Skin Applicator with Sealed Chamber for Volatile Substance Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for applying volatile substances like diethyl ether and chloroform to the skin are inefficient due to their high vapor pressure, leading to rapid evaporation and inadequate skin contact, which limits their effectiveness in treating herpes infections.
Innovation Solution
A skin applicator with a dosing spray device that delivers a controlled amount of liquid into a chamber, allowing prolonged skin contact by minimizing evaporation, and optionally incorporating materials like cotton wool or open-pored foam to prevent leakage and enhance interaction with the skin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If volatile substances with high vapor pressure are applied using traditional cotton balls, then the substances can be delivered to the skin, but rapid evaporation occurs leading to inadequate skin contact and treatment discontinuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary chamber system between the ether reservoir and the skin. The ether is first delivered into a closed chamber where it evaporates controlled amounts, then the chamber is placed against the skin to allow prolonged interaction. This intermediary chamber prevents direct rapid evaporation while maintaining therapeutic contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible sealing element (peripheral edge) that forms a closed chamber against the skin surface. This flexible seal creates a contained environment that prevents ether vapor escape while maintaining skin contact, allowing the volatile substance to remain in the treatment area for extended periods.
2Quantity of substance
If cotton balls with large surface area are used for application, then ether can be delivered, but the large non-skin contacting surface causes rapid evaporation into surrounding air
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber acts as an intermediary that confines the ether vapor. Instead of allowing direct exposure to large surface area cotton balls that release vapor into the air, the chamber captures and contains the vapor, directing it specifically to the skin treatment area and preventing atmospheric dispersion and inhalation.
Solution Approach 2:
The closed chamber creates a controlled, isolated environment for ether vapor. By sealing the chamber against the skin, the system creates a contained atmosphere where ether vapor cannot escape to the surrounding air, effectively isolating both the patient and environment from harmful inhalation exposure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If small amounts of ether are applied to achieve prolonged effect, then inhalation risk is reduced, but treatment efficacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible peripheral sealing element creates an enclosed chamber that concentrates the ether vapor directly at the treatment site. This allows sufficient ether quantity to be delivered for effective treatment while preventing vapor escape, thus maintaining both efficacy and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from surface application (2D contact with cotton ball) to volumetric containment (3D chamber environment). By creating a three-dimensional enclosed space against the skin, the system allows controlled ether delivery that maintains therapeutic concentration while preventing atmospheric loss.
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
Enables reliable and prolonged interaction of volatile substances with the skin, improving treatment efficacy and reducing inhalation risks, allowing for extended application times of up to 10 minutes.
Implementation Method 1
high vapor pressure (586hPa measured at 20°C)
Implementation Method 2
the ether contained in the cotton ball can be heated through the skin to boiling temperature and evaporates
Implementation Method 3
incorporating materials like cotton wool or open-pored foam to prevent leakage and enhance interaction with the skin
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a skin applicator which makes application of ether or similarly highly volatile substances to the skin manageable for laypersons. When the skin applicator is used, it can be used for disinfecting skin, for example if herpes viruses are suspected to be present. The invention further relates to a method for disinfecting skin with highly volatile substances by using the skin applicator.