Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Live hair or scalp treating compositions – Two or more designated surfactant containing
Reexamination Certificate
1996-08-12
2003-05-13
Huff, Sheela (Department: 1642)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Live hair or scalp treating compositions
Two or more designated surfactant containing
C424S070220, C424S070270, C514S299000, C514S535000, C514S817000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06562326
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a topical composition having medicinal properties, in particular, it relates to a topical composition for use in treating burns, scalds, blisters, rash, scabs or other skin conditions experienced by human skin.
Burns cause inflammation of the skin, pain and swelling and may result in scabbing and scarring. Skin burns are a complex inflammatory process causing dyskeratotic cells, spongiosis, vacuolation of keratinocytes and edema from capillary leakage, 12 to 24 hours after exposure to light or high temperature. In addition to redness and pain, blisters may develop and scabs and scars may result.
Known treatments for burns are limited in efficacy. The topical use of anti-inflammatory agents to alleviate inflammation resulting from burns is known. Compositions containing steroidal anti-inflammatories, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, as well as “natural” anti-inflammatories, such as extract of the plant aloe vera, have been used.
In the past there have been many salves for the topical treatment of human skin. Although most known salves or ointments have medicinal or soothing characteristics, they do not aid in preventing blistering or scabs and reducing or eliminating scarring of the skin tissue or have an immediate effect on the reduction of pain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide topical compositions and methods of use thereof for the alleviation of the symptoms associated with burns of human skin. The preferred embodiments of the present invention also provide a method of applying topical compositions for alleviation of the symptoms of burns with no side effects and relief from inflammation and pain normally associated with burns while preventing or reducing scabbing and scarring of the skin.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a topical composition for reducing the symptoms of burns and shortening time required for healing. The composition preferably comprises a therapeutically effective amount of a combination of an anesthetic and a surfactant. Varying amounts of anesthetic and surfactant are preferably used to achieve efficacious results, e.g., for anesthetic concentrations of from about 0.05% to 25% by weight, preferably 0.25% to 10% by weight, and most preferably 1% to 5% by weight, and for surfactant, concentrations of from about 0.05% to 50% by weight, 1% to 10% by weight, and 0.5% to 5% by weight.
In preferred embodiments, the anesthetic is preferably selected from the group consisting of esters, amides, ethers, and combinations thereof and, in particular, topical anesthetics and other anesthetics which may be formulated in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention and applied topically, including procaine, chloroprocaine, tetracaine, propoxycaine, benzocaine, cocaine, proparacaine, bupivacaine, dibucaine, etidocaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine, dyclonine, promazine and combinations thereof.
The surfactant is preferably selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, and cationic surfactants and combinations thereof. Suitable ionic surfactants include anionic surfactants such as monovalent salts, e.g., sodium and potassium salts of alkyl, aryl and alkyl-aryl sulfates and sulfonates, particularly those with from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms, and cationic surfactants, such as quaternary ammonium salts. Suitable non-ionic surfactants include polyethylene oxide adducts of fatty alcohols, e.g., alkylated polyoxyethylenes, alkylated polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymers, and the surfactant nonoxynol.
The surfactant and the anesthetic are preferably formulated together in a pharmaceutically acceptable topical carrier, which may comprise one of a number of known acceptable forms. Suitable topical carriers include known aqueous carriers and oleaginous carriers.
The composition may also contain one or more additional agents, including antimicrobial agents, anti-viral agents, anti-fungal agents, buffering agents, antioxidants, preservatives, coloring agents, fragrances, lubricants, moisturizers, sunscreens, drying agents and the like and, more specifically, may include ingredients such as stearic acid, lauramide DEA, borax, eucalyptus oil, beeswax, preservative and methylparaben.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention also provide a method for reducing the symptoms of burns including swelling, redness, pain, and scarring while also decreasing time required for healing by topically administering a composition according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention to a burn area, preferably at least about once every twelve hours and, more preferably, about every four hours depending upon the amount of pain. The composition is preferably applied to the burn area daily for maximum benefit. Relief is almost immediate, and is characterized by decreased pain, swelling, and more rapid healing as compared with untreated burns. In addition, the topical administration of the composition reduces or prevents scabbing and scarring of the skin affected by the burn.
These and other elements, features and advantages of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a method for applying a topical composition to treat a skin burn, the composition having two essential components, a topical or local anesthetic and a surfactant. An anesthetic and a surfactant are preferably added to a conventional carrier, such as, a cream, ointment, solution or gel containing appropriate stabilizers, buffers and preservatives for topical application to the burn area.
The topical anesthetics of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are esters, ethers or amides and include the following anesthetics which may be included in the compositions according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Esters include Tetracaine, Benzocaine, Proparacaine, Procaine, Cocaine (not a legal drug in the United States) and Propoxycaine. Amides include Dibucaine and Lidocaine. Ethers include Dyclonine and Promazine.
There are other anesthetics used for injection, e.g., spinal anesthesia, which are not usually listed as topicals but are expected to work well on burns where intact skin does not present a barrier. Some examples of these anesthetics are: Chloroprocaine, Bupivacaine, Etidocaine, Mepivacaine and Prilocaine.
In a preferred embodiment, the anesthetic is tetracaine (either as the hydrochloride or other salt or as the free base). Tetracaine is a preferred anesthetic because the anesthetic penetrates skin most effectively, and it is on the FDA monograph list which allows marketing as an over-the-counter (OTC) product for fever blisters and cold sores at concentrations up to 2% by weight.
In a preferred embodiment, the anesthetic is combined with a carrier in a concentration range of between approximately 1% and 2% by weight; however, the anesthetic may be present in varying concentrations, for example, between approximately 0.05% and 25% by weight, between approximately 0.25% and 10% by weight, between approximately 0.5% and 10% by weight, and between approximately 1% and 5% by weight. The exact dose of anesthetic to be employed in a given formulation will depend on a number of factors such as the particular anesthetic to be employed. For example, in compositions containing benzocaine as the anesthetic, an exemplary preferred dose range is between approximately it and 20% by weight, in compositions containing lidocaine, an exemplary preferred dose range is between approximately 1% and 20% by weight and in compositions containing tetracaine an exemplary preferred dose is approximately 0.5%.
In addition to the local anesthetic, the compositions used in the method of the preferred embodiment of the invention also contain a therapeutically effective amount of a surfactant. Surfactants have been di
Huff Sheela
Weiss Philip M.
Weiss & Weiss
LandOfFree
Topical composition for burn healing does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Topical composition for burn healing, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Topical composition for burn healing will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3034318