Personal Lubricant Coolant Substitution for Irritation and Crystallization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current personal lubricants using menthol as a coolant face issues such as strong odor, bitter taste, potential irritation, burning, high volatility, and crystallization, leading to undesirable effects like clouding and granulation, which cannot be adequately addressed by reducing menthol concentration without compromising cooling sensations.
Innovation Solution
The use of N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboxamide as a cyclic carboxamide coolant, either alone or in combination with other coolants like menthyl lactate, menthone glycerine acetal, and isopulegol, to provide a cooling effect while avoiding the drawbacks of menthol, with a total coolant concentration of 0.01-1.5% w/w, and incorporating thickening polymers, preservatives, pH adjusters, and sweeteners in an aqueous composition compatible with various condom materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If menthol is used as a coolant in personal lubricants, then cooling sensation is achieved, but strong odor, bitter taste, irritation, burning, high volatility, and crystallization occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates menthol from the personal lubricant formulation, replacing it with alternative coolant compounds that do not produce the harmful effects. This involves removing the problematic substance while preserving the desired cooling function through substitution with safer alternatives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the coolant by substituting menthol with different compounds having distinct molecular structures and properties. This parameter change eliminates the harmful effects associated with menthol's specific chemical characteristics while maintaining the cooling function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If menthol concentration is reduced to minimize irritation, then harmful effects are decreased, but cooling sensation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent completely extracts menthol from the formulation rather than merely reducing its concentration. This eliminates the source of irritation while allowing the use of alternative coolants that can provide adequate cooling sensation without the harmful effects of menthol.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite coolant formulations combining multiple alternative compounds (such as methyl anthranilate, diethyl sebacate, and other safe coolants) to achieve the desired cooling sensation that would otherwise require high concentrations of menthol, thereby providing both safety and efficacy.
3Temperature
If menthol is used in personal lubricants, then cooling effect is provided, but volatility causes loss of coolant and eye irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes volatile menthol from the formulation and replaces it with less volatile alternative coolant compounds. This extraction eliminates the volatility problem and associated coolant loss while maintaining the cooling effect through the use of more stable substitute substances.
4Temperature
If menthol is used in personal lubricants, then cooling sensation is achieved, but crystallization causes clouding and granulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts menthol, the compound prone to crystallization, from the formulation. This removal eliminates the crystallization problem and associated formulation instability issues such as clouding and granulation, while alternative non-crystallizing coolant compounds are used to maintain the cooling sensation.
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 compositions offer a non-irritating, non-burning, and non-cytotoxic cooling experience with a smooth, gradual sensation, maintaining coolant effectiveness and avoiding menthol's disadvantages, such as volatility and crystallization issues, while providing enhanced user satisfaction and compatibility with sensitive body areas.
Implementation Method 1
the chemical reaction of coolant compounds on the nerve endings responsible for the sensation of coldness, rather than because of a physical drop in temperature at the body surface
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A personal lubricant composition comprises a coolant which is a cyclic carboxamide, and is preferably substantially free or completely free from menthol.