Patent Application
20240228403
The present invention relates to a principle for formulating compositions for defensive and/or protective use based on capsaicinoids of natural and/or synthetic origin, in particular based on capsaicin, and/or where appropriate, by possible extension, another analogous active product such as a vanilloid, as well as to a set of devices for producing and/or projecting such compositions and to methods for producing and preparing these compositions.
Capsaicinoids are a family of compounds related to capsaicin. Natural capsaicinoids are active ingredients extracted from the pepper plant (capsicum) and comprise in particular capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide), dihydrocapsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillylnonamide), nordihydrocapsaicin (7-methyl-N-vanillyloctamide), homodihydrocapsaicin (9-methyl-N-vanillyldecamide) or homocapsaicin (trans-9-methyl-N-vanillyl-7-decenamide). There are also synthetic capsaicinoids, such as nonivamide (N-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)nonanamide).
The use of capsaicin as an incapacitating substance is well known, particularly in the form of capsicum oleoresin, especially in defensive situations when attacked by a person or an animal, due to its irritating effect on the eyes, as well as on the respiratory and lacrimal tracts.
It is best known for its use as an aerosol or spray device, commonly known as “pepper spray”. In such a device, capsaicin is usually formulated in the form of oleoresin. This formulation requires a high concentration of the active ingredient capsaicin, contained in an oleoresin, to achieve an acceptable incapacitating effect. This high concentration entails a potential risk of side effects for the person(s) concerned.
In the current chain of manufacture and use of capsaicinoid-based compositions, one or more compounds comprising capsaicinoids, such as capsicum oleoresin, is mixed with at least one or more solvents, such as the mixture propylene glycerol dicaprylate/caprate-glycerol tris (2-hethylhexanoate). A propellant gas, such as carbon dioxide in the case of pepper bombs, can be added to this mixture.
However, this method has the disadvantage of producing compositions with a high concentration of capsaicinoids. The use of such relatively concentrated compositions is likely to cause serious eye damage, skin and respiratory sensitisation, skin irritation and have harmful effects if swallowed. Also, the use of compounds such as capsicum oleoresin as a source of capsaicinoids makes it difficult to optimally control the concentration of capsaicinoids to be incorporated into incapacitating compositions. This is due to the mixture of capsaicinoids with natural oils in these compounds.
There are also other known uses for capsaicinoids in fields of application other than defence and protection, but none of them describes or suggests methods of implementation that can be transposed to the field of defence and protection.
In the medical field, patent document US20060100287A1 (Okajima et al) describes the principle of adding capsaicinoids, capsinoids and/or synthetic capsaicin to obtain insulin-like growth factor-1 secretagogues for external topical application, for example in cream form. According to this document, such a secretagogue may also comprise one or more surfactants, for example polyoxyethylene castor oil and/or polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil. Clearly, however, these compositions are in no way intended or suitable for use in the atmosphere, as a defensive aerosol or the like, as the concentrations required for the intended medical use correspond to toxic or even lethal levels in the event of atmospheric spraying and impregnation of delicate human tissue (eyes, etc.) and absorption via the bronchi.
A composite seed treatment agent described in Chinese patent CN101720775A (Univ Shanghai Eng Science) is also known, in particular in the form of a composition comprising carbosulphane, capsaicin and a surfactant which may be castor oil, a polyoxyethylene ether of castor oil or a condensate of hydrogenated castor oil and ethylene oxide. Apart from the fact that the concentrations of capsaicin prescribed for the use of this plant would represent a real danger to humans, there is little to be learned from this document about transposition to the field of protective atmospheric use.
Lastly, capsaicin has several known uses as a rodent repellent (anti-squirrel compositions in patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,977B1 Boyce), or as an insecticide (ant or termite repellent in patent documents US20010032413A1 and US20120252900A1 by the same inventor Neumann). In the case of rodent repellent, the recommended composition contains 2 to 5% habanero chilli extract mixed with castor oil and vinegar. Used as an atmospheric agent, this composition is said to cause serious and irreversible lesions in humans, and may even be lethal. In the case of insecticides, the explicit lethal intent discourages any transposition to human use, regardless of the unsuitability of the compositions under consideration: the Neumann documents only incidentally mention capsaicin as a repellent agent in an oil base and/or various diluents, possibly with an adhesive polymer added. Furthermore, patent document US20010032413A1 explicitly states that atmospheric use is avoided and even proscribed, the document taking care to specify that the objective of eliminating ants and termites, particularly in residential and commercial environments, is achieved by using a composition that, “when applied, does not splash and leak, does not generate vapours with temperature, mists or sprays”.
One of the objectives of the invention was therefore to shift the problem and devise solutions adapted to the needs of atmospheric use of compositions including capsaicin/capsaicinoid (and/or, where appropriate, analogues such as vanilloids) compatible with defensive and protection techniques, typically in the field of public safety and law enforcement.
Another aim of the invention was to devise stages, and even a chain of manufacture and use, which avoid the various disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, such a chain allows better control of the composition at its various stages, and has advantages in terms of control, economy of resources, flexibility and ease of use, and risk control.
The invention thus meets a real need to develop compositions comprising at least one compound from the capsaicinoid family as an active principle, such as capsaicin, and which do not have the disadvantages mentioned above, i.e. by breaking away from the contradictory and dissuasive lessons drawn from current uses of capsaicin in fields other than public safety, by creatively resolving the impasses preventing operational solutions for defence and protection, by rethinking the entire chain of manufacture and use of suitable compositions, in order to make it possible in particular to obtain a controlled incapacitating effect from these compositions in specific modes of use, typically in a defence situation using a low concentration of capsaicin, without side effects for the person or persons targeted.
The aim was also to find a way of handling the active ingredient in a vehicle or manufacturing, storage and use vehicle, method or device that would allow this control of concentration and use.
The invention is therefore responding to a need to develop compositions comprising at least one compound from the capsaicinoid family in which the concentration of said compound is controlled in an improved manner compared with compositions of the prior art, this composition being obtained from active products originating either from a natural source or even, in certain conditions, from a synthetic process, the product of natural origin being able to include other substances.
The invention is the result of a combination of several discoveries or insights.
