Sensate Compositions with Cationic Polymers for Mild Oral Care

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing personal and oral care products with sensates often cause irritation in sensitive users, and reducing sensate amounts leads to a loss of desired cooling, tingling, or refreshing sensations.

Innovation Solution

Compositions comprising optimal ratios of two or more sensates, coupled with a cationic polymeric compound and optionally a solubilizer, provide mild, long-lasting cooling, tingling, or refreshing effects without irritation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the amounts of sensate materials are increased to provide beneficial cooling, tingling or refreshing sensations, then the intensity of the sensation is improved, but irritation and burning sensation occur in sensitive users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling sensation intensityVSAvoidirritation and burning sensation
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters by using optimal ratios of two or more different sensates (such as menthol, menthyl lactate, and other cooling agents) instead of relying on a single sensate at high concentration. This parameter optimization allows the composition to provide adequate cooling sensation while reducing irritation through the synergistic or mitigating effects of the combination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cationic polymeric compound as an intermediary substance that modifies the interaction between sensates and sensitive skin/mucous membranes. This intermediary agent helps deliver the cooling sensation while protecting sensitive users from irritation and burning effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the amounts of sensate materials are reduced to eliminate irritation, then the harmful effects are minimized, but the beneficial cooling, tingling or refreshing sensations are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveirritationVSAvoidcooling sensation intensity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite composition system that combines multiple sensates in specific ratios along with a cationic polymeric compound. This composite formulation achieves a synergistic effect where the combination provides stronger and more sustained cooling sensation than individual sensates at low concentrations, thereby eliminating irritation while maintaining beneficial effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of each sensate component within specific ranges (e.g., first sensate at 0.01-0.3%, second sensate at 0.01-0.45%) to achieve the threshold where beneficial sensations are maintained while irritation is eliminated, particularly for sensitive users

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of moving object

If higher amounts of sensates are used to provide long-lasting sensation, then the duration of effect is improved, but irritation increases for sensitive users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of cooling sensationVSAvoidirritation
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite formulation with multiple sensates (such as menthol combined with menthyl lactate or other cooling agents) in optimized ratios, which provides prolonged cooling sensation through sustained release mechanisms while the cationic polymeric compound ensures gentle interaction with sensitive skin, achieving both long duration and low irritation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS8084050B2Compositions comprising combinations of sensates
Publication Date: 2011.12.27 COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

AI summary

Compositions comprising a first sensate, a second sensate, and a cationic polymeric compound are described, as well as methods for using such compositions in oral care and personal care applications.