Tunable Stiffness Menstrual Device with Multi-Durometer Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional menstrual devices face challenges in accommodating a wide range of user preferences for comfort and effectiveness due to limitations in material stiffness and geometric designs, leading to difficulties in insertion, comfort, and leak protection.
Innovation Solution
Menstrual devices are manufactured with strategically placed materials of different durometers and geometric features such as compression relief notches and internal stiffeners to enhance foldability and resilience, allowing for tunable stiffness and improved insertion and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional single-material menstrual devices are used, then manufacturing is simple, but comfort and effectiveness cannot accommodate diverse user preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different durometer materials in specific regions of the device. The rim uses a softer durometer (20-40) for comfort against sensitive vaginal tissue, while the body uses a stiffer durometer (30-50) for structural support and leak protection. This regional differentiation allows the device to simultaneously provide comfort and effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer materials with different durometers in a single device. The multi-durometer construction (e.g., 20-40 for rim, 30-50 for body) creates a composite structure that integrates both soft comfort zones and stiff support zones, accommodating diverse user preferences for comfort and effectiveness.
2Strength
If highly resilient materials are used throughout the device, then the device returns to deployed state effectively, but insertion becomes difficult due to stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating high resilience (durometer 20-40) in the rim region while using moderate resilience (durometer 30-50) in the body. The softer, more resilient rim provides effective seal formation and return to deployed state, while the moderately resilient body remains easier to compress for insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the device into distinct functional zones with different material properties. The rim is separated from the body and assigned different durometer characteristics, allowing the rim to be highly resilient for seal formation while the body is less resilient for easier insertion. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between overall resilience and insertion ease.
3Ease of operation
If the rim is made very flexible for comfort, then comfort is improved, but the device cannot maintain its shape for effective sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different durometer properties to different regions: the rim uses softer material (durometer 20-40) for comfort and tissue conformity, while the body uses stiffer material (durometer 30-50) for shape maintenance and structural stability. This regional differentiation allows the rim to be comfortable while the body maintains sealing shape.
4Adaptability or versatility
If uniform material stiffness is used, then manufacturing is straightforward, but user satisfaction varies across different user preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials with different durometers (20-40 for rim, 30-50 for body) to create a multi-property device that accommodates diverse user preferences for both comfort and effectiveness. Despite the increased material complexity, the device can be manufactured using conventional molding techniques, balancing manufacturing feasibility with enhanced user satisfaction.
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 use of multiple durometer materials and geometric features in menstrual devices improves comfort, ease of insertion, and leak protection by providing a balance between stiffness and flexibility, accommodating a broader range of user preferences and enhancing user satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
The resiliently foldable rim is made of a material that has a second durometer higher than the first durometer of the body portion
Implementation Method 2
The rim is configured with a compression relief element disposed within the resiliently foldable rim
Data Source
AI summary
A menstrual device with a reservoir portion and a rim portion where the rim element is comprised of stiffer higher durometer resilient material while the reservoir portion is made from a softer lower durometer material. Additionally, other portions of the menstrual device may have differing durometer materials. The menstrual device may be configured with a compression relief element to help improve the overall folding of the device for use.