EcoSafe and Thermacell Repellents’ Inc. file U.S. Patent for Novel Mosquito Repellent Device

John Hainze of Thermacell Repellents, Inc., Nicholas Bolz and Stephen Bradbury of EcoSafe Natural Products, have filed a U.S. Patent for a novel insect repellent formulation used with a travel-sized, rechargeable mosquito repellent device.

Over the past decade, EcoSafe has worked with Thermacell Repellents, Inc. to develop a range of spatial mosquito repellents and tick control solutions. 

The challenge in developing this product was to produce a formulation that released a mosquito repellent at a low enough dose that it did not affect any off-target species, dispersed far enough to provide up to 20 feet of protection, and released long enough that it would last an entire camping trip or weekend.

The final formula is held within a device powered by a Lithium-Ion battery, and utilizes a small heater to release the active ingredients metofluthrin and prallethrin— synthetic versions of a substance found in chrysanthemum flowers.

So far, safety testing has shown beneficial insects are unfazed by the product, and that the amount of ingredient deposited on surfaces near to the device is nearly undetectable, at less than one billionth of a gram on one centimeter square.

The travel-sized device has recently been touted by The New York Times’ as “The Best Mosquito Control Gear for Your Patio or Yard” as well as earning Outdoor Magazine’s Editor’s Choice for “Best Hiking and Camping Model.”

EcoSafe is proud to have supported with formulation development, release rate and deposition testing for a variety of iterations of the device and formulation compositions. Release rate testing ensured longevity of activity of the final commercial product, while deposition testing helped to ensure the product is safe for both human health and the environment. 

Test one out for yourself, by purchasing a Radius Zone Mosquito Repellent.