Sterile Cooling Compress with Segmented Water Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling compresses with high water absorption capacity are not suitable for use in sterile environments, such as hospitals, as they cannot be activated under sterile conditions, posing a risk of infection.
Innovation Solution
A compress system with a watertight outer sachet containing a sealed inner pouch filled with water and polymer particles, designed to be sterilizable and activated under sterile conditions by breaking a frangible region, ensuring the compress remains sterile throughout activation and use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling compresses are made with high water absorption capacity polymers for effective cooling, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but sterility cannot be maintained during activation
Solution Approach 1:
The compress is divided into separate sterile components (polymer particles in a pouch) and activation components (water reservoir), allowing sterilization of the polymer portion while keeping water separate until activation. The pouch and reservoir can be sterilized independently and then assembled in a controlled environment.
Solution Approach 2:
A water-permeable wrapper acts as an intermediary barrier that allows water to pass through while maintaining sterility. The wrapper enables controlled activation by permitting water penetration only when intended, preventing premature contamination while allowing the cooling function to operate.
2Temperature
If the compress is activated by immersing in water, then cooling effect is produced, but sterility is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer particles are pre-packaged in a sterile, water-permeable pouch that maintains sterility until activation. The sterile barrier is designed to break or become permeable only at the moment of intended use, allowing preliminary sterilization to be effective while enabling subsequent activation.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible, water-permeable pouch encapsulates the polymer particles, providing a sterile barrier that allows water to pass through while maintaining structural integrity and sterility until activation. The pouch material is designed to permit water penetration only when the sterile barrier is intentionally breached.
3Ease of operation
If the compress is sealed in a plastic bag for activation, then activation is simplified, but sterility cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile polymer particles are nested within a water-permeable pouch, which is itself contained within an outer packaging system. This nested structure allows multiple functions: maintaining sterility during storage, enabling simplified activation by breaking the outer packaging, and allowing water penetration through the permeable pouch while maintaining the sterile barrier.
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 compress maintains sterility and delivers effective cooling for an extended period, ensuring safety and efficacy in sterile environments like hospitals, with the polymer particles absorbing water to swell and create a cooling effect when applied to the body.
Implementation Method 1
particles of a polymer with a high water absorption capacity
Implementation Method 2
the polymer particles swell by absorbing water
Implementation Method 3
They then exert their cooling effect, by evaporation and desorption of the water absorbed by the polymer
Implementation Method 4
exert their cooling effect, by evaporation and desorption of the water absorbed by the polymer
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a compress with a cooling effect, based on particles (6) of a polymer that has a high water absorption capacity, which comes enclosed with a reserve of water to activate it in an item (2) which comprises, inside a watertight outer sachet (3), on the one hand an inner pouch (4) filled with water and sealed in a watertight manner by a wall comprising a frangible region (10) and, on the other hand, the compress (1) produced in the form of a wrapper (5) at least partially permeable to water and containing the polymer particles (6) in the dry state. The sachet (3) is made of a material of a nature able to keep the pouch (4) and the compress (1) sterile.