Patent Application
20150125813
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to oral care devices. More specifically, the invention relates to an applicator used by an individual for applying a topical anesthetic to an area around the mouth or gums, and a method for temporarily numbing a dental area.
2. Technology in the Field of the Invention
Individuals occasionally suffer pain in the mouth and gums. Such pain may be due to the movement of teeth incident to the adjustment of braces or other orthodontic treatment. Such pain may alternatively be due to tooth development, or “teething,” in small children. Such pain may alternatively be due to irritation from dentures, a retainer, or other orthodontic appliances. Further, such pain may be due to something more serious such as tooth decay, i.e., loss of enamel, or nerve root irritation. Finally, an individual may suffer from a sore on the gums or lips.
In any of these instances, the individual may choose to apply a topical anesthetic to an affected area. Various ways for applying a topical oral anesthetic are known. First, it is known to apply a gel containing an anesthetic by using one's finger. In operation, a user will squeeze an amount of topical ointment from a tube and onto one's finger, and then rub the medicament onto an affected area.
In a more preferred manner, a swab such as the Q-tips® brand offered by Conopco, Inc. of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey may be used. The swab comprises a wooden or plastic stick having a cotton or other open-celled absorbent material at opposing tips. In this instance, the anesthetic is squeezed or otherwise placed onto a cotton tip. The medicament is then applied using the swab.
More sophisticated types of swab applicators are known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,194 discloses a specially-design swab applicator wherein the applicator is in the form of a long, hollow tube. The tube is made up of a thin-walled plastic material. Within the tube is a liquid designed to be applied to an ear or other area of a patient. The liquid may be, for example, water, iodine or alcohol. A tab is provided proximate an end of the swab applicator. Removal of the tab allows the liquid held within the tube to be released, whereupon the liquid travels down to a tip of the swab for application.
In the context of oral gel applicators, such an applicator is offered by Blistex Inc. of Oak Brook, Illinois. This product is sold under the trade name Kank A®. The Kank A® product offers a tube holding an anesthetic liquid therein. The tube is generally shaped like a pen. At a tip of the tube is a brush. A user may swab an affected area in his or her mouth using the brush to apply an anesthetic.
Another product available on the market is the Orajel® cold sore treatment offered by Church & Dwight Co., Inc. of Ewing, New Jersey. In one embodiment, a vial is provided containing a topical anesthetic. The vial is snapped open, exposing an applicator tip. The vial is then held face-down to allow the tip to become saturated. The user may then apply the liquid anesthetic directly to an affected area such as a cold sore.
In another arrangement currently on the market, a small bottle is sold containing an oral topical anesthetic. The bottle is secured using a threaded lid. A stiff applicator is connected to the underside of the lid. The applicator is dipped into the bottle, removed from the bottle, and then rubbed onto the affected area.
Shortcomings exist with the known applicators. In some instances, the applicator requires use of an off-the-shelf swab or may involve use and multiple re-uses of the same plastic applicator. In other instances, the applicators require either that a tube or a vial be broken or a tab removed to expose a medicament. This increases complexity and cost of the device. Alternatively, the applicator may actually be a finger, meaning that a person's or parent's finger is placed into a mouth. This may not be the most sanitary approach. Accordingly, a need exists for an applicator for a topical anesthetic that permits the use of disposable and sterile swabbing tips.
An oral care kit is provided herein. The oral care kit is designed to be used to treat a painful area of a patient's mouth. Such an area may be, for example, a tooth, an area of a lip, or an area along a gum line. The patient may be an adult or an older child; alternatively, the patient may be an infant or a toddler.
In one embodiment, the oral care kit first includes a topical anesthetic. The topical anesthetic preferably comes in a tube or bottle having a lid that is threadedly secured to the tube or bottle. The topical anesthetic may be, for example, procaine, lidocaine, prilocaine, benzocaine, or combinations thereof.
The oral kit further comprises an applicator. The applicator includes a shaft. The shaft has a proximal end defining a handle for a user, and a distal end comprising a pair of prongs. A channel is formed along an inner surface of the prongs.
