Hydration Medium With Volatile Solute Prevents Freezing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydration mediums for medical devices, such as hydrophilic urinary catheters, are prone to freezing in cold temperatures, which can degrade the hydrophilic material and affect the device's performance.

Innovation Solution

A hydration medium comprising a liquid solution with a dissolved volatile solute, such as sulfur dioxide or carbon dioxide, which suppresses the freezing point of the solution and provides preservative and sensory benefits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If liquid water or aqueous solution is used as hydration medium, then the device is properly hydrated and lubricious, but the hydration medium may freeze in cold temperatures degrading the hydrophilic material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidfreezing damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the hydration medium by adding volatile solutes (isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, or methanol) to the aqueous solution. This modifies the freezing point of the hydration medium, allowing it to remain liquid at lower temperatures and prevent freezing damage to the hydrophilic coating while maintaining its hydrating and lubricating functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If volatile solute is added to prevent freezing, then freezing protection is achieved, but the solution composition becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefreezing protectionVSAvoidsolution composition

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the composition parameters of the hydration medium by incorporating volatile solutes at specific concentrations (1-50% by volume). This approach achieves freezing protection while maintaining a relatively simple formulation that does not significantly complicate the solution composition, as the volatile solutes are commonly available and easily integrated into existing hydration medium formulations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 use of a volatile solute in the hydration medium effectively prevents freezing, maintains the integrity of the hydrophilic material, and provides preservative and sensory benefits, ensuring the device remains functional and safe to use.

Implementation Method 1

a hydration medium comprising a liquid solution with a dissolved volatile solute, such as sulfur dioxide or carbon dioxide, which suppresses the freezing point of the solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFreezing point depression: