Impregnated Electrode Ring for Precise Skin Treatment Dosing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing skin treatment devices face challenges in accurately dosing active ingredients and require manual handling of active substances, leading to contamination and inefficient use of creams.

Innovation Solution

A ring with an absorbent carrier material impregnated with a precisely measured amount of active substance, which can be easily attached to the device without wetting hands, ensuring the active ingredient is applied directly to the skin.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual handling of active substance is used, then application flexibility is maintained, but hand contamination occurs and requires cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication flexibilityVSAvoidhand contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a ring as an intermediary component that holds the active substance and transfers it to the electrode without direct hand contact. The ring acts as a mediator between the active substance and the user's hand, eliminating contamination while maintaining application flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the application system into distinct components: the ring holding the active substance, the electrode, and the device body. This segmentation allows the ring to be handled separately, preventing hand contamination of the active substance while maintaining ease of application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If cream is applied before device handling, then active ingredient delivery is enabled, but hands must be cleaned to ensure safe grip

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactive ingredient deliveryVSAvoidgrip safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ring with pre-measured active substance is prepared in advance and attached to the electrode before use. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for manual cream application and subsequent hand cleaning, while ensuring reliable active ingredient delivery during treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If sponge is soaked and placed on electrode manually, then active substance application is achieved, but hand contamination with active substance occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactive substance applicationVSAvoidhand contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ring serves as an intermediary that holds the soaked sponge or carrier material with active substance. Instead of handling the soaked material directly, the user handles the ring, which prevents hand contamination while ensuring proper quantity of active substance is applied to the electrode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Measurement precision

If precisely measured active ingredient is used, then dosage accuracy is improved, but application complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosage accuracyVSAvoidapplication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ring is pre-filled with a precisely measured amount of active substance or pre-soaked carrier material during manufacturing. This preliminary measurement eliminates the need for complex dosing procedures during application, maintaining dosage accuracy while simplifying the user application process.

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

Enables precise dosage and efficient application of active ingredients without hand contamination, allowing immediate treatment initiation and compatibility with existing devices.

Implementation Method 1

an absorbent carrier material impregnated with an active substance is located in front of the skin electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP4306162B1Hand-held device for electrically assisted skin treatment, additional part for said device and blister for said additional part
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 SWISS SPA SYST
  • EP4306162B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4306162B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4306162B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

To simplify the handling of a skin treatment device (1), the invention provides that a ring (10) is attached to the cap (5) of the device, which forms the skin electrode (4). This ring is impregnated with a carrier material for an active substance. It preferably has the shape of a strip (13) and stretches over the head of the cap (5), which is placed on the skin. This ensures that a precisely measured amount of active substance is located between the skin electrode (4) and the skin. Since the curves (12) of the oval ring (10) are exposed, it can be grasped without contaminating the hands with the cream containing the active substance. The rings (10) with the impregnated carrier materials are supplied in blisters (20).