Firstly, the entire method of using the active product and even manufacturing this active product has been reconsidered, and a concept of “de-oiling” the basic natural compounds has been invented, in order to better control the concentration of compositions used by “re-oiling” them in a controlled way. On this occasion, it has been discovered surprisingly that de-oiling and re-oiling enable water-soluble compositions to be obtained at the end of the process, but only on condition that concentration thresholds are respected at the time of de-oiling and/or re-oiling. For example, it is only under special conditions that the combination of at least one compound from the capsaicinoid family, in particular capsaicin, whether in oleoresin form or even in powder form, with at least one water-soluble oil, in particular castor oil or, even better, some of its derivatives, makes it possible to achieve the objectives set out above. Furthermore, if these conditions are met, this particular combination makes it possible to obtain a composition with a high temporary incapacitating action with a low capsaicin concentration. This particular combination significantly reduces the risk of side-effects for the individual(s) concerned.
Even if the invention is not limited to the use of castor oil—or better still, certain of its derivatives—as a diluting agent, such a combination also has the advantage of allowing improved solubilisation of the compound(s) of the capsaicinoid family in the composition. Castor oil, or more precisely some of its derivatives, is more effective at solubilising capsaicinoids than oils naturally associated with such compounds, such as the oil present in capsicum oleoresin. The presence of this water-soluble oil also makes it easy to incorporate capsaicinoids into aqueous solutions or compositions, in particular controlled small quantities of pure capsaicin powder.
Other re-oiling agents, including controlled re-oiling with the natural oil of capsaicin oleoresin, unrefined or reprocessed (in particular to make it water-soluble at least in certain conditions), are also likely to fall within the scope of the present invention, provided that the concentration thresholds allowing solubility are established, which is within the reach of the person skilled in the art on the basis of the description of the present invention.
In addition, it was decided to generalise the consequences of this discovery in terms of the method, in order to devise methods of manufacturing and using capsaicinoid-based compositions for defensive and/or protective use that are particularly well suited to this ability to handle this active principle in a precisely diluted and dosed form, using method steps that allow greater control of the active product amount.
Finally, it is possible to extend the principle and methods of the invention to analogues of capsaicinoids, such as terminated compounds (such as vanillyl terminations) capable of stimulating vanilloid receptors in humans.
The present invention also covers atmospheric spraying/projecting or vectorisation devices that are particularly well suited to the use of compositions with a controlled concentration of active product as obtained within the scope of the present invention.
More specifically, the invention relates to a family of repellent and/or incapacitating fluid compositions for defensive and/or protective use, of the type containing one or more repellent and/or incapacitating agents including capsaicinoids and/or vanilloids, each composition according to the invention being constituted in such a way that it can be formulated in two successive formulations:
Preferably, said diluent solution comprises some or all of the diluent compounds from a group comprising water and oily diluents selected such that they are water-soluble when said composition is in said second formulation.
Advantageously, said oily diluents belong to the group comprising castor oil, sulphated castor oil, ethoxylated castor oil, hydrogenated castor oil optionally ethoxylated, more preferably ethoxylated castor oil, and even more preferably PEG 40 ethoxylated castor oil.
Advantageously, the amount of said diluent solution ranges from 0.00005 to 95% by weight, preferably from 0.00005 to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition and/or the weight ratio between the amount of said diluent solution and the amount of the capsaicinoid(s) ranges from 5 to 32, preferably from 5 to 20, more preferably from 5 to 15, even more preferably from 5 to 10.
According to one variant of the invention, said second final capsaicinoid amount 2 of said composition in the second use formulation is equivalent to the first storage capsaicinoid amount 1 of said composition.
According to another object, the invention proposes a storage and use fluid composition, for defensive and/or protective use, comprising:
Such a composition for storage and use advantageously has a low concentration of capsaicinoids, and therefore avoids dangerous or lethal side effects for the person or persons targeted by this composition. Also, the capsaicinoids present in such a composition have good aqueous solubility, due to their mixture with water-soluble oils.
In one embodiment, all or some of the capsaicinoids present in such a composition are replaced by at least one compound from the vanilloid family, other than capsaicin, selected for example from resiniferatoxin and tinyatoxin.
These compounds from the vanilloid family are analogues of capsaicin. They are involved in the activation of sensory nerves linked to nociception. When they bind to the vanilloid receptors of such nerves, they cause a significant sensation of irritation. They are also more potent than capsaicin, based on the Scoville scale, which means that much smaller quantities can be incorporated into compositions according to the invention, thereby reducing the toxicity of such compositions.
In another embodiment, before mixing with one or more water-soluble oils, the capsaicinoid(s) is (are) solid, preferably in the form of crystalline and/or amorphous powder.
In this way, the exact concentration of capsaicinoid active ingredients is better controlled compared to the usual integration in irritant compositions of capsaicinoids bound with other compounds, such as oils, as with capsicum oleoresin (capsaicin mixed with oil). This also ensures that the solid capsaicinoids to be incorporated into the compositions according to the invention do not contain impurities which could hinder the formulation of such compositions.
According to one embodiment, the capsaicinoid or capsaicinoids are selected from natural capsaicinoids, comprising capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin, homodihydrocapsaicin and homocapsaicin; and/or synthetic capsaicinoids, comprising nonivamide.
These capsaicinoids, particularly natural capsaicinoids, are well known and readily available for laboratory use.
According to one embodiment, the water-soluble oil or oils ii) are selected from castor oil, sulphated castor oil, ethoxylated castor oil, optionally ethoxylated hydrogenated castor oil and mixtures thereof, preferably from sulphated castor oil, ethoxylated castor oil and mixtures thereof, more preferably water-soluble oil ii) is ethoxylated castor oil, and even more preferably water-soluble oil ii) is PEG 40 ethoxylated castor oil.
Castor oil, or more precisely some of its derivatives, are water-soluble. After being brought into contact with the water-insoluble capsaicinoid active ingredient(s), such oils enable the capsaicinoids to be solubilised in the irritant compositions according to the invention when water is added to this castor oil/capsaicinoid mixture, in order to prepare compositions for use. These oils are also well-known and easily accessible, and they are safe to handle.
According to one particular embodiment, the amount of water-soluble oil(s) ii) ranges from 0.00005 to 95% by weight, preferably from 0.00005 to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
According to one particular embodiment, the weight ratio between the amount of water-soluble oil(s) ii) and the amount of capsaicinoid(s) i) ranges from 5 to 32, preferably from 5 to 20, more preferably from 5 to 15, even more preferably from 5 to 10.
Together, these amounts make it possible to formulate homogeneous irritant compositions according to the invention, and in particular to solubilise the capsaicinoids optimally in these aqueous compositions.
According to another embodiment, a storage and use composition according to the invention comprises one or more foaming agents, other than water-soluble oils ii) and solvents iii), preferably selected from surfactants.
