Microfluidic Personal Product Delivery Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current personal product delivery methods result in wastage due to bulkiness, weight, and inability to customize products effectively, as mass-produced items do not account for individual physical characteristics or immediate mixing needs, leading to inefficiencies in usage and effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A portable, miniaturized device using microfluidic flow, thermal transfer, electrical transfer, and other technologies to synthesize and deliver personalized products, such as perfumes and pharmaceuticals, in small doses, allowing for real-time mixing and customization based on user-specific requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If personal products are mass-produced and distributed in large quantities, then product availability is improved, but product waste increases due to unused quantities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct availabilityVSAvoidproduct waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments personal products into individual single-use units or small quantities that can be distributed and carried easily. Instead of distributing large bulk quantities, the system divides products into portioned units that match individual consumption needs, reducing waste from unused quantities while maintaining availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares personal products in advance as pre-measured, single-use units or concentrated formulations that can be easily transported. By performing the portioning and packaging action beforehand, the system enables easy distribution and携带 while ensuring that only needed quantities are available to each user, preventing waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If personal products are packaged for portability, then ease of transport is improved, but product customization capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of transportVSAvoidproduct customization capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments personalized products into separate concentrated ingredient units that can be easily transported. Each unit contains a specific ingredient or component, and users can combine these segmented units according to their personal requirements, maintaining both portability and customization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal portable system that can produce multiple different personalized products from a set of common concentrated ingredient units. The same portable device and ingredient units can be used to create different perfumes, lotions, or other personal care products based on user preferences, achieving multi-functionality in a compact form.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If mass-produced personal products are distributed, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but product effectiveness deteriorates due to lack of individual customization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidproduct effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary manufacturing of concentrated ingredient units with standardized formulations that can be efficiently produced at scale. These pre-prepared concentrated units maintain manufacturing efficiency while enabling final customization at the point of use, ensuring product effectiveness for individual users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables users to self-customize their personal products by selecting and combining concentrated ingredient units according to their own preferences and requirements. This self-service approach maintains manufacturing efficiency for the concentrated units while ensuring each user receives a personalized product that is effective for their specific needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 efficient, customizable, and portable delivery of personal care products, reducing waste and ensuring effectiveness by allowing for on-demand mixing of ingredients, catering to individual needs and preferences.

Implementation Method 1

using microfluidic flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrofluidic flow:

Implementation Method 2

thermal transfer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

electrical transfer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical transfer: Electrophoresis

Data Source

PatentUS7883264B1Method and apparatus for personal product delivery

Publication Date: 2011.02.08 LIVA VALENTINO L

AI summary

A method and apparatus for personal product delivery have been disclosed.