Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-03
2003-07-01
Douyon, Lorna M. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S421000, C510S424000, C510S426000, C510S473000, C134S042000, C422S028000, C424S078040
Reexamination Certificate
active
06586377
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to compositions for treating, for example, cleaning, disinfecting, soaking, conditioning and wetting contact lenses. More particularly, the invention relates to multi-purpose solutions useful in treating contact lenses, for example, for removing deposit material from contact lenses, for disinfecting contact lenses, for soaking, conditioning and/or wetting contact lenses and the like, which provide substantial contact lens treating, e.g., cleaning, benefits to the users of such solutions.
Contact lenses need to be periodically treated, for example, cleaned, disinfected, soaked and the like, on a regular basis because of the tendency for a variety of microbes and other materials to accumulate on the lenses and/or the need to provide the lenses in suitable condition for safe and comfortable wear.
Fu U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,467 discloses aqueous compositions combining poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) substituted ethylenediamine surfactants, certain cellulose-derived polymer viscosity builders, germicidal agents, tonicity agents, sequestering agents and water for treating rigid contact lenses. The Fu patent does not disclose the use of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) or of any specific buffer.
British Patent 1,432,345 discloses a contact lens disinfecting composition including an ophthalmically acceptable biguanide in a total amount of from 0.0005% to 0.05% by weight. This British patent discloses that the solution preferably has a pH of from 5 to 8 and employs a phosphate buffer. The patent also discloses employing additional bactericides, certain cellulose-derived thickening agents and non-ionic surfactants, as well as disodium EDTA in concentrations of at least 0.1%. This patent does not disclose the use of HPMC.
Ogunbiyi et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,595 discloses an aqueous solution of a biguanide in an amount of 0.000001 to 0.0003 weight percent in combination with a borate buffer system, EDTA, and one or more surfactants. This U.S. Patent additionally discloses that certain cellulose-derived viscosity builders can be included.
Mowrey-McKee et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,073 discloses a contact lens care solution including tromethamine, chelating agents, PHMB, surfactants and certain cellulose-derived viscosity inducing agents. This patent does not specifically disclose the use of HPMC.
There continues to be a need to provide new contact lens treatment systems, for example, multi-purpose solutions, that provide one or more benefits, for example, more effective contact lens cleaning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
New compositions for treating contact lenses have been discovered. The present compositions, for example, contact lens cleaning aqueous solutions and multi-purpose aqueous solutions, include surfactant components in amounts effective in removing deposit material from a contact lens contacted with the composition, and effective amounts of viscosity inducing components, preferably HPMC in an amount in a range of about 0.05% to about 0.5% (w/v). The present HPMC-containing compositions preferably have increased or enhanced effectiveness in removing deposit material from contact lenses contacted with the compositions relative to similar compositions without the HPMC. These compositions are surprising and unexpected in view of the above-noted prior art which discloses the use of cellulose-derived viscosity building polymers other than HPMC. In addition, the present compositions preferably include antimicrobial components, in combination with buffers to provide desired antimicrobial activity and performance effectiveness.
The inclusion of one or more still other components in the present compositions is effective in providing additional beneficial properties to the compositions. The present compositions, in addition to being effective in cleaning contact lenses, preferably have a multitude of applications, for example, as disinfecting, soaking, wetting and conditioning compositions, for contact lens care. The present compositions promote regular and consistent contact lens care and, ultimately, lead to or facilitate better ocular health.
Any suitable, preferably ophthalmically acceptable, surfactant component which is effective in cleaning contact lenses may be employed. The surfactant component preferably is nonionic and, more preferably, is selected from 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol/poly(oxyethylene) polymers, poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block copolymers and mixtures thereof.
Although any suitable, for example, ophthalmically acceptable, viscosity inducing or thickening agent may be included in the present compositions, the viscosity inducing component preferably is selected from cellulosic derivatives and mixtures thereof, and more preferably is HPMC. The viscosity inducing component preferably is present in an amount in the range of about 0.05% to about 0.5% (w/v). Without wishing to limit the invention to any particular theory of operation, it is believed that the presence of a viscosity inducing component at least assists in providing the present compositions with enhanced passive contact lens cleaning properties. Passive cleaning refers to the cleaning which occurs during soaking of a contact lens, without mechanical or enzymatic enhancement. In particular, it has unexpectedly been found that the present compositions with HPMC present are more effective in passive cleaning of contact lenses relative to similar compositions without HPMC. The present combinations of components, including such viscosity inducing components, are effective in providing the degree of enhanced contact lens cleaning described herein.
In one embodiment of the present invention, multi-purpose solutions for contact lens care are provided. Such solutions comprise an aqueous liquid medium; a non-oxidative antimicrobial component in an amount effective to disinfect a contact lens contacted with the solution; a surfactant in an amount effective in cleaning a contact lens contacted with the solution; a buffer component, preferably a phosphate buffer component in an amount effective in maintaining the pH of the solution within a physiologically acceptable range; a viscosity inducing component preferably HPMC, present in an effective amount; and a tonicity component in an amount effective in providing the desired tonicity to the solution.
The antimicrobial component may be any suitable, preferably ophthalmically acceptable, material effective to disinfect a contact lens contacted with the present solutions. In one embodiment, the antimicrobial component is non-oxidative. Preferably, the non-oxidative antimicrobial component is selected from biguanides, biguanides polymers, salts thereof and mixtures thereof, and is present in an amount in the range of about 0.1 ppm to about 3 ppm or less than 5 ppm (w/v). The preferred relatively reduced concentration of the antimicrobial component has been found to be very effective, in the present compositions, in disinfecting contact lenses contacted with the compositions, while at the same time promoting lens wearer/user comfort and acceptability.
Although any suitable, preferably ophthalmically acceptable, tonicity component may be employed, a very useful tonicity component is sodium chloride or a combination of sodium chloride and potassium chloride.
The present compositions preferably include an effective amount of a chelating component. Any suitable, preferably ophthalmically acceptable, chelating component may be included in the present compositions, although ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), salts thereof and mixtures thereof are particularly effective.
Various combinations of two or more of the above-noted components may be used in providing at least one of the benefits described herein. Therefore, each and every such combination is included within the scope of the present invention.
These and other aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description, examples and claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to solutions
Graham Richard
Vehige Joseph G.
Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.
Bradley Nicole S.
Douyon Lorna M.
Gluck Peter Jon
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
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