In another embodiment, the foaming agent(s) are present in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 6% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
The presence of such foaming agents in the compositions according to the invention, in the proposed amounts, makes it possible to formulate the latter as foams, which foams have characteristics that enable them to implement the invention.
According to another embodiment, a storage and use composition according to the invention comprises one or more thickening agents.
According to another embodiment, the thickening agent(s) are present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
The presence of such thickening agents in the compositions according to the invention, in the proposed amounts, makes it possible to formulate the latter in a form which causes these compositions to hold in place, such as in the form of a foam or mist (to form a sort of atmospheric cloud, all the more stable as it is formed in a semi-enclosed or enclosed space or area) or even, for example, a gel (more suitable for spreading over a targeted surface).
In another embodiment, a storage and use composition according to the invention is in liquid, foam, mist, gel, paste or smoke form.
Thus, the compositions used according to the invention can advantageously be formulated in various forms, adapted to very specific uses, which may depend in particular on the location to be defended, the individuals to be controlled or the level of danger at this location.
According to a particular embodiment, when a storage and use composition according to the invention is in the form of a foam, a mist or a smoke, it is configured to occupy at least in part a predetermined space, this predetermined space corresponding to an open space or a closed space such as a room, this predetermined space being located outside or inside a building or an enclosed area.
The formulation of compositions according to the invention in such forms enables them to protect a predetermined space permanently, compared with compositions in liquid form. In fact, it can be considered that a composition in the form of a foam or gel stays in place and holds longer than a liquid. The advantage of this is that the protected area and the way in which the projected composition will protect this area can be correctly visualised. It can then be determined whether there is a need to project additional composition in certain areas of this area to be defended/protected.
If the composition is in the form and/or consistency of a liquid, gel or paste, it will advantageously be projected/sprayed so as to “extend” and/or spread over a targeted surface.
According to another object, the invention proposes a storage concentrated fluid composition, for defensive and/or protective use, for the manufacture of a storage and use composition as described above, comprising one or more capsaicinoids present in a so-called concentrated amount 1, and one or more water-soluble oils.
The concentrated storage amount 1 may, for example, be based on one of the following two approaches, corresponding to two possible concentrated storage methods.
According to a first storage method maximising the level of active product, the stored composition will result from mixing capsaicin alone—or another capsaicinoid according to the invention—with castor oil or one of its derivatives according to the invention. In this case, capsaicin levels of up to 62 to 64% (depending on the quality of the oil(s)) can be obtained for a sulphated castor oil blend without water or aqueous compounds (or any other compounds), and up to 42 to 44% for an ethoxylated castor oil blend under the same conditions. Above these levels of capsaicin in the oil, the mixture tends to precipitate in the oil. In addition, these mixtures do not accept the addition of water or an aqueous compound without creating two-phase or multi-phase elements. To add water or an aqueous compound, it would be necessary to begin by reducing the level of active product in the oil, and therefore—in other words—increasing the level of oil in the compound. In other words, this storage method is particularly well suited to circumstances in which it is desired to stord—and if necessary transport—quantities of active product in a reduced volume, and therefore high concentration. In a final storage location where volume is less of an issue, but where too high a concentration may be seen as a problem, or for other reasons, the storage concentration can then be reduced, for example to the level of the dilutable concentration, corresponding to the second storage method described below.
According to a second directly “dilutable” storage method, lower capsaicin/capsaicinoid amounts are selected, so that the stored composition is compatible with a subsequent operation of adding, for example, any quantity of diluent, that the diluent is either aqueous (typically, for example, mains water, spring water, or even seawater where appropriate) or miscible oily (typically castor oil, its derivatives, or other oily compounds miscible with castor oil or its derivatives). In this second concentrated storage method, the level of capsaicin in the oil will typically be 9 to 10% (depending on the quality of the oil) for a mixture in sulphated castor oil, and 19 to 20% for a mixture in ethoxylated castor oil.
Such a storage concentrated composition is an intermediate composition, which makes it easy to generate the final use composition, with amount 2. It offers the same advantages as this end-use composition. By starting from such a concentrated composition to formulate the final composition, manufacturing costs are reduced, since the manufacturing method for such a concentrated composition comprises fewer steps. This also makes it possible to reduce storage costs, since in such a configuration it may be sufficient to store the concentrated composition, which will be diluted and transformed into the final composition of use at the site of projecting/defence, and which therefore represents a smaller volume. This intermediate concentrated composition is also easy to handle and can be incorporated into a spray/projection device, within which the final composition for use can be prepared directly. The logistics involved in transporting this composition, concentrated at the spraying site, are therefore improved.
According to yet another object, the present invention proposes a method for preparing a storage and use fluid composition, with a capsaicinoid amount 2, for defensive and/or protective use, comprising the following steps:
This method can be implemented relatively easily, using well-known and widely used techniques. It proposes two ways of obtaining the active ingredient capsaicinoids, depending on the resources available to the formulator.
According to one embodiment, this method also comprises a step of adding at least one compound selected from chemical markers, biological markers, dye markers and fluorescent markers, so that the composition for storage and use can also be used to mark at least one sensitive area.
This addition of at least one marker makes it possible, for example, to mark a targeted surface or an individual.
According to another embodiment, said at least one compound of the capsaicinoid family results from a purification method enabling the natural amount of capsicum oleoresin to be increased above 30%, and preferably above 75 to 85% (via extraction methods, for example). In other words, according to a preferred feature of the invention, which makes it possible to aim for a concentrated, or even very concentrated, storage, the said at least one compound of the capsaicinoid family is a capsaicin with a purity that is equal to or greater than 85%, preferably greater than 90%, even more preferably greater than 95%, and even more preferably greater than 98%. The higher the level of purity, the higher the cost of the product and/or method.
The higher the concentration, the greater the accuracy of the level of active product. This will make it possible to control the usage amount more precisely, both in terms of the effectiveness of the product used and the savings in active product.
This high degree of purity of capsaicin allows good control of its concentration in the compositions according to the invention.
According to yet another embodiment, this method also comprises a step of adding at least one incapacitating active compound belonging to a family other than capsaicinoids.
Adding compounds from different families/groups gives the composition complementary incapacitating actions. For example, one incapacitating compound may have a targeted action of eye irritation, while another incapacitating compound may act primarily on the respiratory tract.
According to yet another object, the invention proposes a method for preparing a storage concentrated fluid composition, with a capsaicinoid amount 1, as previously described, for defensive and/or protective use, comprising the following steps:
This method, which makes it possible to obtain a concentrated composition, intermediate to the final composition for use, has the same advantages as the method allowing the direct preparation of this final composition for use. Moreover, it is more economical as it involves fewer steps.
According to yet another object, the invention proposes a production and/or projection device of a storage and use fluid composition, with an amount 2 of capsaicinoids, as described above, for defensive and/or protective use, this composition being intended to protect a sensitive area and/or to impact a targeted surface, this device comprising:
This type of device makes it easy to project the composition of use at the site to be defended/protected, due in part to its portability.
According to another embodiment, this device further comprises all or some of the following means, namely:
Such a configuration provides a device capable of easily producing a ready-to-use composition from a concentrated composition. Transporting such a concentrated composition to the area to be defended/protected is easier than transporting the composition for use, which logically has a larger volume. It is also possible for the user of the device to dispense with the need to transport the diluting agent to the area to be protected, such as water. This can be practical in certain situations, such as when you need to move around a lot to manage a situation, or when you need a large quantity of use composition.
According to one embodiment, this device is configured to project a storage or use composition with amount 2 capsaicinoids, in the form of a liquid, gel, foam or paste.
In another embodiment, this device is configured to project a storage or use composition with amount 2 capsaicinoids, in the form of a smoke or mist.
Such a device has the advantage of being able to produce and/or project various shapes of the use composition.
According to a particular embodiment, the sensitive area in which the composition is projected consists of:
This device is therefore advantageously suitable for projecting the composition for use over a wide range of distances.
According to another embodiment, this device also comprises at least one means for receiving at least one removable cartridge, capable of containing at least one diluting agent or a storage concentrated fluid composition or a storage and use fluid composition, it being possible for these compositions to comprise variable amounts of capsaicinoids. The principle of providing the possibility of equipping the projecting device with means for receiving removable cartridges is also advantageous for receiving cartridges of projecting fluid, in particular gas, the propulsion energy of the projected composition.
This configuration enables the device to be refilled with ready-to-use composition, or components thereof, at any time when the device runs out of one or other of these elements. It also offers the possibility of refilling the device with a more or less concentrated composition for use: the device can receive different cartridges, each comprising a composition for use with an increasing concentration of capsaicinoids, as the danger in the area to be defended increases.
The invention also relates to an operational production method for the manufacture of capsaicinoid and/or vanilloid-based fluid compositions, with a view to their use for defensive and/or protective purposes, comprising:
This operational production method according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a composition for use which has a high but temporary incapacitating action, which composition has a lower capsaicinoid concentration than in the prior art. The use of water-soluble oils, in particular castor oil and especially some of its derivatives, in the concentrated composition for storage and in the composition for storage and use also has the advantage of allowing better solubilisation of the capsaicinoid(s) in an aqueous medium.
In addition, the composition for storage and use has reduced risks of side effects compared with a mixture comprising a higher mass concentration of capsaicinoids or capsaicin.
The low capsaicinoid amount also makes it easier and less risky to handle and use the capsaicin or capsaicinoid molecules and the mixture during the various method stages.
According to one embodiment, the final capsaicinoid amount 2 of the storage and use composition is equivalent to the capsaicinoid amount 1 of the storage concentrated composition.
Indeed, it is possible not to separate in time the stages of manufacturing a concentrated composition and manufacturing a ready-to-use composition. The fluid composition for storage and use of amount 2 can be prepared directly in a factory.
According to another embodiment, the operational production method further comprises a third step of projecting the storage and use composition, in which step the final capsaicinoid amount 2 of the storage and use composition is adjustable using a projecting device.
Advantageously, this step makes it possible to adjust the amount 2 locally, depending on the evolution of the danger in the area to be protected/defended. The fact that this amount adjustment can be made via the projecting device itself is easy to implement.
Other aims, features and advantages of the invention will become clearer on reading the following description, which is given by way of a simple illustrative and non-limiting example, in relation to the figures, including:
In the following, and unless otherwise indicated, the limits of a range of values are included in this range, in particular in the expressions “between” and “ranging from . . . to . . . ”.
Furthermore, the term “at least one” used in this description is equivalent to the term “one or more”.
The general principle of the invention is based on a new approach to controlling the concentration of active product for the atmospheric projecting of compositions based on capcaicin or equivalent.
This improved control of concentration is crucial, as it determines both the effectiveness and the harmlessness (in the sense of absence of danger) of its use in terms of public safety.
It is also a factor in economising on active ingredients, and a means of regulating the terms and conditions of use depending on the circumstances, since adjusting the concentration of active ingredient can affect both the instant effectiveness and the duration of effectiveness.
As already mentioned, this control is achieved according to the invention on at least two levels:
It should be noted that the invention thus makes it possible, for example, to store the active product in reserves at hyper-concentrated strengths, then to dilute them subsequently as use approaches, for example to store them in merely partially deconcentrated form in cartridges intended to be mounted on projecting devices, before projecting them into formulations with an appropriate active product amount according to the desired use. As mentioned above, it may be necessary to “re-oil” the composition during the deconcentration method, so as to keep it within the water-solubility ranges required for the dilutions to be made for the final use, without any risk of precipitation.
As already mentioned, the general principle of the invention is thus based in particular on an operational production method 10, as illustrated in
The first concentrated composition is not configured to be used as it is for defensive purposes and/or to protect a sensitive area. Its concentration of capsaicinoids, in the water-soluble version, is less than or equal to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition. However, for a capsaicinoid concentration greater than or equal to 0.1%, a composition is considered to be acutely toxic, and for a capsaicinoid concentration greater than or equal to 1%, a composition is considered to cause skin corrosion/irritation and irritation/serious eye damage. It is therefore necessary to dilute this first concentrated composition, in order to obtain a second composition, suitable for use as it is to protect and/or defend a sensitive area. This second composition for storage and use has a capsaicinoid concentration of less than or equal to 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. Such a diluted composition is therefore not considered to be dangerous/lethal.
According to a particular embodiment, these two steps 11 and 12 are not necessarily separate, in the sense that the concentrated composition for storage may not be stored as an intermediate. Such a method may very well result in the direct formulation of the usable composition at its target capsaicinoid concentration.
Advantageously, the method according to the invention also includes an additional step 13, in which the composition for storage and use is projected using a fixed or portable device. During this third projecting step 13, the capsaicinoid amount of the projected composition can be selected, set and adjusted within the device used for projecting, or just before it is inserted into this device, but always at the projecting site. This latter implementation ensures that the device's main reservoir is not contaminated with an active substance. This also makes it possible to adjust the concentration of capsaicinoids in the composition of use by means of a dosing system according to requirements at a given time “t”. For example, a very low dosage of capsaicinoids can be selected for a very short duration of effect at the start of an intervention, then a higher concentration of capsaicinoids can be used if there is a proven need, depending on how dangerous the situation becomes.
