Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Effervescent or pressurized fluid containing – Organic pressurized fluid
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-06
2004-02-24
Hartley, Michael G. (Department: 1616)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Effervescent or pressurized fluid containing
Organic pressurized fluid
C424S434000, C424S667000, C424S669000, C424S078070, C514S849000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06696041
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the application of an aqueous nasal solution for use in treatment of (and also the prevention of) infection by microbes (like a head cold, flu, or other infection) by using the broad-spectrum microbicide, iodine, and may also contain one or more of the following: aqueous chlorine or bromine, hypochlorite ion and/or chloride, bromide or iodide ion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the use of (or application) of an aqueous solution that contains the broad spectrum microbicide, iodine, which may be applied in nasal passages in the manner of a decongestant type nose spray. The spray is intended particularly for human use. It is to be applied in the event of known or suspected exposure of the individual to common cold virus, flu, or other infective microbial agents including for example, bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, and even mold and fungus. It may also be applied when there is a pre-existing infection caused by the previously mentioned agents. The solution contains an active agent that is based on an iodine solution and may also contain one or more of the following: sodium hypochlorite solution, or a solution of chlorine or hypochlorites plus a salt of chloride, bromide or iodide. Alternatively, the solution may contain iodine plus a bromine solution, or a solution of iodine, bromine plus a salt of chloride, bromide or iodide such as sodium chloride, zinc chloride, sodium bromide, zinc bromide, sodium iodide or zinc iodide. The iodine, chlorine, hypochlorites, bromine, chloride, bromide, and iodide may originally come from inorganic compounds or organic compounds, which are then dissolved in the water. Further, the solution may contain glycerin or another moisturizing or wetting agent for the nasal mucosa since the halogens or halides may be dehydrating or drying. Zinc gluconate or a zinc halide such as zinc chloride, zinc bromide or zinc iodide may also be included to further render the nasal mucosa more slippery and thus render it more difficult for invading microbes to colonize the area.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cold viruses or other microbes are sometimes transmitted by aerosol such as by a water droplet that is dispersed by coughing or sneezing, or by personal contact including, for example, hand to hand contact where a handshake transfers the microbes from one person to another and then the contaminated hand is brought into the vicinity of the individual's nose. (As when touching the nose or scratching it or rubbing it.) It is generally believed that infective agents will grow and multiply in regions where they have the proper temperature, nutrients, and other conditions conducive to growth or multiplication such as in the nasal mucosa. Thus, an object of the present invention is to apply a broad-spectrum microbicide like iodine to the area where infective viruses may be transmitted or transported, and would ordinarily multiply
A number of explanations could be proposed for the effectiveness of the microbicide in reducing the risk of full-blown infection. For example, the composition may act to kill the microbe, or to render it ineffective. Further, the microbicide may act to slow diffusion into a cell by tagging it with a heavy ion. This slowing of diffusion may slow the microbe's multiplication and allow the body's natural defenses to catch up and eliminate the microbes. Further, the nasal solution may dilute the attacking organism and wash it out away from the optimum area for growth so as to weaken the statistical probability of success of the infection.
It is thus an object of the invention to apply a medical agent to the area of entry of the infection, namely the nose, and specifically the inside of the nose, the nasal fossae and the sinus areas within the nose. This treatment can be remedial so as to inhibit an existing infection, or prophylactic so as to prevent spread into the respiratory system by affecting the microbe in the nose. Thus, in accordance with a method of using the nasal spray, it could be applied as soon as the person has determined that he or she has “caught” a cold. It could also be applied after the person first begins to feel the initial symptoms of catching a cold, such as stuffiness or muscular aches or fever. Or it could be applied prophylactically as soon as a person has been exposed to others who have colds and has real reason to be concerned about catching a cold after such an exposure. Moreover, it could be applied in a similar manner for cases of influenza and other infections for minimizing symptoms and extent of “infection”.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,872 refers to an iodine containing solution for prevention or treatment of sinusitis and nasal congestion. The solution to be administered to the nostrils and presumably the nasal mucosa. Picciano recognizes that sinusitis is a condition that might have been triggered as an outcome of having had a cold or the flu. And he states that the improper drainage triggers sinusitis, and then comments that a bacterial infection develops. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,872 the iodine solution is for the treatment of sinusitis and or related conditions associated with or caused by nasal congestion.
The present invention recognizes something new, namely that an iodine based solution may be of significant utility in the actual treatment of colds, influenza, and other microbial infections that are localized or start out localized in the nasal area. This is because of the incredibly diverse and broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity of iodine, iodides, and other halogens and halides. Iodine, chlorine, bromine, iodides, bromides and chlorides will have anti-microbial activity against bacteria, viruses, and a host of other organisms. In the case of colds, influenza, and other similar infections, the cold or other infection causes the congestion, not the other way around. The microbes easily penetrate deep into the un-congested nasal cavity of a healthy person, start the infection and then cause the congestion, as the body seeks to fight them. The iodine, chlorine, hypochlorite, and bromine, iodides, bromides and chlorides will be effective at combating the actual microbial organisms responsible for colds, influenza and other infections.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
One preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an aqueous solution of iodine with a halogen salt such as sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, zinc chloride, zinc bromide or zinc iodide. It may also include more than one of the aforementioned salts. In addition, it may also include zinc gluconate.
Another preferred embodiment of the invention is an aqueous solution of iodine and of sodium hypochlorite with a halogen salt such as sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, zinc chloride, zinc bromide or zinc iodide. It may also include more than one of the aforementioned salts. In addition, it may also include zinc gluconate.
And another embodiment of the invention would be an aqueous solution of iodine and chlorine with a halogen salt such as sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, zinc chloride, zinc bromide or zinc iodide. It may also include more than one of the aforementioned salts. In addition, it may also include zinc gluconate.
Another embodiment of the invention would be an aqueous solution of iodine and bromine with a halogen salt such as sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, zinc chloride, zinc bromide or zinc iodide. It may also include more than one of the aforementioned salts. In addition, it may also include zinc gluconate.
Another preferred embodiment of the invention is an aqueous solution of bromine with a halogen salt, i.e. chloride, bromide or iodide. The salt may constitute a chloride, a bromide or iodide with a specific example being sodium bromide, or zinc bromide.
Another embodiment of this invention is the use of organic compounds of chlorine, bromine or iodine, or organic compounds that are chlorides, bromides or iodides. These compounds are such that they decompose in solution or chemic
Haghighatian M.
Hartley Michael G.
Hudak, Shunk & Farine Co. LPA
Shunk Laura F.
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