Cigarette filter for administering taurine by inhalation

#The present invention relates to a device for oral delivery of medicinal or nutritional substances, and more particularly to a device for administering a pharmacologically active substance such as taurine to the lungs of a smoker, by inhalation, especially in a prevention treatment of the diseases of the respiratory ducts.

#Several devices are known where active or aromatic substances are introduced in a cigarette in order to modify its taste or to confer additional properties. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,773 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,226 describe mechanisms for humidifying cigarette smoke by including rupturable capsules or micro-capsules filled with a liquid, within the filter of the cigarette. The smoker may obtain the humidification by squeezing the filter to rupture the capsules, or may leave the capsules unruptured to inhale dry smoke. The liquid incorporated in the capsules may contain flavourings or a synthetic saliva solution, for example.

#It is also known to include a substance exhibiting medicinal properties in the tobacco of the cigarette. U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,485 discloses the inclusion of interferon into the tobacco of a cigarette for administering it directly to the lungs of the smoker.

#The characteristics of the present invention will be described in detail in the following description, relating to a preferred embodiment, with reference to the annexed drawings, which represent:

#FIG. 1: a longitudinal sectional view of the filter end of a cigarette comprising the device according to the invention.

#FIG. 2: a sectional view of a filter representing a second embodiment of the invention.

#As represented on FIG. 1, the device according to the invention comprises a filter end (1) of a cigarette comprising a paper (2) forming a wrapping material containing tobacco (3) and a filter consisting of a filtration material (4), such as packed cellulose or similar fibers.

#According to the present invention, means for introducing taurine into the filtration material are provided in the form of finely divided taurine powder (5), which is uniformly distributed through the filtration material (4). The powder, which should be the consistency of light talcum powder, is automatically drawn into the smoke as it passes from the burning tobacco (3) through the filtration material (4) to the smoker's lungs.

#If necessary, according to the invention, a solution of taurine can be distributed through the filtration material (4) by rolling the filter (1) between the fingers to crush and rupture the walls of the microspheres (6) containing distilled water, a physiological saline or a non toxic aqueous solution. Thus, crushing the microspheres by exerting a slight pressure onto the filter and rolling it between the fingers, results in the rupture of the thin walls, for example made of epoxy resin or any other inert substance, and the aqueous solution or water contained therein is thus distributed through the filtration material (4) and forms a solution with the taurine powder, since taurine is water soluble.