Sealing Device with Non-Return Valve and Antibacterial Filter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current packaging solutions for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food products face contamination issues due to the entry of outside air when opened, necessitating the use of antimicrobial preservatives like parabens, which are controversial and undesirable in pediatric or preservative-sensitive products, and existing stopper devices fail to prevent contamination effectively.

Innovation Solution

A stopper device with a non-return valve and antibacterial filter integrated into a conical tip for secure connection with a syringe, allowing controlled withdrawal while preventing air and liquid contamination, reducing the need for preservatives by ensuring a sterile sampling process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multi-dose bottles with screw caps are used, then productivity and ease of operation are improved, but contamination risk increases requiring preservatives

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-dose dispensing capabilityVSAvoidcontamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary sealing system consisting of a stopper with integrated non-return valve and filter. This mediator prevents direct contact between the composition and ambient air while allowing controlled withdrawal, thus enabling multi-dose dispensing without contamination risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the harmful function of ambient air entry by implementing a selective barrier system. The non-return valve extracts the ability to prevent liquid backflow, while the filter extracts the ability to block particulate contamination, together eliminating contamination risk during multi-dose use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If preservatives are added to prevent contamination, then reliability is improved, but harmful effects increase due to paraben accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidhormonal disruption risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the previously harmful ambient air entry into a controlled process. By introducing a filter and non-return valve, the system allows air exchange necessary for multi-dose withdrawal while converting the potential contamination harm into a controlled, filtered process that eliminates the need for chemical preservatives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter acts as an intermediary barrier that allows gas exchange while blocking particulate contamination. This mediator enables the system to maintain reliability for contamination prevention without requiring harmful chemical preservatives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If single-dose containers are used to eliminate contamination, then contamination risk is reduced, but waste and labor increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidpackaging waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper device with integrated non-return valve and filter serves multiple functions simultaneously: it seals the container, allows controlled withdrawal, prevents liquid backflow, and filters incoming air. This multi-functionality enables a single container to be used multiple times without contamination, eliminating the need for single-dose packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the sealing function, flow control function (non-return valve), and filtration function into a single integrated stopper device. This combination allows the container to maintain protection against contamination while enabling repeated use, thus reducing packaging waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If existing stopper devices are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but contamination prevention is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewithdrawal capabilityVSAvoidair and liquid contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the ease of operation of existing stoppers with enhanced protection features by integrating a non-return valve and filter into the stopper structure. This merging maintains the simple withdrawal capability while adding contamination prevention functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper is constructed as a composite system combining different functional elements: the stopper material itself, the non-return valve mechanism, and the filter medium. This composite structure provides both ease of operation and superior contamination prevention compared to simple stoppers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 device effectively prevents contamination, reducing preservative use and waste, while maintaining product hygiene and extending shelf life by ensuring a secure and sterile sampling process for multidose containers.

Implementation Method 1

a non-return valve associated with said nozzle, configured to open when the contents of the container are withdrawn using the collection device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNon-return valve mechanism: Valve

Implementation Method 2

an antibacterial filter associated with said air vent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3283043B1Sealing device for making it possible to collect a composition, packaging assembly comprising such a sealing device, collection and packaging methods
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 CENT HOSPITALIER UNIV DAMIENS PICARDIE
  • EP3283043B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3283043B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3283043B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The present invention relates to a sealing device (1) for making it possible to collect a composition that is intended for enteral or nasal administration or for topical use and is contained in a container. The sealing device is characterized in that it comprises: - a tip (2) that defines an internal passage (3) leading to an opening (4) and is designed to allow connection to a collection member such as an enteral syringe, - a non-return valve (5) that is associated with said tip (2) and is designed to open during collection of the contents of the container using the collection member, - at least one air-return port (6), and - an antibacterial filter (7) associated with said at least one port (6).