The applicator comes with a plurality of disposable swabs. Preferably, each swab is fabricated from a plastic material to form a flexible body that is between about 1 and 4 inches in length. Each swab comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the swab is dimensioned to be slidably received within the channel, while the distal end comprises hydrophilic flocking Preferably, the flocking comprises nylon and/or cotton fibers.
The applicator also includes a sleeve. The sleeve is slideably disposed along the shaft. The sleeve is movable from an open position that allows the prongs to open, thereby exposing the channel for receiving the proximal end of the swab, and a closed position wherein the channel closes around the proximal end of the swab to provide a friction fit. A shoulder may be provided along the shaft to limit travel of the sleeve towards the open position.
Each of the disposable swabs is dimensioned to be received within a user's mouth for application of the topical anesthetic. Preferably, the oral kit comprises a packaging containing the topical anesthetic and the applicator for retail sale. In one embodiment, the plurality of swabs comprises between about 10 and 50 individual swabs within the package.
A method of numbing a dental area is also provided herein. In one embodiment, the method first includes accessing an applicator. The applicator includes the shaft and the pair of prongs as described above. The applicator also includes the channel formed along an inner surface of the prongs, and a plurality of disposable swabs. Further, the applicator includes the sleeve slideably disposed along the shaft as described above.
The method also includes positioning the sleeve in its open position. The method then includes sliding the proximal end of a selected swab into the channel, and then moving the sleeve into its closed position. In this way, the selected swab is secured in place within the channel.
The method next includes unscrewing or otherwise removing a lid from the tube or bottle to access the topical anesthetic. The anesthetic preferably resides within a tube or a bottle. The method then includes applying a topical anesthetic to the distal end of the swab. In one aspect, the distal end of the swab is dipped into the tube or bottle.
The method also includes applying the topical anesthetic to an affected area of a patient's mouth. This is done by manually extending the swab into the patient's mouth to access the affected area, or around the lips. Thereafter, the disposable swab may be released from the prongs by sliding the sleeve back to its open position. A new swab may be selected later for a subsequent treatment to the same or a different affected area.
So that the manner in which the present invention can be better understood, certain illustrations, charts and/or flow charts are appended hereto. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only selected embodiments of the inventions and are therefore not to be considered limiting of scope, for the inventions may admit to other equally effective embodiments and applications.
As used herein, the term “swab” means any elongated device that may be used to apply topical anesthetic to an affected area of a patient's mouth.
The term “dental area” refers to the mouth and gums of a patient, including the lips, tongue, teeth and inner cheeks.
A sleeve 120 is placed around the shaft 110. The sleeve 120 slides along the distal end 114 of the shaft 114. In the view of
The applicator 100 has an optional concave surface portion 115. The concave surface portion 115 resides intermediate the proximal 112 and distal 114 ends. The concave surface portion 115 assists the user in holding the applicator and manipulating the sleeve 116.
As noted, in the view of
The proximal end 212 of the body 210 is dimensioned to be received between the prongs 132, 134 of the applicator 100. A length “L” is shown indicating a length of the body 210 that is received within the prongs 132, 134. Preferably, a collar 220 is formed along the body 210 near the proximal end 212. The collar 220 provides a catch for the lip 135, helping to maintain the swab 200 within the prongs 132, 134 during use.
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The flocking material 216 is attached to the distal end 214 using a unique manufacturing process. The process involves placing an adhesive on the bulbous distal end. The swab 200 is then placed in an electro-static chamber having flocking material 216 swirling therein. The flocking material 216 attaches to the distal end 214 by action of the adhesive. The fibers of the flocking material 216 are oriented outward from the distal end 214 in response to the electrical charge residing in the chamber.
Various natural fibers are suitable for use as the flocking material 216. Cotton is preferred, but pulped softwood and hardwood fibers may be considered. Absorbent fibrous materials may alternatively be used as derived from Esparto grass, bagasse, jute, ramie, kenaf, sisal, abaca, hemp, oat fiber and flax.
