# US 7,745,686 B2 · Catamenial device

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- Number: US 7,745,686 B2
- Document ID: US7745686B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/003,915
- Filed: 2001-11-02
- Published: 2003-05-29
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2001-11-02
- Assignees: Playtex Products, Inc.
- Inventors: Anthony J. Mauro; Mark E. Rosengarten; Irwin Butensky
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7745686B2

## CPC

- A61L 15/46: Deodorants or malodour counteractants, e.g. to inhibit the formation of ammonia or bacteria
- A61L 15/48: Surfactants
- A61L 2300/202: with halogen atoms, e.g. triclosan, povidone-iodine
- A61L 2300/208: Quaternary ammonium compounds
- A61L 2300/404: Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
- A61L 2300/45: Mixtures of two or more drugs, e.g. synergistic mixtures
- A61L 2300/802: Additives, excipients, e.g. cyclodextrins, fatty acids, surfactants
- Y10S 604/904: Tampons
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

There is provided a fibrous absorbent article for absorbing body fluids made up of a fibrous material defining a structure suitable for absorbing the body fluids, and disposed within the structure an effective amount, so as to reduce Staphylococcus aureus bacterial growth and neutralize TSS toxin-1 within the vagina, of one or more antimicrobial agents and one or more finishing agents.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tampon comprising an absorbent material and a composition disposed in said absorbent material, the composition comprising:
at least one antibacterial agent in an amount of about 0.10 wt % to about 2.5 wt % of the total weight of the tampon, wherein said antibacterial agent is a mixture of alkyl dimethyl benzylammonium chloride and alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzylammonium chloride; and
at least one finishing agent in an amount of about 2.5 wt % of the total weight of the tampon, wherein said at least one finishing agent is one or more polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters,
wherein the composition has synergistic antibacterial properties effective to neutralize the production of TSST-1 toxin and reduce Staphylococcus aureus bacteria growth.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tampon of claim 1, wherein said at least one antibacterial agent is present in an amount of about 1.0 wt.% based on the total weight of the tampon.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The tampon of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises one or more additional components selected from the group consisting of: preservative, deodorant, fragrance, malodor counteractant material, humectant, and any combinations thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The tampon of claim 1, wherein said composition consists essentially of:
about 0.10 wt % to about 2.5 wt %, based on the total weight of the tampon, of a mixture of alkyl dimethyl benzylammonium chloride and alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzylammonium chloride; and
about 2.5 wt %, based on the total weight of the tampon, of one or more polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters.

### Claim 5

A method of inhibiting the production of TSST-1 toxin by exposing TSST-1 toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus bacteria to a tampon, the tampon having an absorbent material and a composition, the composition comprising:
at least one antibacterial agent in an amount of about 0.10 wt % to about 2.5 wt % of the total weight of the tampon, wherein said antibacterial agent is a mixture of alkyl dimethyl benzylammonium chloride and alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzylammonium chloride; and
at least one finishing agent in an amount of about 2.5 wt % of the total weight of the tampon, wherein said at least one finishing agent is one or more polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters;
wherein the composition has synergistic antibacterial properties effective to neutralize the production of TSST-1 toxin and reduce Staphylococcus aureus bacteria growth.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein said at least one antibacterial agent is present in an amount about 1.0 wt. % based on the total weight of the tampon.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein said composition further comprises one or more additional components selected from the group consisting of: preservative, deodorant, fragrance, malodor counteractant material, humectant and any combinations thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein said composition consists essentially of:
about 0.10 wt % to about 2.5 wt %, based on the total weight of the tampon, of a mixture of alkyl dimethyl benzylammonium chloride and alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzylammonium chloride; and
about 2.5 wt %, based on the total weight of the tampon, of one or more polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters.