Menstrual Fluid Simulant Composition for Tunable In Vitro Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing artificial menstrual fluid simulants do not accurately emulate the wide-ranging properties of real menstrual fluid, are often animal-derived, and lack tunability, leading to inadequate in vitro testing results and potential biohazard risks.
Innovation Solution
A menstrual fluid simulant composition comprising a vesicle dispersion of quaternary ammonium compounds and a linear polymer, with adjustable viscosity and breakup time, mimicking real menstrual fluid properties without animal-derived materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If animal-derived blood and mucus are used to create artificial menstrual fluid simulants, then the fluid can be formulated to have some resemblance to real menstrual fluid, but the properties remain very different and the shelf life is limited requiring special laboratories for testing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using quaternary ammonium compounds and specific polymers instead of animal-derived materials. This allows the simulant to achieve appropriate viscosity, breakup time, and other physical properties while having unlimited shelf life and not requiring special laboratory facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite artificial menstrual fluid by combining quaternary ammonium compounds with specific polymers in defined ratios. This composite formulation achieves the desired physical properties (viscosity, breakup time, surface tension) while eliminating the limitations of animal-derived materials.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional artificial menstrual fluid simulants are used, then the testing process can be simplified, but the results do not correlate to consumer perceptible differences and the properties cannot be tuned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the simulant formulation dynamic and tunable by allowing adjustment of the quaternary ammonium compound and polymer ratios. This enables the viscosity and breakup time to be optimized for specific testing scenarios, ensuring both simplicity and high accuracy in correlating to consumer experiences.
3Measurement precision
If in vivo testing is performed to accurately evaluate absorbent products, then consumer perceptible differences can be captured, but the process is costly, time-consuming, and exposes collectors to biohazard risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an accurate copy of menstrual fluid using quaternary ammonium compounds and polymers that replicate the physical properties (viscosity, breakup time, surface tension) necessary for evaluating absorbent products. This in vitro simulant provides the same measurement precision as in vivo testing while eliminating the costs, time requirements, and biohazard risks.
4Quantity of substance
If animal-derived materials are used in artificial menstrual fluid, then some fluid properties can be achieved, but the materials are perceived as unsustainable and require special laboratory handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses synthetic, non-animal-derived materials (quaternary ammonium compounds and polymers) that are inherently sustainable and do not require special laboratory handling. These materials can be stored indefinitely without special facilities, eliminating the harmful factors associated with animal-derived materials while maintaining the necessary fluid properties for testing.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to menstrual fluid simulant compositions that mimic the properties of real menstrual fluid, where the menstrual fluid simulant compositions comprise vesicle dispersions of quaternary ammonium compounds and linear polymers. The present disclosure also relates to related methods and uses.