Oral product

• US 10,639,275 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gao, Feng, Atchley, Frank Scott, Griscik, Gregory James, DiNovi, Christopher Joseph, Hulan, Phillip M., Gee, Diane L., Kobal, Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): Worsham, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US15/850,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20180221275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0056 Mouth soluble or dispersible forms; Suckable, eatable, chewable coherent forms; Forms rapidly disintegrating in the mouth; Lozenges; Lollipops; Bite capsules; Baked products; Baits or other oral forms for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/006 Oral mucosa, e.g. mucoadhesive forms, sublingual droplets; Buccal patches or films; Buccal sprays
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2031 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, poloxamers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2054 Cellulose; Cellulose derivatives, e.g. hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2072 characterised by shape, structure or size; Tablets with holes, special break lines or identification marks; Partially coated tablets; Disintegrating flat shaped forms A61K9/0004, A61K9/0056, A61K9/0065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2095 Tabletting processes; Dosage units made by direct compression of powders or specially processed granules, by eliminating solvents, by melt-extrusion, by injection molding, by 3D printing mechanical aspects A61J3/00

Abstract

An oral product includes a body that is wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a mouth-stable polymer matrix, cellulosic fibers embedded in the mouth-stable polymer matrix, and an additive dispersed in the mouth-stable polymer matrix. The oral product is adapted to release the additive from the body when the body is received within the oral cavity and exposed to saliva.

Claims

1. A method of forming an oral product comprising:

extruding a mouth-stable polymer having cellulosic fibers dispersed therein to form a porous fiber-polymer matrix, the mouth-stable polymer including polyurethane;

dispersing an additive within the mouth-stable polymer during or after the extruding, the additive including a flavorant, a sweetener, caffeine, or any combination thereof, the additive being disposed within pores of the porous fiber-polymer matrix, the cellulosic fibers providing passages to the pores and being configured to release the additive when the porous fiber-polymer matrix is exposed to saliva; and

creating individual oral products from the porous fiber-polymer matrix, the individual oral products being sized to be at least partially received in an oral cavity, the oral products having a compressibility @ 250 N ranging from 45% to 90% and a springiness ranging from 75% to 95%, wherein a first portion of the pores have a first diameter ranging from 40 microns to 60 microns and a second portion of the pores have a second diameter ranging from 1 micron to 10 microns.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating includes cutting the porous fiber-polymer matrix into the individual oral products.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispersing is performed during the extruding.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispersing is performed after the extruding.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dispersing a plasticizer in the mouth-stable polymer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual oral products are configured to be pliable when manipulated within the oral cavity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating includes

forming the porous fiber-polymer matrix into the individual oral products.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the polyurethane is present in an amount greater than or equal to 60 weight percent.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the dispersing the plasticizer is performed during the extruding.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plasticizer includes propylene glycol, glycerin, vegetable oil, a triglyceride, or any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive includes the sweetener.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sweetener includes saccharine, sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, or any combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive includes the flavorant.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the flavorant includes licorice, wintergreen, cherry and berry type flavorants, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cinnamon, cardamon, Apium graveolens, clove, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, Japanese mint, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, chamomile, menthol, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, pimenta, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, mint oils from a species of the genus Mentha, or any combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive further includes a mineral, a vitamin, a dietary supplement, a nutraceutical, an energizing agent, a soothing agent, an amino acid, a chemesthetic agent, an antioxidant, a botanical, a teeth whitening agent, a therapeutic agent, or any combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive further includes a therapeutic agent including Gerd, Buprenorphin, Nitroglycerin, Diclofenac, Fentanyl, Carbamazepine, Galantamine, Acyclovir, Polyamidoamine Nanoparticles, Chlorpheniramine, Testosterone, Estradiol, Progesterone, Calcitonin, Fluorouracil, Naltrexone, Odansetron, Decitabine, Selegiline, Lamotrigine, Prochlorperazine, or any combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual oral products are shield-shaped.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual oral products each have a diameter ranging from 5 mm to 25 mm.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellulosic fibers have an average fiber size of less than 200 microns.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual oral products each have a thickness ranging from 1 mm to 10 mm.

21. The method of claim 2, wherein the individual oral products have shape memory.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the polyurethane is present in an amount ranging from 40 weight percent to 80 weight percent.