Back to results
US 5,340,581 AGranted
Sustained-release matrices for dental application
AssigneeGillette Canada Inc.
InventorsMingchih M. Tseng, Carl M. Philbrook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sustained-release matrix for dental application includes either an anti-microbial agent or a colorant that is released from the matrix when the matrix contacts water. The preferred matrices include a water-soluble polymer and a water-insoluble support resin.
Claims24
An oral brush comprising:
- a body comprising a handle and head;
- a bristle portion formed of tufts of bristles connected to the head of said body;
- and
- a sustained-release template comprising a water-insoluble support resin, a water-soluble polymer that dissolves from said template when said template is exposed to water, and an antimicrobial agent,
- said template being attached to said head at the base of the tufts of bristles and including a set of holes corresponding to the pattern of the tufts of bristles so that said tufts can extend through said holes, or being attached to the brush in some other manner on or sufficiently close to the head of the brush so that said template is inserted into the mouth during normal use of the brush,
- said template being sufficiently thick to ensure adequate mechanical strength, said thickness being up to about 10 mm.
3 more elements
A method of releasing an antimicrobial agent from an oral brush, comprising
- providing an oral brush including a body with a handle and a head, a bristle portion formed of tufts of bristles attached to said head, and a sustained-release template comprising a water-insoluble support resin, a water-soluble polymer, and an antimicrobial agent, said template being attached to said head at the base of the tufts of bristles and including a set of holes corresponding to the pattern of the tufts of bristles so that said tufts can extend through said holes, or being attached to the brush in some other manner on or sufficiently close to the head of the brush so that said template is inserted into the mouth during normal use, said template being sufficiently thick to ensure adequate mechanical strength, said thickness being up to about 10 mm;
- and
- contacting the portion of said brush to which said template is attached with water, causing said water-soluble polymer in said template to dissolve out of said template to release said anti-microbial agent into said water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.