Medication delivery devices
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorPaul A. Burgio
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for delivering medicaments to oral structures contains a flexible backing having a plurality of microstructures protruding from one surface of the backing, and a binder layer containing medicaments disposed on the backing and/or microstructures. Because the device contains microstructures that form obstacles or barrier that minimize the flow of medicaments away from the target oral structure, the medicaments stay at the desired longer thereby being more effective at treating the oral structure. One particularly useful application of the inventive device is for whitening teeth.
Claims20
A device for delivering a medicament for treating oral structures, the device comprising:
- (a) a flexible backing having a substantially flat first surface having a plurality of microstructures protruding therefrom in a direction toward the oral structure to be treated;
- and
- (b) a binder layer having at least one medicament, said binder layer having an exposed surface area and disposed on at least a portion of said first surface and/or at least a portion of said microstructures,
- said device not containing a dental tray.
A method of delivering a medicament for treating oral structures, said method comprising the following acts:
- (a) providing a dental device comprising:
- (i) a flexible backing having a substantially flat first surface, said first surface having a plurality of microstructures protruding therefrom in a direction toward the oral structure to be treated;
- and
- (ii) a binder layer comprising at least one medicament, said binder layer having an exposed surface and being disposed on at least a portion of said first surface of said backing and/or at least a portion of said microstructures,
- (b) applying said device to oral structures such that said binder is proximate to said oral structures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.