Lubricating Coated Solid Medicament for Swallowing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many individuals, including children and geriatric patients, face difficulties in swallowing solid medicaments due to physiological and psychological factors, leading to discomfort, gagging, and incomplete ingestion, with existing solutions like coatings and liquid forms being inadequate or impractical.
Innovation Solution
A flavored, lubricating liquid coating made with viscosity-adhesion-lubricity agents, including polyols and polysaccharides, is applied to solid medicaments to mask taste and facilitate swallowing by adhering and sliding down the throat without discomfort, also suitable for use with medical tubes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a solid medicament is administered, then the drug stability and proper uptake are maintained, but the patient experiences difficulty swallowing, gagging, and incomplete ingestion
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid coating containing viscosity-adhesion-lubricity agents is applied as an intermediary substance between the solid medicament and the patient's throat. This coating reduces friction and adhesion forces, allowing the medicament to slide smoothly through the esophagus without sticking or triggering gag reflex, thereby ensuring complete ingestion while maintaining drug stability
Solution Approach 2:
The surface properties of the solid medicament are modified by applying a liquid coating that changes its friction and adhesion parameters. The coating transforms the medicament surface from a state that causes sticking and discomfort to one that provides smooth, comfortable passage through the digestive tract
2Ease of operation
If the solid medicament is coated with a lubricating liquid, then swallowing ability is improved, but the medicament may stick less to the throat
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the potentially harmful sticking and adhesion properties into beneficial lubrication. By applying a liquid coating with specific viscosity and adhesion-lubricity characteristics, the medicament surface is transformed to reduce harmful friction and prevent sticking, turning what would be a problematic interaction into a smooth, comfortable swallowing experience
3Ease of operation
If liquid dosage form is used, then swallowing is easier, but the drug stability is compromised and refrigeration is required
Solution Approach 1:
The solution segments the liquid coating into a thin film applied only to the surface of the solid medicament, rather than converting the entire drug to liquid form. This allows the bulk solid medicament to maintain its stable, shelf-ready form while the thin liquid coating provides the swallowing benefits, eliminating the need for refrigeration
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
Significantly improves the ability to swallow solid medicaments by reducing gag reflex and sticking, enhancing palatability and ensuring complete ingestion, as demonstrated by successful testing across various age groups and potential veterinary applications.
Implementation Method 1
A flavored, lubricating liquid coating made with viscosity-adhesion-lubricity agents... is applied to solid medicaments
Implementation Method 2
lubricating the dosage and thus significantly improving the ability to swallow the medicament
Data Source
AI summary
A flavored, lubricating solution is applied to a solid medicament by spray, dipping, or otherwise coating the medicament. This liquid coating masks the often objectionable taste of the medicament while lubricating it, and thus significantly improving the ability to swallow the medicament. The improvement to the swallowing process is dramatically enhanced with significant reduction in gag reflex, general un-palatability and inability to move the dosage form completely through the mouth, palate, and esophagus to the stomach without sticking or lodging at any point in the process. The solution is a mixture of viscosity-adhesion-lubricity ingredients which includes polyols and polysaccharides, preservative agents, flavoring agents (to improve the palatability of the solution) and optional dispensing agents.