Hydrophilic synthetic fibers may also be considered for the flocking material 216. Suitable synthetic fibers include polyester (including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene), nylon, and the various bi-component fibers known in the art of non-woven substrates. In one aspect, cellulose fibers may be blended with synthetic fibers.
The flocking material 216 may optionally be coated with or otherwise contain an anti-microbial agent. An anti-microbial agent inhibits the risk of spreading infections. Suitable anti-microbial substances include those available from suppliers such as Aegis Environmental Management, Inc. and Microban International, Ltd, as well as others known in the art. Anti-microbial substances may be applied through a variety of methods including, without limitation, using a flexographic printing press and subsequent curing in an oven or by ultraviolet radiation, or simply by spraying the substance onto the absorbent outer surfaces of the fibers during manufacture.
The anti-microbial agent may be, for example, any of the peptides disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,713,927, entitled “Antimicrobial Peptides.” The '927 patent states that the listed peptides are effective in eradicating streptococcus mutans, which are a common oral pathogen and the causative agent of dental caries. The '927 patent is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Other anti-microbial agents may be employed. For example, the anti-microbial agents may include metal particles averaging less than 0.50 microns, wherein the metal is in a base of polysynthetic oils or is applied as part of a colloidal mixture. The metals may be micronized or submicron sized metal that is 99.9% pure and that is comprised of any of the following including: silver, gold, copper, platinum, and/or organo/inorgano complexes of silver, gold, copper, platinum, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, boron trinitride and metal or metal oxide. Any of such metals are believed to eliminate the growth of bacterial organisms.
The flocking materials may be scented or flavored using, for example, peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, menthol, wintergreen oil, citrus oil, and the like.
The applicator 100 and a plurality of swabs 200 are sold together as part of a kit.
In the illustrative arrangement of
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The kit 300 may be presented in a box, a blister pack, a cardboard backing encapsulated by plastic, or any other method known in the packaging industry. The kit 300 will include instructions for use and suitable FDA (or other) notices.
In
As can be seen, an improved oral care kit for ameliorating pain in the dental area is provided. Using the kit, a user may apply a topical anesthetic to the mouth of a patient in a quick, convenient and sterile manner. Thus, a method for numbing a dental area is also provided herein.
In one embodiment, the method first includes accessing an applicator. The applicator includes the shaft 110 and the pair of outwardly-biased prongs 132, 134 as described above. The applicator also includes the channel 136 formed along an inner surface of the prongs 132, 134, and a plurality of disposable swabs 200. Further, the applicator includes the sleeve 120 slideably disposed along the distal end 114 of the shaft 120 as described above.
The method also includes positioning the sleeve in its open position. The method then includes sliding the proximal end of a selected swab into the channel, and then moving the sleeve into its closed position. In this way, the selected swab is secured in place within the channel.
The method next includes applying a topical anesthetic to the distal end of the swab. The anesthetic preferably resides within a tube or a bottle. The method then includes unscrewing (or otherwise removing) a lid from the tube or bottle to access the topical anesthetic. In one aspect, the distal end of the swab is dipped into the tube or bottle while the swab is secured by the applicator.
The method also includes applying the topical anesthetic to an affected area of a patient's mouth. This is done by manually extending the swab into the patient's mouth or onto the patients lips or gums to access the affected area. Thereafter, the swab may be released from the prongs by sliding the sleeve back to its open position, abutting a collar along the shaft of the applicator. The selected swab may then be disposed.
In one aspect, the method further includes the steps of:
sliding the sleeve back to its open position, thereby releasing the selected swab from the prongs;
disposing of the selected swab;
selecting a new swab;
sliding the proximal end of the new swab into the channel;
moving the sleeve into its closed position, thereby securing the new swab in place within the channel;
applying topical anesthetic to the distal end of the new swab; and
re-applying the topical anesthetic to the affected area of the patient's mouth.
As can be seen, a novel method of numbing a dental area is provided. While it will be apparent that the inventions herein described are well calculated to achieve the benefits and advantages set forth above, it will be appreciated that the inventions are susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the spirit thereof.
