Medical Plaster Opening for Customizable Active Ingredient Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical plasters have predetermined amounts of active ingredients, which can be absorbed through the skin, causing undesirable effects, and lack the ability to provide a physical cooling effect for inflammation.
Innovation Solution
A medical plaster with a textile or plastic layer, an adhesive layer, and an absorbent support layer featuring an opening to allow for individualized application and re-dosing of active ingredients, which can evaporate to lower skin temperature, providing anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If active ingredients are included in the plaster at predetermined amounts, then the plaster provides consistent therapeutic effect, but the amount of active ingredient cannot be individually dosed and may cause undesirable side effects
Solution Approach 1:
The plaster is divided into separate functional layers: a textile/plastic covering layer, an adhesive layer, and an absorbent application layer. This segmentation allows the application layer to be accessed through an opening for individualized active ingredient dosing while maintaining the structural integrity and therapeutic consistency of the overall plaster system.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbent application layer is prepared in advance within the plaster structure, ready to receive active ingredients. The opening is pre-formed to allow access to this layer, enabling individualized dosing without requiring removal or modification of the plaster itself during application.
2Ease of operation
If the plaster is designed as a closed structure, then it provides protection and stability, but the active ingredient cannot be individually applied or re-dosed
Solution Approach 1:
The plaster structure is segmented with a distinct opening in the covering layer that provides access to the absorbent application layer. This segmentation enables easy application of active ingredients through the opening while the remaining closed structure maintains plaster stability and protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbent application layer acts as an intermediary between the external environment (where active ingredients are applied) and the skin. This intermediary layer allows for easy application and re-dosing of active ingredients through the opening while maintaining the stability of the overall plaster structure.
3Temperature
If conventional menthol plasters are used, then they provide subjective cooling effect through receptor binding, but they do not physically lower skin temperature to provide anti-inflammatory effect
Solution Approach 1:
The plaster utilizes evaporative phase transition of liquid active ingredients (such as menthol solutions or water-alcohol mixtures) applied to the absorbent application layer. This phase transition from liquid to vapor physically removes heat from the skin, lowering skin temperature and providing genuine anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and decongestant effects beyond mere subjective cooling.
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 customizable therapy with active ingredients that can be re-dosed without removing the patch, offering a physically effective cooling effect for conditions like arthritis and swelling, and can be used in both human and veterinary medicine.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbent application layer... which forms a reservoir for the drug
Implementation Method 2
The opening allows a liquid in the application layer to evaporate, thus generating evaporative cooling. This actually lowers the temperature of the inflamed area
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a medical plaster (1) with a layer (2) of textile fabric or plastic, an adhesive layer (5), and an absorbent dressing layer (3). To permit individual dosing of an active substance and/or a physical cooling effect, it is proposed that the fabric or plastic layer (2) has an opening (4) in the area of the dressing layer (3), such that the dressing layer (3) is exposed and accessible in the area of the opening (4). The invention moreover comprises a medical kit (100) with the plaster, and a hood that has the plaster (1) as an integral part.