Smart Contact Device Terminal Materials Prevent Electrolysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart eye contact devices face the risk of electrolysis when worn in a wet environment, potentially producing hazardous chemicals like sodium hypochlorite due to the presence of sodium chloride and water, which can cause short circuits and electrolysis at the device's terminals.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates two-terminal circuitry with materials that minimize electrolysis, such as using metals like aluminum, zinc, or silver for the positive terminal and silver chloride for the negative terminal, which have electrode potentials that favor oxidation or reduction reactions over the formation of chlorine or hydrogen gas, thereby reducing the risk of sodium hypochlorite production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two-terminal circuitry is used in smart contact devices, then electronic functionality is enabled, but electrolysis of sodium chloride in tears can occur producing hazardous chemicals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters of the terminal electrodes by selecting metals with specific electrode potentials (aluminum, zinc, or silver for positive terminals; silver chloride for negative terminals). This parameter change in material composition prevents electrolysis of sodium chloride by establishing electrode potentials that favor alternative electrochemical reactions, thereby eliminating the hazardous chemical production while maintaining electronic functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material selection for the terminals, specifically using silver chloride for the negative terminal which combines the properties of silver (good conductivity) with chloride (compatibility with tear fluid). This composite approach creates a material system that is both electronically functional and chemically safe in the ocular environment.
2Reliability
If conventional metals are used for terminals, then electrical conductivity is achieved, but oxidation of chloride ions to chlorine gas can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrode potential parameter of the terminal materials to prevent chlorine gas production. By selecting metals with electrode potentials more negative than chlorine (such as aluminum, zinc, or silver for positive terminals), the patent ensures that these metals oxidize preferentially over chloride ions, thereby eliminating chlorine gas generation while maintaining adequate electrical conductivity for device operation.
3Ease of operation
If two-terminal devices are placed in contact with tears, then power supply and signal transmission are enabled, but mixing of chlorine and sodium hydroxide forms sodium hypochlorite
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-selecting terminal materials with specific electrode potentials that prevent the formation of hazardous chemicals before they can occur. By choosing metals that establish electrode potentials favoring their own oxidation over water or chloride oxidation, the patent preemptively prevents the generation of chlorine and subsequent formation of sodium hypochlorite, ensuring safe device operation from the outset.
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 design effectively mitigates the risk of hazardous chemical production at the eye surface, ensuring safer operation of smart contact devices by preventing the oxidation of chloride ions and reduction of water, thus avoiding the formation of sodium hypochlorite.
Implementation Method 1
materials that minimize or mitigate the electrolysis of sodium chloride (NaCl) at a positive terminal (an anode) and/or water (H2O) at a negative terminal (a cathode)
Data Source
AI summary
An eye contact device including at least one of a positive terminal including a first material having a standard reduction potential that is less than a standard reduction potential of chlorine; and a negative terminal including a second material having an electrode potential that favors reduction relative to a reduction of water. A method including one of forming a positive terminal of a two terminal device in an eye contact device, the positive terminal including a first material having a standard reduction potential that is less than a standard reduction potential of chlorine; and forming a negative terminal of the two terminal device including a second material having an electrode potential that favors reduction relative to a reduction of water.