Oral Malodor Testing via SPME and Mass Spectrometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing the efficacy of oral care compositions against onion or garlic malodor are time-consuming, laborious, and costly, with inconsistent and unreliable results, making it difficult to determine whether malodor reduction is achieved through odor masking or actual elimination of malodorous compounds.
Innovation Solution
A method involving cleaning the oral cavity with an oral care composition, exposing it to an oral malodor material, and analyzing exhaled breath samples using solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and mass spectrometry to quantify malodor components, allowing for comparison of different compositions' effectiveness in reducing malodor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional testing methods are used to evaluate oral care compositions against onion or garlic malodor, then comprehensive testing can be performed, but the process becomes time-consuming, laborious, and costly with inconsistent results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates specific malodor compounds (sulfide compounds) from the complex oral malodor mixture using solid phase microextraction (SPME). This allows targeted analysis of the key problematic compounds rather than attempting to analyze the entire malodor profile, thereby improving consistency while reducing testing time and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces subjective human sensory evaluation (organoleptic testing) with objective instrumental analysis using mass spectrometry and SPME. This substitution provides quantifiable, consistent, and reproducible measurements of malodor compound levels, eliminating variability associated with human perception while maintaining comprehensive evaluation capability
2Reliability
If comprehensive testing of oral care compositions is conducted to determine efficacy against onion or garlic malodor, then reliable efficacy data can be obtained, but the testing process becomes costly and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses SPME to selectively extract and concentrate specific sulfide compounds from breath samples before analysis. This extraction step enables focused, sensitive detection of the key malodor compounds responsible for onion/garlic breath, providing reliable efficacy data without requiring complex comprehensive testing protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs mass spectrometry to detect and quantify malodor compounds at very low concentration levels. By changing the detection parameter from subjective sensory evaluation to precise instrumental measurement, the method achieves reliable efficacy determination with simpler, more cost-effective testing procedures
3Reliability
If oral care compositions are formulated to counteract onion or garlic malodor, then malodor reduction can be achieved, but it is difficult to determine whether the effect is due to odor masking or actual elimination of malodorous compounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective organoleptic testing with objective mass spectrometry analysis. This substitution allows direct measurement of actual malodor compound levels in breath before and after using the oral care composition, enabling clear determination of whether reduction is achieved through elimination (decreased compound levels) or masking (unchanged compound levels with altered perception)
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses SPME as an intermediary extraction step between breath collection and mass spectrometry analysis. This intermediary technique selectively isolates the malodor compounds of interest, providing clear quantitative data on their levels and enabling accurate determination of the malodor reduction mechanism without requiring complex multi-parameter testing
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
This method provides a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective means to quantify the reduction of onion or garlic malodor, differentiating between odor masking and actual malodor elimination, enabling the selection of effective oral care compositions.
Implementation Method 1
analyzing exhaled breath samples using solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and mass spectrometry
Implementation Method 2
analyzing exhaled breath samples using solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and mass spectrometry to quantify malodor components
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for testing oral malodor, in particular oral malodor from onion and garlic. Described herein are methods for testing the efficacy of an oral care composition to reduce oral malodor, the method comprising the steps of: a) cleaning at least a part of the oral cavity with an oral care composition; b) testing a first sample of exhaled breath from the cleaned oral cavity to provide a first test result representing a first amount of at least one oral malodor component detected in the exhaled breath; c) exposing the oral cavity to an oral malodor material including or capable of forming the at least one oral malodor component; and d) testing a second sample of exhaled breath from the oral cavity to provide a second test result representing a second amount of the at least one oral malodor component detected in the exhaled breath.