gel Local Anesthetic via Electrostatic Complex

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current gelated local anesthetic agents for pain relief after surgery have efficacy reduced by components other than local anesthetics, leading to delayed healing and insufficient analgesic effects, and are affected by high pressure steam sterilization, which compromises their sustained release properties.

Innovation Solution

A gel type local anesthetic agent formed by an electrostatic complex between a tertiary amine local anesthetic and water-soluble glycyrrhizic acid, which maintains efficacy post-sterilization and provides sustained analgesic effects through a controlled release mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If gelated local anesthetic agents containing multiple components (surfactants, polymers, oils) are used to achieve sustained release, then the duration of analgesic effect is extended, but the pharmaceutical efficacy is reduced and wound healing is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of analgesic effectVSAvoidpharmaceutical efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes unnecessary components (surfactants, polymers, oils) from the gelated local anesthetic formulation, keeping only the essential active ingredient (local anesthetic) and water. This extraction principle resolves the contradiction by eliminating components that extend duration through physical entrapment but simultaneously reduce pharmaceutical efficacy and delay wound healing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the formulation parameters from complex multi-component systems to a simple binary system (local anesthetic + water). This parameter simplification resolves the contradiction by maintaining sustained release through the basic gel structure without adding components that compromise pharmaceutical efficacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional gelated local anesthetic agents are subjected to high pressure steam sterilization, then sterilization is achieved, but the sustained release properties are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterilization effectivenessVSAvoidsustained release properties
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a simple, robust formulation that can withstand high pressure steam sterilization, accepting that the gel structure may be partially compromised but maintaining sufficient sustained release properties. This approach prioritizes sterilization effectiveness while retaining adequate duration of action through the simplified composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If peripheral nerve blocking with local anesthetic injection is used for post-surgery pain relief, then the procedure is minimally invasive, but the duration of effect is only half a day

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveminimally invasive procedureVSAvoidduration of analgesic effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses gelated local anesthetic that is applied topically or locally before and during surgery, creating a preliminary analgesic effect that extends into the post-operative period. This preliminary action principle resolves the contradiction by establishing long-lasting local anesthesia that covers the entire surgical and recovery period without requiring repeated invasive injections.

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 gel type local anesthetic agent exhibits a high release rate initially and sustained release over 72 hours, maintaining analgesic effects without compromising the properties under high pressure steam sterilization, ensuring effective pain relief and potential anti-inflammatory benefits.

Implementation Method 1

the gel type local anesthetic agent includes a complex formed by an electrostatic interaction between a carboxy group of the water soluble salt of glycyrrhizic acid and the amine of the local anesthetic

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic interaction: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentEP3275447B1Gel local anesthetic agent and gel local anesthetic preparation using same
Publication Date: 2023.06.14 TERUMO KK

AI summary

A gel type local anesthetic agent of the present invention is a local anesthetic agent consisting of a local anesthetic having a tertiary amine and glycyrrhizic acid in which the local anesthetic and glycyrrhizic acid are gelated to form a gel type.