Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Web – sheet or filament bases; compositions of bandages; or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-29
2003-09-23
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Web, sheet or filament bases; compositions of bandages; or...
C424S443000, C424S448000, C424S400000, C424S078020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06623751
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a cosmetic, pharmaceutical, or dermatological patch. The patch preferably provides a treating, refreshing, or relaxing action. The patch provides a cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical effect by bringing at least one active substance dispersed on the patch in contact with the skin. The patch may be applied to the skin from a few minutes to an hour or more, depending on the type of treatment for which the patch is used.
Conventional patches are generally manufactured by applying a solution including one or more active agents to a sheet of material and allowing the solution to dry. The dried sheet is then cut into different shapes and sizes, depending on the intended use for the patch. After cutting the patch to the desired shape and size, the patch is packaged in a sealed package.
Conventional manufacturing techniques suffer from several drawbacks. For example, the method of preparing patches described above requires complex layering machines and results in large losses of preparation materials (i.e., sheet material and solution). Manufacturing waste is particularly large when the shape of the patch is complex, such as patches specifically designed to fit on different parts of the face (e.g., nose, corner of the eye, forehead, etc.). Also, the manufacture of most conventional patches requires an additional step of packaging, thereby increasing the cost of production.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for an improved patch.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a patch that obviates one or more of the short-comings of the related art.
A preferred object of the invention is to provide patches with high water content, into which various active agents may be incorporated, thereby imparting great softness, freshness, and/or coolness to the skin during application. The patches are preferably easily manipulated, especially during application to and/or removal from the skin.
In particular, one objective of the invention is to provide a patch which can be easily manipulated and which, when applied to the skin, provides new sensations, especially coolness and softness.
Another objective of the invention is to produce a patch that is formed directly in situ in its packaging.
Yet another objective of the invention is to produce a patch which is simple and economical to produce.
It should be understood that the invention could still be practiced without performing one or more of the preferred objects and/or advantages set forth above. Still other objects will become apparent after reading the following description of the invention.
To achieve these and other advantages, and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention includes a cosmetic, pharmaceutical, or dermatological patch that includes a composition including a hydrophilic gelling system in an aqueous phase. The hydrophilic gelling system includes a gellan gum and at least one other hydrocolloid.
Although gelled products formed from mixtures of gellan gum and another gum are known in the food industry, those gelled products are not appropriate for cosmetic, dermatological, and pharmaceutical applications, which require structural integrity, strength, and the ability to transfer treatment products to skin.
The patch of the present invention preferably includes a large amount of water so that it is cool upon application, while at the same time giving a strong impression of softness. The patch is preferably applied directly to the skin, without pre-wetting the patch and/or the skin. However, in an alternate embodiment, the patch and/or the skin is pre-wetted prior to application of the patch. The composition is preferably homogeneous and stable, and thus and does not require a particular preparation technique. The composition preferably includes active agents that are easily transferred onto the skin. Preferably, the composition is cool on application and is sufficiently strong for application to and/or removal from the skin. The patch is preferably easily manipulated, in particular, when the patch is applied to and/or removed from the skin.
The term “patch” should be understood to include a structure including one or more layers that can be applied to and/or removed from the skin. The patch preferably includes a composition including a hydrophilic gelling system that forms a layer capable of being applied to and/or removed from the skin. The composition preferably includes at least one active agent configured to interact with the skin, whether by diffusion into the skin (through the dermis) or by surface contact. Preferably, the patch does not disintegrate when it is removed from the skin. At least some of the water and/or active agents in the composition preferably escape from the patch during application of the patch to the skin. For example, the water and/or active agents evaporate into the environment and/or are transferred to the skin. Depending on the type of interaction between the patch and the skin, the application time varies from about a few seconds to about a few hours, or even to about a few days.
In a preferred embodiment, the patch includes a reinforcing member that provides additional structural integrity to the patch. The reinforcing member provides several benefits to the patch. For example, the reinforcing member provides reinforcement to the patch so that it does not become deformed (e.g. elongated) during application. It also facilitates removal of the patch from the container in which it is packaged. It advantageously allows the manufacture of thinner patches because of the additional structural support it provides. It allows the flexibility of the patch to be modified so that the patch will conform to a surface when applied. It further allows the patch to be reused. Moreover, it facilitates manipulation of the patch and can produce an occlusive barrier.
The reinforcing member may be located on the surface of the patch, or it may be embedded within the composition so that the composition forms a matrix about at least a portion of the reinforcing member. Preferably, the reinforcing member is made of woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and perforated films. More preferably, the reinforcing member is a net (e.g., a polyamide net).
In an embodiment, the reinforcing member is a support and the composition is coated on the support. After the coating of the composition on the support, the patch is cut to the desired shape. The coating of the composition to a desired thickness may be carried out by a roll, by a doctor blade, and/or by calendering. The support preferably includes one of woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and perforated plastic films. After the patch has been cut, it is preferably packaged inside a sealed packet.
The term “hydrocolloid” should be understood to mean a water-soluble macromolecule that does not alter the value of the water activity of the composition containing it.
Preferably, the gelling system represents less than 20% of the total weight of the composition. A relatively low proportion of gelling agents allows the composition to avoid leaving a visible deposit when applied to the skin and the patch to be transparent of translucent. The hydrophilic gelling system preferably forms a gelled solid that has a compressive strength greater than or equal to 20 grams at room temperature (i.e., about 20-25° C.). The compressive strength measurements above are preferably obtained by inserting an axisymmetric cylindrical probe having a diameter of 0.8 cm into the gelled solid to a depth of about 1 mm at a rate of about 0.5 mm/s and removing the probe from the gelled solid at a rate of about 0.5 mm/s. The compressive strength is preferably measured using an analyser similar or identical to the “LFRA Texture Analyser” sold by Stevens/Mechtric.
Preferably, the gellan gum is at least about 0.5% of the total weight of the composition. More preferably, the gellan gum ranges from about 2% to about 15% of the total weight of the composition. Even more preferably, the gellan gum ranges from about 2%
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP
Ghali Isis
L'Oreal (S.A.)
Page Thurman K.
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