3D-printed dissolvable pods with programmable dissolution
This technology describes a water-soluble container—think a dissolvable pod or capsule—built using a voxel-based (3D-printed) shell that fully encloses a solid benefit agent such as a detergent, cleaning compound, or personal care ingredient. The voxel construction approach means the shell geometry can be precisely engineered at a micro-scale, potentially controlling how and when the container dissolves. When placed in water, the shell dissolves and releases its contents. The manufacturing method is likely additive (3D printing), enabling customizable shapes, multi-compartment designs, or variable dissolution rates that traditional thermoforming of PVA pods cannot achieve.
What you could build
A next-generation dissolvable consumer pod—for laundry, dishwashing, personal care, or agrochemicals—with programmable dissolution behavior and complex fill geometries; target buyers would be consumer goods companies like P&G, Henkel, or Church & Dwight seeking differentiated pod formats or contract manufacturers supplying them.
Who in Virginia should care
Consumer packaged goods suppliers, specialty chemical formulators, or contract packaging operations in Virginia could use this to develop next-generation sustainable pod products.
Readiness: Concept
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Travis Kyle Hodgdon, Douglas Michael Graham, Michael Sean Farrell, Corey James Kenneally, Christopher B. Williams, Callie Zawaski
- Granted
- June 22, 2021
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 11040812
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.