Lubricated Condom Composition for Transparency and Low Osmolality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lubricated condoms made with natural rubber latex (NRL) or synthetic polyisoprene (PI) become opaque during storage due to aqueous lubricants, and such lubricants often have high osmolality, posing risks of epithelial cell damage and infection, especially for menopausal females, despite the World Health Organization's recommendations for lower osmolality.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating polyhydric alcohols and sugars with at least 4 hydroxyl groups and a molecular weight of 120 to 10000 in the aqueous lubricant, in a 5 to 25% weight ratio, to maintain condom transparency and reduce osmolality, while ensuring good lubricity and compatibility with condom materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If aqueous lubricants are used on NRL or PI condoms, then lubricity and ease of washing are improved, but the condom appearance becomes opaque during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the aqueous lubricant by incorporating specific polyhydric alcohols (glycerol, sorbitol, maltitol) and sugars (sucrose, trehalose, lactose) in optimized concentrations. This parameter modification allows the lubricant to maintain condom transparency during storage while preserving water solubility and ease of washing, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and shape appearance.
2Ease of operation
If high water content lubricants are used, then ease of washing is improved, but whitening of the condom occurs during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces polyhydric alcohols and sugars as intermediary substances that mediate between water and the condom material. These intermediaries form a protective interface that prevents direct water-induced whitening reactions while maintaining the water-based lubricant's solubility and ease of washing properties, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of washing and prevention of harmful whitening effects.
3Use of energy by moving object
If hyperosmolar lubricants are used, then viscosity and slip properties are improved, but epithelial cell damage and infection risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully adjusts the osmolality parameter of the lubricant by selecting specific polyhydric alcohols and sugars and optimizing their concentrations. This parameter optimization achieves an balance where sufficient slip properties are maintained through appropriate viscosity while the osmolality is controlled to prevent epithelial cell damage and reduce infection risk, thereby resolving the contradiction between slip properties and harmful effects on tissue.
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 solution maintains condom transparency during storage, reduces osmolality to safe levels, and prevents epithelial cell damage, aligning with WHO recommendations without compromising physical properties.
Implementation Method 1
Personal lubricants are specialised lubricants which serve to reduce friction with body tissues during sexual activity
Implementation Method 2
U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,227 B1 recognises the problem of whitening caused by water soluble lubricants when dosed onto condoms. It is postulated in this document that the whitening may be caused by water absorption
Data Source
AI summary
A packaged condom may include a sealed package and, within the package, a condom including natural rubber latex and/or synthetic polyisoprene. The condom includes an aqueous lubricant on one or more surfaces thereof. The aqueous lubricant is in contact with the natural rubber latex and/or synthetic polyisoprene. The aqueous lubricant includes a thickener and one or more organic compounds in a total amount of from 5 to 25% by weight of the aqueous lubricant, the one or more organic compounds independently selected from a poly-hydric alcohol and a sugar. Each of the one or more organic compounds may have at least 4 hydroxyl groups and a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000.