Smokeless Tobacco Pouch Release Modifying Agent

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smokeless tobacco products face challenges in controlling the release of undesirable tobacco constituents, such as acetaldehyde, arsenic, and nicotine-derived nitrosamines, which can be harmful upon consumption.

Innovation Solution

A pouched product featuring a water-permeable fabric pouch containing a composition with releasable components and a release modifying agent that reacts with these constituents, either by binding or chemically modifying them to prevent or alter their release, using materials like adsorbents, molecularly imprinted polymers, or antioxidants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a water-permeable pouch is used to allow release of tobacco constituents, then the desirable components can be delivered to the user, but harmful constituents are also released causing safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidrelease of harmful constituents
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A release modifying agent is introduced as an intermediary substance within the pouch that selectively interacts with harmful constituents. This agent modifies the release behavior of different components, allowing desirable constituents to pass through the water-permeable pouch while retaining or chemically modifying harmful ones, thus resolving the safety issue without compromising product delivery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch system employs different functional zones with distinct properties: the water-permeable fabric allows general moisture transmission, while specific regions contain release modifying agents with tailored selectivity for different harmful constituents. This local differentiation enables selective control over which components are released versus retained

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the pouch is made more permeable to enhance delivery of active ingredients, then the efficacy improves, but the release of harmful substances increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery of active ingredientsVSAvoidrelease of harmful constituents
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The release modifying agent acts as a selective mediator that differentiates between desirable and harmful constituents. It allows active ingredients to pass through while intercepting harmful substances, enabling high pouch permeability for efficient delivery without proportional increase in harmful release

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the chemical parameters of harmful constituents through reactions with the release modifying agent (such as oxidation, reduction, or complex formation), altering their properties so they no longer pose harmful effects even when present in the product

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively modifies the release of harmful components, enhancing the safety and efficacy of smokeless tobacco products by reducing the amount of undesirable substances released during use.

Implementation Method 1

a release modifying agent that reacts with these constituents, either by binding or chemically modifying them to prevent or alter their release, using materials like adsorbents

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

water soluble components contained within those pouches or sachets are released as a result of interaction with saliva

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOsmosis: Osmosis

Implementation Method 3

one or more releasable components that are released from the composition under mouth conditions and that are capable of movement through the water-permeable fabric pouch

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP4442128A1Smokeless tobacco pouch
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 R J REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
  • EP4442128A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4442128A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4442128A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A pouched product adapted for release of a releasable component therefrom is provided herein. The pouched product can include a water-permeable fabric pouch formed so as to define a cavity therein, a composition contained within the cavity of the water-permeable fabric pouch, the composition comprising one or more releasable components that are released from the composition under mouth conditions and that are capable of movement through the water-permeable fabric pouch, and a release modifying agent adapted to react with at least one of the one or more releasable components in the composition and thereby modify the release thereof from the water-permeable fabric pouch.