Solid Oil Salt Bath Two-Phase Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current balneological preparations face challenges in combining high oil content with stability and ease of use, particularly in solid salt-based dosage forms that require additional active promoters like liposomes or proteosomes, and involve complex manufacturing processes with expensive raw materials.

Innovation Solution

A stable, solid oil bath salt preparation composed of two non-emulsified phases: a solid surfactant-containing carrier and a liquid surfactant-containing oil base, with a high lipid and surfactant content, allowing for higher oil absorption without compromising stability, and enabling flexible application without the need for emulsification or adsorbers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If high oil content is incorporated into solid salt-based bath preparations, then skin care effectiveness is improved, but stability and handling become problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil contentVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The preparation is divided into two distinct non-emulsifiable phases: a solid salt phase and a liquid oil phase. Each phase maintains its own surfactant system, allowing high oil content (10-30% w/w) to be incorporated while preserving stability through physical separation rather than chemical emulsion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state parameters by maintaining the oil phase as liquid rather than emulsifying it into the solid salt matrix. This parameter change allows high lipid content to coexist with solid formulation stability, eliminating the need for complex emulsification processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If complex structures like liposomes or effervescent systems are used to enhance active ingredient delivery, then effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactive ingredient deliveryVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates complex structures like liposomes and effervescent systems from the formulation. Instead, it uses a simple two-phase system where active ingredients are directly incorporated into their respective phases (water-soluble in salt phase, oil-soluble in oil phase), achieving effective delivery without manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, complex stabilizing structures with a simple, disposable two-phase formulation that achieves its purpose in a single use. The preparation is designed for direct application without requiring complex manufacturing or stabilization mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If adsorbers like aerosils or dextrins are added to stabilize solid preparations with liquid oil, then product stability is improved, but the formulation complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct stabilityVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes adsorbers like aerosils and dextrins from the formulation entirely. Stability is achieved through the inherent non-emulsifiable nature of the two-phase system, where the solid salt and liquid oil phases remain physically separate without requiring additional stabilizing agents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Stability of the object's composition

If emulsification processes are used to combine oil and salt phases, then homogeneity is improved, but the risk of oil decomposition and loss of stability increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovehomogeneityVSAvoidoil stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than emulsifying the phases together, the patent segments them into distinct non-emulsifiable layers. The solid salt phase and liquid oil phase remain physically separate, eliminating the emulsification process that causes oil decomposition while maintaining product stability through this segmented structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 preparation achieves effective skin care and cleaning with high lipid and active ingredient supply, maintaining stability and flexibility in use, allowing for direct application during bathing without additional activators, and using natural raw materials in a simple manufacturing process.

Implementation Method 1

The solid oil bath salt preparation contains 0.5 to 10, in particular 1 to 7% by weight of one or more water-soluble surfactants TW and 1 to 20% by weight, in particular 2 to 15% by weight of one or more oil-soluble surfactants TO

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentEP2653151B1Solid oil salt bath compositions easily to be prepared from 2 phases having an application related flexibility
Publication Date: 2017.09.13 MERZ PHARMA GMBH & CO KGAA
  • EP2653151B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

Solid and water-free oil bath salt formulation comprises greater than 10-35 wt.% liquid oil base comprising at least one oil component or lipid, which comprises liquid lipid, at least one oil-soluble surfactant and optionally additives or active substances, and 65-less than 90 wt.% a solid carrier made of a salt base, comprising at least one water-soluble surfactant and optionally additives and/or active substances. The total formulation comprises not > 80 wt.% salt, and greater than 9 wt.% oil component. The total amount of lipid and surfactant is greater than 15 wt.%. Independent claims are also included for: (1) a disposable packaging present in the form of a closed or open pored (perforated) sachet or as a cushion in sachets made of plastic film, cellulose fiber or cotton gauze, comprising 20-100 g the above composition; (2) preparing a solid two-phase oil bath salt formulation, comprising separately premixing a solid phase which comprises the salt, preferably solid and water-soluble surfactants and optionally additives and/or active substances, and a liquid phase which comprises liquid lipids, oil-soluble surfactants and optionally present additives and/or active substances, and simultaneously and immediately introducing the two phases into a suitable filling containers, preferably sachets or pads, using filling devices, without mixing the two phases; and (3) use of formulation as an additive for complete-, partial-, tub-, shower- and foot baths.