Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Deodorants
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-08
2001-10-16
Dodson, Shelley A. (Department: 1616)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Deodorants
C424S076200, C424S076210, C424S076400, C424S076600, C424S076800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06303111
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to biocompatible deodorizing compositions, and more particularly to such compositions which eliminate malodors by chemical reaction with odorogenic molecules rather than by masking malodors. The compositions are free of toxic components and therefore are advantageous for use in environments where contact of the compositions with humans having compromised or reduced chemical or microbiological resistance is anticipated or not easily prevented, for example in health care facilities and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous deodorizing compositions are known in the art and are commercially available. Many such compositions include perfumes and the like for masking malodors. Compositions which rely on perfumes for masking malodors typically have limited effectiveness in deodorizing properties and are generally ineffective once the perfume component has dispersed. On the other hand, compositions which employ odor elimination agents which react with odor causing materials are typically more effective in reducing malodors. For example, the Maurer U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,249 discloses methods for reducing malodors by use of complexes of metals and polyfunctional organic ligands which neutralize, rather than merely mask, odor causing materials. Maurer discloses compositions containing about 5 weight percent of disodium monocopper citrate for use in ammonia-containing cold room environments and carpet deodorizinl) compositions containing about 20 weight percent monozinc citrate.
Although it is often desirable to employ deodorizing compositions in health care facilities to eliminate malodors, it is frequently not safe to do so in environments where compromised resistance to chemical and/or microbiological challengies are common, for example in operating rooms, intensive care units, neonatal nurseries and the like. That is, compositions adapted for spraying as a mist or aerosol in such environments will typically come into contact, or at least are not easily prevented from coming into contact, with the skin, eyes and/or mucous membranes of the oro-nasal and/or respiratory tracts of those in the proximate area of application. Absorption into the blood can result from such contact, for example through the mucous membranes, amounting to parenteral administration of the components from such sprays, and such contact can often be detrimental to an individual's health, particularly in humans or animals having compromised resistance. As many conventional deodorizing compositions contain components which will exhibit one or more disadvantageous effects upon this type of human contact, it is not safe to spray such deodorizing compositions in these environments.
For example, various conventional deodorizing spray ingredients include cocoamidopropyl betaine (a contact dermatitis agent), formaldehyde (a protein denaturant, skin sensitizer and probable carcinogen), morpholinium (an eye irritant and skin sensitizer), adamantane (a neurotransinission contact blocker, systemic sensitizer and possible reactant with RNA), benzalkonium chloride (a skin sensitizer), ethanol and/or methanol (teratogenic
eurotoxic agents), triethylene glycol (a neuromuscular depressor), and quaternary ammonium compounds (skin sensitizers), and the like. Thus, deodorizing compositions containing such components are not safe for use in environments where contact of the compositions with humans having compromised resistance to chemical or microbiological challenges is anticipated or not easily prevented, for example in health care facilities such as operating rooms, intensive care units, neonatal nurseries and the like, and a need exists for deodorizing compositions which can be safely employed in such environments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved deodorizing compositions. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide biocompatible deodorizing compositions which overcome disadvantages of the prior art. It is a more specific object of the invention to provide biocompatible deodorizing compositions which neutralize, rather than merely mask, odor causing materials. It is a further object of the invention to provide such compositions which are safe for use in environments where contact of the compositions with humans having compromised chemical and/or microbiological resistance is anticipated or not easily prevented, for example in health care facilities such as operating rooms, intensive care units, neonatal nurseries and the like.
These and additional objects are provided by the biocompatible deodorizing compositions of the present invention. More particularly, the invention is directed to nontoxic biocompatible deodorizing compositions which are essentially free of nonbiocompatible components. The compositions comprise, by volume, from about 0.05 to about 0.5 percent of an odor elimination agent, in combination with a physiologically compatible buffering agent, a wetting agent and a polar diluent. That the compositions are essentially free of nonbiocompatible components means that the compositions do not contain a functional amount of any substance which, upon contact with normal human or animal tissue, causes a detectable alteration of the normal structure or function of the tissue. A functional amount as used herein means an amount sufficient to cause a detectable alteration of the normal structure or function of the tissue upon contact with normal human or animal tissue. Preferably, the compositions are entirely free of any such substance which, upon contact with normal human or animal tissue, causes a detectable alteration of the normal structure or function of the tissue.
The invention is further directed to articles of manufacture which comprise a biocompatible deodorizing composition packaged in a container having a spray dispenser. The biocompatible deodorizing composition comprises, by volume, from about 0.05 to about 0.5 percent of an odor elimination agent, in combination with a physiologically compatible buffering agent, a wetting agent and a polar diluent, the composition being essentially free of nonbiocompatible components. In an additional embodiment, the invention is directed to methods of reducing malodors in an environment where contact of the compositions with humans or animals having compromised or reduced resistance to chemical and/or microbiological challenges is anticipated or not easily prevented. The methods comprise spraying a biocompatible deodorizing composition in the environment, the biocompatible deodorizing composition comprising, by volume, from about 0.05 to about 0.5 percent of an odor elimination agent, in combination with a physiologically compatible buffering agent, a wetting agent and a polar diluent, the composition being essentially free of nonbiocompatible components.
The compositions, articles of manufacture and methods according to the present invention are advantageous in that they are effective in safely reducing and/or eliminating malodors, particularly in environments where contact of the compositions with humans having compromised and/or reduced resistance is anticipated or not easily prevented, for example in health care facilities such as operating rooms, intensive care units, neonatal nurseries and the like.
These and additional objects and advantages provided by the compositions, articles of manufacture and methods of the present invention will be more fully apparent in view of the following detailed description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The biocompatible deodorizing compositions according to the present invention comprise, by volume, from about 0.05 to about 0.5 percent of an odor elimination agent, in combination with a physiologically compatible buffering agent, a wetting agent and a polar diluent, the composition being essentially free of nonbiocompatible components. That the compositions are essentially free of nonbiocompatible components means that the compositions do not contain a functional amount, and preferably do not cont
Maurer Gerald L.
Melzer David
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
Dodson Shelley A.
National Research Labs
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