The composition for storage and use according to the invention comprises one or more capsaicinoids i), in a amount of less than or equal to 2% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
The capsaicinoids which can be used in the invention may be selected from natural capsaicinoids, such as capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide), dihydrocapsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillylnonamide), nordihydrocapsaicin (7-methyl-N-vanillyloctamide), homodihydrocapsaicin (9-methyl-N-vanillyldecamide), homocapsaicin (trans-9-methyl-N-vanillyl-7-decenamide) and mixtures thereof, or synthetic capsaicinoids, such as nonivamide (N-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)nonanamide).
According to a first variant, the capsaicinoid(s) are solid, preferably in the form of crystalline and/or amorphous powder.
By incorporating pure, solid, natural or synthetic capsaicinoids into the composition of use according to the invention, the exact purity of the active ingredient is known. For example, if the compound used is capsaicin, its purity is equal to or greater than 85%. This makes it possible to control the concentration of capsaicinoids in the composition for use, and therefore to control the strength and duration of the incapacitating effect of the composition. Such control is greatly improved compared with the known use of capsicum oleoresin as an incapacitating substance in such compositions. The amount of capsaicinoids in the capsicum oleoresin can vary significantly from one batch of chillies to another. Moreover, this substance contains capsaicinoids mixed with oils, making the exact dosage of the amount of capsaicinoids more complex.
According to a second variant, the capsaicinoid-based active product or products used result from an at least partial de-oiling treatment of capsaicin oleoresins.
According to this second variant, the approach consists in making the effect of the capsaicin molecule more effective by removing all or part of the natural oil of the capsaicin oleoresin, commonly used, and obtained by purification and extraction of the fruits of the chilli, then by re-oiling it with a hydrophilic solution, advantageously a water-soluble oily solution in the desired amounts.
According to an advantageous method implementing this variant, the capsaicin oleoresin is purified by extraction, then incorporated by “dissolution” with a high degree of purity, which the person skilled in the art and/or the user can choose as already mentioned, in a castor oil modified to allow its incorporation without precipitation. Preferably, the castor oil should be ethoxylated or sulphated or, to a lesser extent, ethoxylated and hydrogenated, as natural castor oil does not allow the capsaicin to be incorporated and is then soluble in water.
Extraction processes may be, for example, hydro-distillation or dry steam distillation processes (involving volatile compounds which would be sensitive to chemical reactions during exchanges in water), extraction processes using volatile solvents (typically polar or apolar organic solvents (hexane, ethanol, methanol) with a high solubilisation power), or supercritical CO2 extraction processes (using, for example, cold CO2 (31° c.) under vacuum to dissolve organic compounds), or even ultrasound extraction processes, although the list of these processes is not exhaustive.
Preferably, the amount of capsaicinoid(s) i) is less than or equal to 2% by weight, preferably less than or equal to 1% by weight, more preferably less than or equal to 0.1% by weight, even more preferably less than or equal to 0.01% by weight, even more preferably less than or equal to 0.001% by weight, even more preferably less than or equal to 0.0001% by weight, even more preferably less than or equal to 0.00001% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
Indeed, for a capsaicinoid concentration greater than 0.1% by weight, a composition is considered to cause skin corrosion/irritation and irritation/serious eye damage, particularly if its capsaicinoid concentration is greater than 1% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
Also, the incapacitating action of the composition according to the invention is optimal for a capsaicinoid amount of 0.1% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition. Above this amount, the incapacitating efficacy of the composition remains optimal, but does not increase.
In concentrated compositions for storage according to the invention, it is also possible to replace all or part of the capsaicinoid active ingredients by at least one compound from the vanilloid family, other than capsaicin. For example such compounds may be resiniferatoxin or tinyatoxin. These incapacitating compounds, similar to capsaicinoids, bind to receptors of sensory nerves which respond to harmful stimuli, producing a sensation of heat or burning. Their greater irritant power compared with capsaicinoids means that they can be integrated into compositions in smaller quantities, thereby reducing the side effects resulting form the use of such compounds and thus the toxicity of the formulated compositions.
The composition according to the invention also comprises one or more water-soluble oils ii).
Preferably, the water-soluble oil or oils ii) are selected from castor oil, sulphated castor oil, ethoxylated castor oil, optionally ethoxylated hydrogenated castor oil, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the water-soluble oil or oils are selected from sulphated castor oil, ethoxylated castor oil and mixtures thereof. Even more preferably, the water-soluble oil is ethoxylated castor oil. Even more preferably, the water-soluble oil is PEG 40 ethoxylated castor oil.
Water-soluble castor oil enables the compound or compounds of the capsaicinoid family, which are initially insoluble in water, to be solubilised in an aqueous medium. Castor oil gives better results in terms of capsaicinoid solubility than oils naturally associated with such compounds, such as in capsicum oleoresin.
Preferably, the amount of water-soluble oil(s) ii) ranges from 0.00005 to 95% by weight, more preferably from 0.00005 to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
Advantageously, the weight ratio between the amount of water-soluble oil(s) ii) and the amount of capsaicinoid(s) i) ranges from 5 to 32, preferably from 5 to 20, more preferably from 5 to 15, still more preferably from 5 to 10.
In a particular embodiment, the weight ratio between the amount of castor oil and the amount of the capsaicinoid(s) i) ranges from 5 to 30, preferably from 5 to 20, more preferably from 5 to 15, still more preferably from 5 to 10.
In another particular embodiment, the weight ratio between the amount of ethoxylated castor oil and the amount of the capsaicinoid(s) i) ranges from 5 to 30, preferably from 5 to 20, more preferably from 5 to 15, still more preferably from 5 to 10.
In yet another particular embodiment, the weight ratio between the amount of sulphated castor oil and the amount of capsaicinoid(s) i) ranges from 9 to 30, preferably from 9 to 20, more preferably from 9 to 15, still more preferably from 9 to 10.
Preferably, the amount of castor oil ranges from 5 to 10 times the amount of capsaicinoids, i.e. from 0.00005% to 1% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
Preferably, the amount of ethoxylated castor oil is at least 5 times the amount of capsaicinoids, i.e. from 0.00005% to 0.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
Preferably, the amount of sulphated castor oil is at least 9 times the amount of capsaicinoids, i.e. from 0.00009% to 0.9% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
The composition according to the invention may optionally additionally comprise one or more dilution additives iii) selected from water, water-soluble oils, and mixtures thereof.
