Nonwoven Keratinous Tissue Mimic for Objective Product Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing consumer products on skin or hair are expensive, time-consuming, and limited by the need for human subjects, which are subjective and costly, and existing artificial substrates are expensive, labor-intensive, nonporous, and non-absorbent, failing to accurately mimic human keratinous tissue.
Innovation Solution
Development of a cost-effective, porous, and absorbent nonwoven artificial substrate (keratinous tissue mimic) made from materials like rayon and polyester, which can be used for various analyses without preparation, allowing for more objective and reproducible testing of product interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If human panelists are used for product testing, then subjective feedback and consumer preference data can be obtained, but testing becomes expensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an artificial substrate that copies the essential properties of human keratinous tissue (skin, hair, nails) to serve as a test model. This copy allows repeated, rapid testing without using actual human panelists, thereby reducing testing time and costs while maintaining measurement precision through objective quantitative analysis of the artificial substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial substrate is designed as a disposable, low-cost test article that can be easily discarded after use. This eliminates the need for expensive, time-consuming panelist compensation and setup, allowing rapid sequential testing of multiple products without the logistical overhead of human subject management.
2Loss of time
If existing artificial substrates are used for product testing, then testing costs are reduced compared to human panelists, but the substrates are expensive, labor-intensive to prepare, and require chemical treatments or coatings
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial substrate is engineered to be ready-for-use without requiring external chemical treatments, coatings, or extensive preparation. The substrate inherently possesses the necessary properties (porosity, absorbency, surface characteristics) to mimic keratinous tissue, eliminating the need for additional processing steps and reducing labor intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate incorporates a porous structure that enables it to naturally absorb and interact with test products in a manner similar to human tissue. This inherent porosity eliminates the need for complex surface treatments or coatings, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining realistic product interaction characteristics.
3Reliability
If existing artificial substrates are used for product testing, then some product testing can be performed, but the substrates are nonporous and non-absorbent, failing to accurately mimic human keratinous tissue responses
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial substrate employs a porous construction that enables it to absorb liquids and gases, mimicking the permeability of human skin, hair, and nails. This allows the substrate to accurately replicate tissue responses to applied products, including absorption, penetration, and interaction with active ingredients, thereby improving measurement precision and testing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate is formed from composite materials that combine the necessary mechanical properties with biological mimicking characteristics. This composite construction enables the substrate to simultaneously provide structural integrity, porosity, absorbency, and surface properties that closely resemble human keratinous tissue, ensuring reliable and accurate product testing.
4Adaptability or versatility
If current layered artificial substrates with coatings and textures are used, then controlled variation of physical properties can be achieved, but the substrates require significant labor investment to prepare and are expensive
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex multi-layered structures with different coatings, the invention achieves physical property variation through local quality changes within a single substrate. The substrate can be configured with varying porosity, absorbency, and surface characteristics in different regions, allowing controlled variation of physical properties without requiring multiple layers or complex assembly.
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
The keratinous tissue mimic reduces testing costs significantly, enables faster and more efficient product testing, provides more accurate data, and allows for a wider range of analyses, including destructive tests, improving throughput and reproducibility while mimicking human skin properties effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The nonwoven substrate has a surface energy similar to that of keratinous tissue... The KTM is porous and absorbent and thus better able to mimic keratinous tissue responses
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method of modeling interactions with keratinous tissue may comprise the steps of providing a nonwoven mimic and performing an act on the mimic as may be performed on keratinous tissue. The nonwoven mimic has a surface energy representative of keratinous tissue. In another embodiment, a method of modeling interactions with keratinous tissue may comprise the steps of: providing a mimic comprising from about 60% or greater rayon, from about 40% or less polyester, and a surface energy representative of keratinous tissue; and performing an act on the mimic as may be performed on keratinous tissue. The mimic is preferably a nonwoven mimic.