Spray Device Isolating Viscous Fluid from Propellant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spray devices for viscous fluids, such as surgical adhesives, often require premixing of propellant and adhesive, which can lead to dilution, degradation, and contamination risks, and lack a convenient, single-use, portable solution for controlled dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A spray device design that isolates viscous fluids from propellants until exit, using a nozzle to break the adhesive into droplets upon actuation, allowing for controlled, single-use dispensing without premixing, and featuring a self-contained, portable configuration with separate reservoirs for viscous and propellant fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If propellant and adhesive are premixed in existing spray devices, then the adhesive can be dispensed, but the adhesive undergoes dilution, degradation, and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the fluid delivery system into separate channels: one for adhesive (viscous fluid) and one for propellant. The adhesive reservoir and propellant reservoir are physically separated, and their respective nozzles are positioned to deliver fluids separately until they meet at the point of application, preventing premature mixing and maintaining adhesive quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle serves as an intermediary structure that receives both adhesive and propellant separately and facilitates their controlled interaction only at the moment of dispensing. The nozzle geometry enables the propellant to act upon the adhesive stream to create droplets without requiring premixing.
2Reliability
If separate reservoirs are used to isolate viscous fluid from propellant, then contamination and degradation are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure: both the adhesive reservoir and propellant reservoir are housed within the same device body, and both fluid delivery systems converge at a shared nozzle assembly. This integration maintains fluid isolation while simplifying the overall device structure and operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle structure serves multiple functions: it receives adhesive from the adhesive reservoir, receives propellant from the propellant reservoir, and facilitates the interaction between the two fluids to create the spray pattern. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
3Ease of operation
If premixing is required for spray dispensing, then droplet formation is achieved, but the viscous fluid is diluted and degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The device prepares both adhesive and propellant for interaction in advance by positioning them in separate reservoirs with dedicated delivery channels leading to the nozzle. The fluids are pre-positioned and pressurized independently, ready for controlled interaction only when dispensing is activated, preventing premature degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The beneficial action of droplet formation is extracted from the premixing process. Instead of mixing fluids in advance, the device extracts and utilizes the propellant's ability to atomize the adhesive stream at the point of delivery, separating the storage phase from the interaction phase.
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, controlled dispensing of viscous fluids like surgical adhesives without premixing, reducing contamination and degradation risks, and providing a convenient, disposable, and portable solution for medical applications.
Implementation Method 1
the propellant fluid acts upon the viscous fluid to break it into droplets that are deposited at a targeted site
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments of a spray device can be configured to maintain a viscous fluid in isolation from a propellant fluid until after the viscous fluid exits from a nozzle of the spray device. For example, the viscous fluid may include an adhesive such as surgical adhesive. When the spray device is actuated, the surgical adhesive can exit the nozzle so that the propellant fluid acts upon the surgical adhesive to break it into droplets for application on a targeted site.