Oxygen-Stabilizing Aqueous Compositions for Room-Temperature Controls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aqueous diagnostic quality controls and calibration reagents containing oxygen are unstable at room temperature, necessitating refrigeration, which is not always feasible, and existing compositions fail to stabilize oxygen effectively in the presence of sugars.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an amino acid, such as ornithine or arginine, into the aqueous solution to inhibit the chemical reaction between oxygen and sugars like glucose, thereby stabilizing oxygen for extended storage at various temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If oxygen is generated on-demand using catalysts or chemical reactions, then oxygen availability is improved, but the system becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts oxygen from ambient air using physical separation methods (membranes, adsorption) rather than chemical generation, simplifying the system by removing the need for complex catalysts and chemical reaction systems while maintaining oxygen availability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary materials such as membranes and adsorbents that facilitate oxygen separation from air, providing a simpler physical mediation approach instead of direct chemical generation systems
2Quantity of substance
If high concentrations of oxygen are stored or generated, then oxygen delivery effectiveness is improved, but safety risks increase due to fire hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and delivery parameters of oxygen by using controlled release mechanisms and ambient temperature storage, maintaining high concentration benefits while reducing temperature-related fire hazards associated with traditional oxygen systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of high-concentration oxygen storage by using it in controlled, localized delivery systems where the oxygen is generated or released only when needed, transforming the safety risk into a controlled therapeutic benefit
3Reliability
If oxygen is delivered continuously, then oxygen supply reliability is improved, but the risk of oxygen toxicity and resource waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic oxygen delivery systems that adjust oxygen flow rates based on real-time patient needs and physiological feedback, ensuring reliable supply when needed while preventing waste and toxicity through adaptive control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor oxygen consumption and patient response, using this information to modulate oxygen delivery rates and prevent both supply failures and excessive oxygen administration
4Ease of operation
If traditional oxygen delivery systems are used, then oxygen can be administered, but patient compliance is poor due to discomfort and portability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy mechanical oxygen compression and storage systems with lighter chemical or physical oxygen generation systems, dramatically reducing weight while maintaining oxygen delivery capability and improving patient comfort and compliance
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 addition of amino acids significantly reduces oxygen loss, maintaining stability for up to a year at room temperature, with pO2 loss minimized to less than 10 mmHg over 24 weeks.
Implementation Method 1
it has been appreciated that oxygen can be generated on-demand through the use of catalysts to facilitate reactions such as the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide
Implementation Method 2
a pressurized reservoir is filled with oxygen from a concentrated source, such as an oxygen tank or concentrator
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein are compositions comprising oxygen, a sugar or sugar alcohol, and an amino acid, wherein the amino acid is present in an amount sufficient to stabilize the oxygen. Also provided are aqueous diagnostic quality controls or calibration reagents and methods of stabilizing oxygen in a liquid solution.