Tampon Cannabinoid Delivery Device Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tampon-based drug delivery systems face challenges in precisely positioning and maintaining encapsulated medicaments within the vaginal cavity due to natural vaginal rejection tendencies and the absorbent nature of tampons interfering with the dissolving of carrier materials, leading to ineffective activation of therapeutic agents.
Innovation Solution
A tampon with a cylindrical inserter and cannabinoid-infused disintegrable carrier material, where the carrier is embedded within the tampon and held in position by slotted triangular or mushroom-shaped segments, allowing for pre-lubrication and rapid activation by body fluids, ensuring precise placement and effective delivery within the vaginal cavity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a capsule-loaded tampon is used to deliver medicament into the vaginal cavity, then the tampon provides a means for initial insertion of the capsule, but the tampon cannot properly place and maintain the capsule in the desired position within the vaginal cavity
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional segments: a tampon portion for absorption and insertion, and a separate capsule holder portion with pocket structure for precise capsule positioning. The applicator device also segments the insertion process into insertion and release phases, allowing the capsule to be delivered to a specific location while the tampon remains in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The applicator device serves as an intermediary tool that facilitates the transfer of the capsule from the packaging to the capsule holder, and subsequently guides the entire assembly into the vaginal cavity. The pocket structure acts as an intermediary mechanism that temporarily holds the capsule in the correct position during insertion, then releases it at the target location.
2Ease of operation
If the tampon terminates well short of the end of the cartridge applicator to define a pocket for receiving the medicament, then the medicament can be received in the pocket, but the overall dimensions of the delivery device are unduly lengthened
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is nested within the pocket structure of the tampon assembly, which itself is nested within the applicator device. This nested configuration allows the medicament to be received and protected within the compact pocket space, while the entire assembly maintains a manageable length suitable for vaginal insertion without requiring excessive device length.
3Quantity of substance
If the tampon is absorbent in nature, then the tampon can absorb body fluids, but the absorbent nature actually inhibits the dissolving or disintegration of the capsule containing the desired therapeutic agent
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule dissolution function is extracted from the tampon's absorbent matrix and assigned to a separate capsule holder with a dedicated pocket. This separation allows the capsule to be positioned where it can access body fluids directly for dissolution, while the tampon's absorbent properties are utilized for fluid management elsewhere in the vaginal cavity, eliminating the conflict between absorption and dissolution.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the device have different functional properties: the tampon portion is highly absorbent for fluid management, while the capsule holder pocket region is designed to be less absorbent or non-absorbent to allow body fluids to contact and dissolve the capsule. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction by ensuring each region performs its intended function without interfering with the other.
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 solution ensures proper positioning and rapid activation of cannabinoid-infused carriers within the vaginal cavity, overcoming the limitations of previous systems by maintaining the carrier in place and facilitating efficient delivery and activation, with potential applications beyond dysmenorrhea treatment.
Implementation Method 1
the faster and more effective activation means of utilizing body fluids
Data Source
AI summary
A tampon and therapeutic delivery device is disclosed and includes a generally cylindrical applicator tube defining a cartridge within which a tampon is slidably received for ejection through one end of the cartridge. A generally hollow cylindrical plunger member is slidably received within an opposite end of the cartridge for ejecting the tampon therefrom. A cannabinoid-infused disintegrable carrier material is partially embedded in and movably held by the tampon for intravaginal delivery when ejected from the cartridge, whereupon the cannabinoid agent is released into the vagina and absorbed through the vaginal mucosa to provide relief of dysmenorrhea. The cartridge has a plurality of slots to permit pre-lubrication of the tampon, if desired, prior to insertion into the vaginal cavity. The system delivers a higher concentration to the muscle of the uterus, the primary site for the dyskinetic muscle contraction, which is the pathophysiologic cause of dysmenorrhea.