Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Wearing apparel – fabric – or cloth
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-19
2002-11-05
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Wearing apparel, fabric, or cloth
C424S402000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06475501
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This application relates to antiviral tissue paper comprising virucidally effective water soluble metal ions. These water soluble metal ions exhibit at least one hydroxide formation constant having a value of at least 10
12
. When added to tissue paper, these water soluble metal ions have the ability to kill certain strains of viruses which come into contact with the tissue. In addition to their antiviral efficacy, these water soluble metal ions are believed to be mild to the skin, thus mitigating the potential for skin irritation. This application further relates to antiviral lotions comprising a virucidally effective amount of one or more water soluble metal ions. A process for making the antiviral tissue paper of this invention is also disclosed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Whether it be a household, workplace, educational facility or any other location where people tend to gather, preventing the spread of germs is a difficult but yet desirable task. For instance, it is well documented that many hours of productive work are lost due to individuals becoming infected with the common cold or influenza virus.
When one suffers from the common cold or influenza virus, one's mucus is the source of a very high concentration of viruses. After the mucus is aerosolized by a sneeze, cough, or other environmental surfaces, the virus within the mucus has the potential to infect other individuals coming into contact with it. Likewise, mucus deposited into a facial tissue also has the potential to infect others if they come in contact with the contaminated tissue. Transfer of this mucus on the tissue to another individual will likely be through accidental or unintentional contact.
As an example of a possible transfer scenario, consider a cold sufferer who accidentally leaves a mucus infected facial tissue on a hard surface of some type. This hard surface might be a kitchen countertop, a bathroom vanity surface, an office desk or some other piece of furniture. Another family member or colleague may accidentally come into contact with the infected mucus after picking up the tissue to throw it away or by contacting the contaminated countertop area. After coming into such contact with the mucus on the tissue, it is very possible for that individual to become infected with the viral condition (i.e., common cold, influenza) especially if the infected mucus comes into contact with that individual's mucosal membranes.
Another transmission scenario is through the disposal of the facial tissues contaminated with the virus containing mucus. After a household waste basket becomes filled with trash containing a high concentration of infected tissues, it obviously needs to be disposed of in some manner. During this transfer of the household trash into another larger disposal unit, the individual transferring the trash may come into contact with the contaminated tissue. Once again, this individual is at a higher risk for contracting the virus. Many other potential modes of virus transmission are possible after the facial tissue has become infected with the mucus.
Furthermore, virus transmission is not the only concern when one has a cold. As is well known, cold and influenza sufferers typically have sore and irritated skin regions associated with the nose and lips. The irritation, inflammation and redness around the nose and lips can have several causes. A prime one is, of course, the sheer necessity of frequently blowing one's nose into he tissue, and wiping the resultant nasal discharge from the nose and surrounding area.
The degree of irritation and inflammation caused by such blowing and wiping is directly proportional to: (1) the surface roughness of the tissue used; (2) the number of times the nose and its surrounding areas are in contact with the tissue; and (3) the irritation potential of any additives applied to the tissue paper. It is thus imperative to use antiviral compositions that are as mild as possible.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,847 issued to Rothe et al. on Apr. 19, 1988 purports to teach a three ply cellulosic tissue wherein a virucidal composition is substantially confined to the center ply. The virucidal composition is composed of citric acid and/or malic acid. A surfactant, sodium lauryl sulfate, may also be included.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,912 issued to Hossain et al. on May 9, 1989 purports to teach a virucidal composition applied to a tissue. The virucidal composition may include citric, malic, succinic, and/or benzoic acid. A surfactant may also be included.
Both of these suffer from the same drawback. The virucidal compositions are not mild to the skin.
The antiviral agent(s) of the present invention is effective at killing certain strains of viruses such as influenza virus and rhinovirus. Furthermore, the antiviral agents are much less acidic than the above-mentioned carboxylic acid based virucides. When contacted with the skin or aqueous media, these compounds tend to exhibit pH values in the range of 3-5 which is nearer to the pH of human skin than most carboxylic acids. The antiviral efficacy of the above-mentioned carboxylic acids, on the other hand, are substantially reduced as the pH is increased. At pH 4 or greater, very little, if any, immediate antiviral efficacy exists for most organic acids. Without being bound to theory, it is believed that the lower acidity of the present invention renders the products mild to the skin versus the carboxylic acids that are well know in the art.
Furthermore, because the antiviral agent tends to be mild, the potential for skin irritation and stinging in these areas is greatly reduced. As the potential for skin irritation and stinging is reduced, the antiviral agent may be placed on the outer plies of the tissue product whereby it can easily be transferred directly to the skin. Yet further, this allows for more immediate contact of the antiviral agent with the mucosal discharge. Hence, the antiviral agent does not have to be confined to the inner plies of the tissue.
Thus, it is very surprising to find that the water soluble metal ions of the present invention provide a surprising combination of unique properties including immediate antiviral efficacy and mildness.
The benefits of utilizing the tissue product of the present invention include a tissue product that is effective at preventing the spread of certain cold and flu viruses while being comfortable to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to antiviral tissues that are mild to the skin. The antiviral tissue product comprises one or more fibrous ply(ies) and an antiviral composition. The antiviral composition comprises a water soluble metal ion wherein the water soluble metal ion has at least one hydroxide formation constant with a value of at least 10
12
. A non-limiting list of suitable water soluble metal ions include aluminum, copper, and mixtures thereof.
Suitable aluminum compounds include but are not limited to aluminum sulfate, potassium aluminum sulfate, aluminum nitrate, aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum zirconium tetra-chlorohydrex glycene, and combinations thereof. Suitable copper compounds include but are not limited to copper sulfate, copper chloride, copper nitrate, copper acetate, copper bromide, copper iodide, and mixtures thereof.
The antiviral tissue product may also optionally include a lotion. The lotion may also include an antiviral composition.
The present invention also relates to a process for making an antiviral tissue product.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As used herein, the term “comprising” means that the various components, ingredients, or steps, can be conjointly employed in practicing the present invention. Accordingly, the term “comprising” encompasses the more restrictive terms “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of.”
As used herein, “pyrrolidone carboxylic acid” collectively refers to its stereoisomers and tautomers.
As used herein, “moisture barrier” refers to a means for inhibiting the penetration of moisture through tissue. Suitable moisture barriers are disclosed in commonly assigne
Biedermann Kimberly Ann
Gbadamosi Kamilah Apewaiye
Kelly Stephen Robert
Morgan Jeffrey Michael
Seger Geoffrey Eugene
Glazer Julia A.
Howard S.
Mattheis David K.
Page Thurman K.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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