The addition of one or more diluting agents makes it possible in particular to dilute the first concentrated composition for storage to obtain the second composition for storage and use, suitable for use to protect/defend a sensitive area.
The composition according to the invention may optionally also comprise one or more foaming agents, other than water-soluble oils ii), preferably selected from surfactants.
Advantageously, when they are present in the composition according to the invention, the foaming agent(s) selected from surfactants may be selected from those with a protein base obtained by hydrolysis of animal or vegetable proteins, or those with a synthetic base from the chemical industry, or any molecule capable of generating a foam.
The surfactant(s) are preferably be selected from ionic surfactants and non-ionic surfactants. Preferably, the surfactants are selected from surfactants with foaming power that have the least possible irritating or corrosive effect on the eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Examples are anionic surfactants, such as sodium cocoyl isethionate, or non-ionic surfactants, such as decyl glucoside, n-hexadecanol (cetyl alcohol) or potassium laurate.
Mixtures of different types of surfactant (non-ionic, anionic, cationic, amphoteric) are possible depending on the characteristics of the foam desired, particularly in terms of:
Preference should be given to foaming agents with low irritation to the eyes and mucous membranes.
Advantageously, the foaming agent(s) are present in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 6% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
Advantageously, the surfactant(s) are present in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 6% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
The composition according to the invention may optionally also comprise one or more thickening agents.
Examples of thickening agents that can be used in the present invention include xanthan gum or gum arabic.
Advantageously, the thickening agent(s) is/are present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
In a preferred embodiment, when they are present, the thickening agent(s) are selected from gelling agents.
Advantageously, the thickening agent(s) selected from gelling agents are present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
The composition according to the invention may optionally also comprise one or more additional incapacitating agents, not belonging to the capsaicinoid family.
Advantageously, the additional incapacitating agent(s) are selected from a list including chlorobenzylidene malonitrile (CS), chloroacetophenone (CN), bromobenzyl cyanide (CA) and dibenzoxazepine (CR). Preferably, an additional incapacitating agent is chlorobenzylidene malonitrile. This compound is generally used as tear gas during public order disturbances. Its incapacitating action has an effect on an individual's bronchi, complementing the incapacitating action of capsaicin, which mainly has an effect on the eyes at the doses used.
Such an additional agent may also be a compound of the vanilloid family, other than capsaicin, such as resiniferatoxin and tinyatoxin. Such an additional agent may also be a compound from the monoterpene family, such as menthol. Used as additional incapacitating agents, these compounds can advantageously be incorporated into the composition according to the invention in small quantities, reducing the toxicity of the composition.
The composition according to the invention may optionally also comprise one or more markers, such as visual, chemical and/or biological markers.
As visual markers, dyes can be used, such as those with a high solubility in the dilution additive, preferably water, and high chemical stability. Methylene blue, Eosin Y (red), Rhodamine WT (red), Falavine FF of Lissamine (yellow), as well as food dyes, such as Patent Blue V [E 131], Azorubine [E 122] (red) and Quinoline yellow [E 104] (yellow), are preferred.
Fluorescent products can also be used as visual markers, such as zinc sulphide, wurtzite, with the basic formula ZnS associated with a heavy metal, scheelite (CaW04), or another alkaline or alkaline-earth sulphide such as CaS, for example.
As chemical and/or biological markers, in particular synthetic DNA can be used consisting of a sequence of the four nucleic acids of which it is composed: adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine.
The concentrated composition for storage according to the invention comprises one or more capsaicinoids i), in a amount less than or equal to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
This concentration of 20% by weight capsaicinoids, relative to the total weight of the composition, corresponds to the maximum concentration which makes it possible to obtain and maintain a homogeneous composition, without the precipitation of capsaicin, when the diluting agent is added, in order to obtain the final use composition.
In particular, it has been determined that the maximum concentration of capsaicin in a concentrated composition comprising ethoxylated castor oil must be between 18 and 20% by weight, and that of ethoxylated castor oil between 80 and 82% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, as shown in table 1 below. Above this concentration range, when the diluting agent, in particular water, is added, the capsaicin precipitates and the final mixture is not homogeneous.
Similarly, it has been determined that the maximum concentration of capsaicin in a concentrated composition comprising sulphated castor oil should be between 8 and 10% by weight, and that of sulphated castor oil between 90 and 92% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
It has also been determined that, in the case of formulations based solely on capsaicin and castor oil, not intended to receive water, the maximum concentration of capsaicin may be between 42 and 44% by weight, and that of ethoxylated castor oil between 56 and 58% by weight, relative to the total weight of the formulation, as shown in table 2 below. In this concentration range, capsaicin precipitates when water is added.
At the same time, the maximum concentration of capsaicin in such a concentrated formulation comprising sulphated castor oil may be between 62 and 64% by weight, and that of sulphated castor oil between 36 and 38% by weight, relative to the total weight of the formulation.
It can thus be seen that the presence of water reduces the maximum possible concentration for capsaicin compared with castor oils, in different proportions depending on the type of oil. Beyond this range of relative concentrations of capsaicin and castor oil, capsaicin precipitates when water is added.
The capsaicinoids used in such a concentrated composition for storage are the same as those described for the storage and use composition.
This composition also comprises one or more water-soluble oils ii), such as those mentioned for the storage and use composition.
The composition for use according to the invention can be used in various forms. In particular, it may be in the form of liquid, foam, mist, gel, paste or smoke.
According to a first particular embodiment, the composition according to the invention can be projected/sprayed, for example in the form of a jet of variable shape. It may be in liquid form.
According to a second particular embodiment, the composition according to the invention can be sprayed with nozzles. It can be in the form of droplets or mist.
According to a third particular embodiment, the composition according to the invention can be used in a machine of the “smoke” type, by vaporisation or atomisation. It can therefore be in the form of a water and/or oil mist.
According to a fourth particular embodiment, the composition according to the invention can be used in the form of a foam. In this embodiment, the composition according to the invention preferably also comprises one or more foaming or texturing agents as defined above. The choice of foaming agent can be made according to the desired application for the foam produced. Here, the foam generated can be projected or fill a space. The choice of the desired expansion coefficient for such a foam therefore depends on the mode of use of the device which produces and/or projects the foam, the place where the foam is generated and its composition. In particular, in the case of projecting, the foam will have a low expansion coefficient of less than 100 litres of foam per litre of liquid used to generate it, preferably between 2 and 30 litres of foam per litre of liquid. When filling a space, the aim is to achieve a high foam expansion rate, preferably greater than 300 litres of foam per litre of liquid used to generate it, more preferably greater than 600 litres of foam per litre of liquid, even more preferably more than 1000 litres of foam per litre of liquid used to generate it.
