Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Wearing apparel – fabric – or cloth
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-19
2004-08-03
Gupta, Yogendra N. (Department: 1751)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Wearing apparel, fabric, or cloth
C424S076400, C424S405000, 51, C252S182280, C252S182280, C008S189000, C008S115510, C008S115700, C008S190000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06770287
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An important and growing part of the textile industry is the medical and related healthcare and hygiene sectors. Textile materials used in medical-related applications include, for example, surgeon's gowns, caps and masks, patient drapes, bandages, wipers and cover cloths of various sizes. Such textile materials, however, are conductive to cross-infection and transmission of diseases caused by microorganisms. As such, the possibility of spreading infections caused by the lethal HIV virus, the insidious hepatitis virus or other epidemic diseases has created an increased concern regarding the use of protective facilities and uniforms for workers in the medical/healthcare/hygiene sectors. Currently, textile materials used in medical applications are disposable, nonwoven synthetic fabrics that are neither biocidal nor reusable. Such textile fabrics provide protection by blocking the transmission of microorganisms, rather than by inhibiting the growth of the microorganisms. Thus, cross-infection through surface contact of the contaminated textile fabrics is problematic. As a result, in an effort to prevent the cross-infection and transmission of diseases, the contaminated materials must be appropriately sterilized and discarded after use. Unfortunately, such sterilization and discarding procedures result in substantial increases in the cost of healthcare and in the amount of bio-hazardous wastes that are generated.
Accordingly, it is desirable that bacterial infections resulting from contact with contaminated textiles be reduced or eliminated, and that transmission of pathogenic bacteria from person to person during wear or use of contaminated textiles be prevented by inhibiting the growth of the microorganisms on fabrics. Moreover, it is desirable that surgeon's dresses, hospital carpeting and bedding materials, underwear, socks, and uniforms be biocidal so as to provide the best protection possible. In addition, it is desirable to have biocidal textiles for use in, inter alia, hotel-use towels, bedding materials, socks and other hygienic products as well.
Currently, there are two general categories of technologies that can provide protection for medical/healthcare/hygiene personnel. They are (1) physical techniques which involve the formation of a physical barrier against microbial infiltration or transmission by selecting fabric constructions and coating that are impermeable or that are microporous and contain antimicrobial agents; and (2) chemical technologies which involve the incorporation of active functional agents onto fabrics or fibers by grafting or other chemical methods. Disposable materials are examples of the first category. The coating method involves the application of impermeable materials onto the surface of fabrics, thereby blocking the infiltration and permeation of microorganisms. However, cross-infection and spreading of diseases through the contact of the coating surface is still feasible and, thus, pose potential threats to workers who handle the contaminated materials. Moreover, the impermeable properties can cause wearers to become uncomfortable and, in turn, to become less efficient in their.
As such, the chemical association of antibacterial agents onto either the surface or entirety of the material appears to be more practical in terms of durability and efficacy of the antibacterial properties. There are two major pathways to chemically achieve durable antibacterial effects. In one pathway, the slow releasing of biocides through contact with the processed fabrics is employed. In this pathway, a pathway widely used around the world, sufficient chemical agents are impregnated onto the fibers by either chemical or physical methods. Thereafter, the biocides are slowly released from the processed fabrics into the media, thereby contacting and inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. Unfortunately, such chemical agents can be washed away easily if they are not covalently impregnated onto the surface of the fabrics. Moreover, the antibacterial functions are non-regenerable.
In the second pathway, a more innovative technology is employed which involves chemical modification of textile materials with biocidal or potential biocidal compounds, wherein the antibacterial properties of such compounds are regenerable with simple washing. The potential antibacterial groups can be rendered biocidal after washing with certain common chemicals, such as diluted bleaching solutions. Over thirty-five years ago, Gagliardi, et al. first proposed the regeneration principle of antibacterial finishing, hoping to regenerate the lost function by washing the used fabrics with some specific solutions (see,
Am. Dyest. Reptr
., 51, 49 (1962). However, although much effort has been expended, no commercial products have resulted.
In addition to textiles, food contact articles are another source of bacterial contamination. Multiple outbreaks of foodborne bacterium such as
E. coli
0157: H7, have made people increasingly conscious of methods to control the spread of such bacterium. Food contact materials such as cutting boards, have long been suspected to be vectors for the spread of foodborne microorganisms. Thus, research has been focused on methods of managing the decontamination of cutting boards as a way to decrease foodborne illness.
Recently, good food hygiene practices as means of preventing foodborne diseases have taken on a new impetus. This is reflected in the USDA move to require safe handling labels on all raw meat and poultry. In the U.S. for example, Salmonella and Campylobacter accounted for 4 million cases annually, while total estimates of gastroenteritis ranged from 6-33 million cases (see, Todd, E.,
A Lancet Review
, editors Waites, A. M., and Arbuthnott, J. P., London, pp 9-15, 1991). Although no firm epidemiological data exist as to how many of these result from inappropriate food handling, a researcher indicated that poor handling techniques in kitchens may be responsible for as much as 2-3 million foodborne outbreaks per year (see, Rubino, J., Foodborne Diseases in the Home, Seminar presented at the American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, New Orleans. 1996). Moreover, a recent Dutch report showed that 80% of Salmonella and Campylobacter infections arose from the home (see, Hoogenboom-Verdegaal, A. M. M. et al.,
Epidemiol Infect
, 112:481-487. 1994). Considering that the World Health Organization believes that only 10% of actual cases are ever reported, the problem is indeed immense.
About 84% of all foodborne disease were due to bacteria and viruses, causing 9,000 deaths and costing $23 billion to the U.S. economy per year (see Rubino, supra). In Europe, it is estimated that between 50-80% of foodborne outbreaks occur at home (see, Sockett, P. N.,
In Encyclopedia of Food Science, Food Technology and Nutrition
, ed. Macrae, R., Academic Press, London, pp. 2023-2031, 1993). One study showed that consumer knowledge of food preparation hygiene was very necessary. The occurrence of foodbome disease is on the rise; and in the developed countries at least, the majority of the salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis is occurring within the home—mostly due to inadequate food hygiene (see, Klontz et al.,
J Food Prot
., 58:927-930. 1995).
Studies also indicate that of all of the causes that were involved, cross-contamination accounted for ~30%, inadequate heating ~45%, and inappropriate storage ~40% (see, Rubino, supra). Studies in the UK showed that cross-contamination was responsible for 14% of human salmonellosis (see, Roberts, D. F.,
In Proceedings of the
2nd World Congress Foodborne Infections and Intoxications 1, Berlin, pp. 157-159. 1986). Indeed, it has become clear that this mode of contamination is much more serious than was previously thought and that the problem is indeed acute not only in the home but also in commercial food processing.
Sites and surfaces as vehicles of cross-contamination have been studied, particularly in Great Britain. In a British survey, moist areas such as the kitchen sink, waste traps
Cliver Dean
Sun Gang
Xu Xiangjing
Gupta Yogendra N.
Hamlin D G
The Regents of the University of California
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
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