Title:  Electrostatically charged nasal application product with increased strength

United States Patent:  6,844,005

Issued:  January 18, 2005

Inventors:  Wahi; Ashok L. (Hillsborough, NJ); Sugathan; Kanneth (Franklin Park, NJ)

Assignee:  Trutek Corp (Hillsborough, NJ)

Appl. No.:  082978

Filed:  February 25, 2002

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nasal topical application product for restricting the flow of airborne contaminants into a human nasal passage by creation of a proximate, enhanced electrostatic field. This nasal application product includes: (a) a plurality of masses of one or more electrostatic polymers; and, (b) a topical carrier having the plurality of masses dispersed through a portion thereof. At least one of the electrostatic polymers is a poly (dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride) polymer and is included in the product in an amount of at least 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the polymers and the topical carrier. The nasal application product may be topical solutions, semisolids, spray solutions and vaporizable solutions. Topical applications may be in the form of ointments, pastes, creams and gels. The carrier of the nasal application product of the present invention may be selected from the group consisting of dilutents, volatile spray carriers, lotions, solvents, gels and hydrogels. In some embodiments, substrates, e.g., bandage type substrates, with adhesive on one side and the product polymer(s) and carrier on the opposite side, may be employed.

Description of the Invention

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to products for restricting the flow of airborne contaminants into a nasal passage by creating an electrostatic field of increased charge in an area about the nasal passage. This prevents or reduces the inflow of airborne contaminants to the nasal passage.

2. Information Disclosure Statement

U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,488 describes a method for restricting the flow of airborne contaminants into a nasal passage. It involves creating an electrostatic field in an area near a human nasal passage. The electrostatic field may either repel or attract airborne contaminants or both. The method involves applying a topical application having a plurality of masses of one or more electrostatic materials, and a carrier having the plurality of masses dispersed therein. The masses have an average cross sectional area of about one square millimeter to about 50,000 square millimeters, and are of sufficient charge to create an electrostatic field which will prevent at least some airborne contaminants from passing into a human nasal passage. The topical application may be in the form of a solution, a semisolid, a solid, a spray solution or a vaporizable solution.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,481 describes a product and method for restricting the flow of airborne contaminants into a nasal passage. It involves creating an electrostatic field in an area near a nasal passage. The electrostatic field may either repel or attract airborne contaminants or both. The product may take the form of a plurality of masses of one or more electrostatic materials, the masses have an average cross sectional area of about one square millimeter to about 50,000 square millimeters, the mass being of sufficient charge to create an electrostatic field which will prevent at least some airborne contaminants from passing into a nasal passage. There is also a carrier material with the plurality of masses dispersed therein. The product may be a topical solution, a semi solid, a solid, a spray solution or a vaporizable solution. Alternatively, it may be in a form which includes a substance for the carrier and, in one preferred embodiment, the substrate would be an adhesive material such as a bandage.

The aforesaid references describe various methods and products for restricting airborne contaminant flow to the nasal passage area utilizing the suggested formulae described therein. It has now been discovered that utilization of at least 10% of one specific active electrostatically charged polymer provides significantly increased charge density and efficacy as compared to other electrostatic polymers at lower, the same or higher concentrations than the present invention levels of the poly (dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride). For this reason, notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a nasal topical application product for restricting the flow of airborne contaminants into a human nasal passage by creation of an artificial electrostatic field near the human nose This nasal application product includes: (a) a plurality of masses of one or more electrostatic polymers; and, (b) a topical carrier having the plurality of masses dispersed through a portion thereof. In the present invention, at least one of the electrostatic polymers is a poly (dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride) polymer and is included in the product in an amount of at least 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the plurality of masses of one or more electrostatic polymers and the topical carrier.

The nasal application product of the present invention may be selected from the group consisting of topical solutions, semisolids, spray solutions and vaporizable solutions. Topical applications may be in the form of ointments, pastes, creams and gels.

The carrier of the nasal application product of the present invention may be selected from the group consisting of diluents, volatile spray carriers, lotions, solvents, gels and hydrogels. When the carrier is a dilutent, it may be selected from the group consisting of glycols, glycerines, organic surfactants, esters being of unsaturated fatty acids, and mixture thereof. When the carrier is a volatile spray carrier, it may be selected from the group consisting of water, natural oils, glycols, organic surfactants and mixtures thereof. When the carrier is a lotion, it may be selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycols, natural oils, silicones, homogenizers, and mixtures thereof. When the carrier is a gel, it may be selected from the group consisting of three dimensional polymeric matrices of natural polymers, synthetic polymers, copolymers, and mixtures thereof

In some preferred embodiments of the nasal application product of the present invention, the carrier includes at least one homogenizer and at least one glycol polymer.

In preferred some embodiments of the present invention nasal application product, the carrier includes about 1 to about 5% by weight of a glycol compound and about 60 to 85% by weight of water, based on the total weight of the plurality of masses of one or more electrostatic polymers and the topical carrier. Preferred nasal application product topical carrier formulae include:

(a) about 1% to about 5% by weight of a glycol compound selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and mixtures thereof;

(b) about 60% to about 85% by weight of water; and,

(c) about 0% to about 2.5% of one or more stearate compounds;

all of the above weight percentages being based on the total weight of the plurality of masses of one or more electrostatic polymers and the topical carrier.

The present invention nasal application products may further include a substrate containing the topical carrier with a plurality of masses of one or more electrostatic polymers dispersed through at least a portion thereof. The substrate may be a flexible substrate, such as a cloth or other woven material or a synthetic sheet material with an adhesive thereon, e.g., a bandage type of substrate.

Claim 1 of 20 Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A nasal topical application product for restricting the flow of airborne contaminants into a human nasal passage by creation of an artificial electrostatic field near the human nose, wherein the nasal application product consists essentially of:

(a) a plurality of masses of one or more electrostatic polymers; and,

(b) a topical carrier having said plurality of masses dispersed through a portion thereof;

wherein at least one of said one or more electrostatic polymers is a poly (dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride) polymer and is included in said product in an amount of at least 10% by weight, based on the total weight of said plurality of masses of one or more electrostatic polymers and said topical carrier.

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