According to a fifth particular embodiment, the composition according to the invention can be used in gel form. In this embodiment, the composition according to the invention preferably additionally comprises one or more thickening or gelling agents as defined above.
According to a sixth particular embodiment, the composition according to the invention can be conveyed by a sudden variation in pressure by pyrotechnic explosionor by release of compressed gas in a hand-held projector or gun, cannon or grenade (direct projecting with almost instantaneous effect and/or mist in suspension with longer action and more or less slow fall-out).
According to a seventh particular embodiment, the composition according to the invention can be used in a smoke generator. It can therefore take the form of a smoke of varying thickness or opacity.
The composition for use according to the invention can be used both outside and inside a building, as well as on or in a vehicle.
The composition according to the invention can be used, among other things, to protect individuals and sensitive terrestrial buildings such as crisis management stations, logistics hubs, data processing centres, prisons, communications centres, and all types of neuralgic points and points of vital interest at regional and/or national level, and/or isolated points (wind turbines, lighthouses, aircraft, trains, command posts, jewellers, banks, government establishments, etc.).
The composition can be projected by a device which can also protect and be on mobile elements such as ships of all sizes but also floating or fixed buildings such as platforms, surface or underwater drones, barges, water turbines, dams, vehicles for transporting equipment/denrées/personnel, VIP vehicles, convoys, vehicles for transferring funds or valuables or for judicial transfers, vehicles on wheels, tracks or rails, terrestrial drones, and manned or unmanned aircraft.
The composition according to the invention can be projected into a sensitive zone situated locally, i.e. at the point of use of the device for producing and/or projecting the composition, for example between 0 and 2 m. It can also be projected into a proximal area, for example situated between 2 and 15 metres from the place of use of the device. It can also be projected into a median area, situated for example between 15 and 50 metres from the place where the device is used. Finally, it can be projected into a distant area, situated, for example, more than 50 metres from the place where the device is used.
The composition according to the invention can be used both in an enclosed space and in an open area.
The composition according to the invention can be invasive and/or have a good hold and/or be very adherent, and allow the occupation of a large space, in particular when it is in the form of foam, smoke or mist. In this case, it remains localised in the area to be protected and/or marked. In addition, it is generally resistant to wind action. When it is in the form of foam, gel or paste, it visually delimits the areas where the incapacitating product(s) is (are) projected, unlike charged smoke or mist.
Finally, the composition in foam form can be durable over time and be stable from a few minutes to a few hours or several tens of hours, depending on the nature and amount of the surfactant(s) selected. The same applies to the mist, depending on the size of the droplets.
According to a first implementation of this method, it is possible to extract the capsaicinoids to be incorporated into the compositions according to the invention directly from chillies in a factory. To do this, according to step 21, an oil containing capsaicinoids is first extracted from oleoresin capsicum (from the chilli pepper) or directly from crushed chilli peppers. Then the capsaicinoids are extracted from this extracted oil (concentrated capsicum oleoresin), in step 22. The capsaicinoids are then obtained in solid form (step 23).
It is also possible, in a separate method, to use solid capsaicinoids directly, which have previously been extracted outside the factory (step 24).
Next, in step 25, these solid capsaicinoids are mixed with water-soluble oil. At this stage, the first concentrated composition for storage (CCS) is obtained, with a capsaicinoid amount 1, which comprises capsaicinoids and water-soluble oil in optimum concentrations so that there is no precipitation of the capsaicinoid(s) in the mixture. According to a subsequent step 26, at least one dilution additive, such as water, is added to this CCS composition. The result is the composition for storage and use (CSU), with a capsaicinoid amount 2.
Furthermore, this method may include additional steps 27 for adding at least one additional incapacitating agent, and/or at least one foaming agent, and/or at least one thickening agent, and/or at least one marker. These various additional compounds are as described above in the application.
The invention is also intended to protect devices for producing and/or projecting a composition according to the invention in its final conditions of atmospheric use as a repellent and/or incapacitating composition in defence and/or protection situations related to public safety, or any similar situation.
A first example of such a device 30, as illustrated in
According to a particular embodiment, as illustrated in
This device 30 may also comprise, in place of the additional reservoir suitable for containing the diluting agent, a main inlet 35 of a main pipe connected to an external inlet for the diluting agent, as illustrated in
The liquid/additive dilution inlet may comprise an urban water circuit, with a pump drawing water directly from a natural source, such as sea water, for example. Generally, the liquid/additive dilution inlet is connected to a network under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, which allows the liquid/additive dilution to be moved through the device.
The control system can be manual, semi-automatic or automatic.
The main reservoir 32 and/or the additional reservoir(s) (34, 34′) of the device 30 can be configured to be removable. This enables the operator to refill the device with incapacitating composition at any time, and to be able to adapt the concentration of the composition for storage and use to be sprayed/projected over time, according to the needs associated with the changing situation in the sensitive area. It is therefore possible to load a cartridge 32 containing the ready-to-use composition in a certain concentration into the device 30, then to replace this cartridge 32 with a separate cartridge containing the ready-to-use composition in another concentration, higher, for example, if the area to be protected becomes increasingly sensitive, or conversely, lower if the situation in presents a decreasing threat, all using the same device 30. The more concentrated the concentration, the longer the period of immobilisation of a threatening target in a sensitive area.
It is also possible to load a cartridge 32 containing the concentrated composition for storage into the device 30. The composition for storage and use can be finalised within the device 30 itself, when the concentrated composition for storage is brought into contact with the dilution additive. It is therefore possible, in a first embodiment, to prepare the composition for storage and use ready for use and to fill a removable reservoir 32 with it at the factory or in the laboratory, then to insert it into the device 30, which will then be used only for spraying/projecting the composition onto the site of the sensitive area. It is also possible, according to another embodiment, to prepare the concentrated composition for storage in a factory or laboratory and then insert it into the device 30. The composition according to the dilution for use will then be produced directly at the site of the sensitive area. The device 30 serves as a production and projection device.
A device according to the invention may be fixed or portable. A portable device is particularly well-suited to the two-stage operational manufacturing method (optimum and user-adjustable dosage). A fixed device may be particularly relevant with regard to the removable cartridges that it may comprise.
The invention also covers the use of the active product in question in other types of devices.
To illustrate the potential diversity of uses, a Table of devices and conditions of use in the Appendix lists several examples of such devices depending on the conditions of use, and in particular the nature and consistency of the composition in its various formulations, and the constraints or objectives of projection and/or atmospheric diffusion.
