Nasal Sprayer Metering Using Gravity and Capillary Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nasal sprays require users to tilt their head back for administration, leading to discomfort, and the dispensed amount is not precise due to user-dependent pressure, while complex mechanisms for precise dosing increase manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A nasal spray design with a reservoir and metering device that uses gravity and capillary action to dose liquid accurately, allowing for comfortable administration without head tilting, using elastic deformation to expel the dose.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional nasal sprays are used with manual pressure application, then the device structure is simple, but the dosing precision deteriorates because the amount dispensed depends on user pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual pressure application with a spring-loaded plunger mechanism that automatically provides the necessary force to expel the liquid from the reservoir through the metering device, eliminating user-dependent pressure variation while maintaining simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism automatically performs the function of applying pressure to expel the liquid, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for user skill or force control to achieve precise dosing
2Measurement precision
If complex mechanisms with dip tubes are used for precise dosing, then dosing precision improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of precise dosing from complex dip tube mechanisms and implements it through a simple spring-loaded plunger system that pushes liquid through a metering device, achieving accurate dosing without the complexity of traditional mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from using complex geometric configurations (dip tubes) to using a controlled force parameter (spring pressure) combined with a metering device to achieve precise dosing with simpler components
3Ease of operation
If users tilt their head back for spray administration, then the liquid can be expelled from the reservoir, but user comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a spring-loaded plunger that dynamically adjusts to provide the necessary pressure to expel liquid through the nozzle without requiring the user to tilt their head back, allowing comfortable administration in any head position
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 precise and comfortable liquid administration without complex mechanisms, reducing manufacturing costs and ensuring accurate dosing without user-dependent pressure.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid flows from the reservoir to the metering device by gravity, when the nasal spray is placed in a first position in which the reservoir is above the metering device
Implementation Method 2
the metering device retains a dose of the liquid by capillary action and allows an excess amount of the liquid to flow back to the reservoir by gravity
Implementation Method 3
the metering device retains a dose of the liquid by capillary action and allows an excess amount of the liquid to flow back to the reservoir by gravity
Implementation Method 4
the dispenser expels the dose of liquid towards the outlet so that the dose of liquid leaves the sprayer through the outlet, when the two walls are displaced towards each other by elastic deformation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A method for loading a nasal spray (1) comprising a reservoir (2) having two compressible walls, an outlet (4), and a metering device (6) fluidly connected to the reservoir (2) and the outlet (4). The method comprises: placing the nasal spray (1) in a first position where the reservoir (2) is above the metering device (6), such that a liquid flows from the reservoir (2) to the metering device (6) by gravity; moving the nasal spray (1) from the first position to a second position where the reservoir (2) is below the metering device (6), such that the metering device (6) retains a dose (L1) of the liquid by capillary action and allows an excess amount (L2) of the liquid to flow back by gravity to the reservoir (2).