The Table of devices and conditions of use in the Appendix provides indications which can be adjusted by the person skilled in the art as regards:
Droplet jets, misting or pyrotechnic propulsions define water droplet sizes. In the case of a jet of droplets in the air (open or closed space) obtained by aerosol, misting or grenade, the effect will depend on the speed of the jet or droplets, bearing in mind that if the diameter of the droplets is less than 200 microns, the droplets follow Stokes' law for their displacement. Stokes' law states that the speed of fall is inversely proportional to the diameter of the droplet°: a 100 micron droplet will take 3.4 seconds to fall one metre.
If the size of the water droplets is less than 100 microns, or even 20 microns (this limit may depend on the temperature and atmospheric pressure), the droplets will remain suspended in the ambient air for some time (see
The larger the droplet size, the greater the impact on the eyes, but the lower the impact on the respiratory system.
Thus, spraying micro-droplets smaller than 100 microns will have a repulsive effect on the respiratory tract and will cause people to leave the area affected by the airborne solution; this typically achieves what is sought in certain phases of policing, the breaking up or disencirclement of the targeted area, and its evacuation.
On the other hand, when the size of the droplets exceeds 100 microns, they begin to fall towards the ground at a significant speed and behave like ultra-fine to coarse rain for 3000 to 5000 microns. In this case, the respiratory system will no longer be the first to be affected, and the eyes will only be affected if the droplets travel at a speed greater than that of the person.
In this way, the vectoring of 100 micron to 5000 micron jets, droplets or droplets will act on the eyes mainly on the basis of their initial vectoring (before falling to the ground), which will have an incapacitating effect, more conducive to interrupting belligerent or dangerous actions, for an appropriate period of time. In this scenario, in contrast to disencirclement and evacuation, the aim is to keep the targeted individuals in place.
Advantageously, the composition according to the invention is used for its repellent and/or incapacitating action in an atmospheric spraying/projecting application. According to the present invention, a repellent and/or incapacitating action is defined in particular as causing the discomfort and/or temporary incapacitation of a person or animal by annoyance or irritation, typically irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes and/or the respiratory tract and tear ducts. In general, the purely repellent action is preferably obtained by targeting the respiratory tract, so as to encourage people to leave the area where the active product is being sprayed without affecting their vision.
The present invention makes it possible to adjust the time of effectiveness of the incapacitating action.
The following examples are used to illustrate the invention without being limiting in any way.
A composition according to the invention is made by mixing 0.1% by weight capsaicin and 0.9% by weight ethoxylated castor oil, based on the total weight of the composition, and water.
This composition can be used as it is and sprayed/projected in the form of a jet or by nozzles in the form of droplets or mist, or it can be conveyed by a sudden variation in pressure.
This composition can be used in the form of foam when it is mixed with a gas at the time of projecting. The foam generated in this way is then ephemeral, and one or more surfactants can be added as foaming agents to make it last longer.
To ensure that the foam lasts longer in large volumes, surfactants such as cetyl alcohol and potassium laurate can be added to the basic formula, along with thickening agents such as gum arabic and xanthan gum, in particular between 0.01% and 0.2% by weight, based on the total weight of the final aqueous solution.
For use in a misting machine, water can be replaced by a liquid specially prepared for misting machines, commonly used for entertainment, special effects, safety or disinfection, in misting machines by spraying or atomising.
For use in gel form, 0.2% to 2% by weight of water may be replaced by xanthan gum or another thickening or gelling agent, in proportions according to the method of use and the desired viscosity, to obtain the desired gel appearance.
For a smoke-producing method, all or part of the water is replaced by oil, in proportions dependent on the desired effects, and incorporated into the fuel or the components of the conventional smoke-producing agent.
It is also possible to combine these embodiments, for example by spraying a mist of charged water through a nozzle with large-volume foam bubbles, or by spraying a mist of charged water based on smoke, with or without capsaicin. This obviously depends on the desired effect: increased incapacitation, increased opacity, etc.
In order to visualise the effectiveness of compositions comprising a low percentage of capsaicinoids, compared with compositions of the prior art, as shown in
The experimental conditions correspond to the use of a conventional aerosol spray device, which has been tested for foam, jet and mist sprays, and which produce comparable results.
As the incapacitating effects differ from one individual to another, the graph comprises two curves: a lower curve 44 corresponding to the sensitivity threshold of the least sensitive individuals, and an upper curve 43 for the effect on the most sensitive individuals. Furthermore, the right-hand part 42 of the graph, to the right of the cut-off point 40 between 1% and 0.1%, corresponds to the effects obtained by using compositions according to the invention. The left-hand part 41 of the same graph illustrates the effect of commercially known compositions which do not use the concentration control principle of the invention.
The effectiveness of the incapacitating action, expressed in minutes during which the person keeps their eyes closed, varies according to the concentration of capsaicin in the composition according to the invention. It can thus be seen from the curves on the right-hand side of the graph in
The above values are given for guidance only and represent only one order of magnitude.
These times may also vary according to the individuals brought into contact with the vectored agents at these concentration levels, as well as the other components used in a mixture with the at least one incapacitating agent of the composition and the type of vectoring used.
By way of comparison, it can be seen from the curves on the left-hand side of the graph that for compositions of the prior art comprising OC as the incapacitating agent to be effective for 20 to 30 minutes, their capsaicin concentration needs to be between approximately 3 and 14% by weight.
This graph therefore clearly shows that the same incapacitating action (approximately 20 to 30 minutes) is achieved with compositions of the prior art having a high amount of capsaicin (approximately 3 to 14% by weight) and with compositions according to the invention having a low amount of capsaicin (less than or equal to approximately 0.1% by weight).
These results therefore show that the particular combination of capsaicin with at least one water-soluble oil makes it possible to obtain a composition with a high temporary incapacitating action with a low capsaicin concentration.
It should be noted that, in the present description of the invention, the terms capsaicinoids or capsaicin, as the case may be, refer not only to capsaicin and its derivatives, but also all the components and derivatives of the capsicum oleoesin which are capable of producing an incapacitating effect as mentioned above. By extension, according to certain embodiments of the invention, capsaicinoids are also defined, where appropriate, as compounds of analogous active products, with a similar effect, and/or other vanilloid active compounds.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR2105357 | May 2021 | FR | national |
This Application is a Section 371 National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/EP2022/063931, filed May 23, 2022 and published as WO 2022/243572 A1 on Nov. 24, 2022, in French, which claims priority to FR2105357, filed May 21, 2021, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/063931 | 5/23/2022 | WO |
