ORAL PRODUCT

• US 20180221275A1
• Filed: 12/21/2017
• Published: 08/09/2018
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

1-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method of forming an oral product comprising:

extruding a mouth-stable polymer having cellulosic fibers dispersed therein; and

dispersing an additive within the mouth-stable polymer during or after the extruding step, the additive being selected from a flavorant, a sweetener, caffeine, or a combination thereof.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising cutting the extruded mixture of mouth-stable polymer and cellulosic fibers into individual oral products sized to be at least partially received in an oral cavity of a consumer.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the dispersing step occurs during the extruding step.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the dispersing step occurs after the extruding step.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the mouth-stable polymer comprises a plasticizer mixed therein during the extruding step.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises adding a flavorant during or after the extruding step.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the mouth-stable polymer matrix comprises polyurethane.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the mouth-stable polymer matrix comprises at least 60 weight percent of the polyurethane.

40. The method of claim 27, wherein the mouth-stable polymer matrix comprises polyester, polyacrylate, polyethylene, SEBS, or SBS.

41. The method of claim 27, further comprising dispersing a plasticizer in the mouth-stable polymer matrix.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerin, vegetable oil, triglycerides, and combinations thereof.

43. The method of claim 27, further comprising dispersing a sweetener in the mouth-stable polymer matrix.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the sweetener is selected from the group consisting of saccharine, sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and combinations thereof.

45. The method of claim 27, further comprising dispersing a flavorant in the mouth-stable polymer matrix.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the flavorant is selected from the group consisting of licorice, wintergreen, cherry and berry type flavorants, Dramboui, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cinnamon, cardamon, apium graveolents, clove, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, Japanese mint, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmin, chamomile, menthol, ylang ylang, sage, fennel, pimenta, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, mint oils from a species of the genus Mentha, and combinations thereof

47. The method of claim 27, wherein the additive comprises nicotine or a derivative thereof.

33. A method of forming an oral product comprising:

extruding a mouth-stable polymer;

dispersing an additive within the mouth-stable polymer during or after the extruding step; and

cutting the extruded mouth-stable polymer to form individual oral products.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the individual oral products are pliable and have shape memory when manipulated within an oral cavity.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the individual oral products have a compressibility @ 250 N of between 45% and 90%.

48. The method of claim 33, wherein the mouth-stable polymer matrix comprises polyurethane.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the mouth-stable polymer matrix comprises at least 60 weight percent of the polyurethane.

50. The method of claim 33, wherein the additive comprises nicotine or a derivative thereof.

51. The method of claim 33, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of minerals, vitamins, dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, energizing agents, soothing agents, amino acids, chemsthetic agents, antioxidants, botanicals, teeth whitening agents, therapeutic agents, and combinations thereof.

52. The method of claim 33, wherein the additive comprises a therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of Gerd, Buprenorphin, Nitroglycerin, Diclofenac, Fentanyl, Carbamazepine, Galantamine, Acyclovir, Polyamidoamine Nanoparticles, Chlorpheniramine, Testosterone, Estradiol, Progesterone, Calcitonin, Fluorouracil, Naltrexone, Odansetron, Decitabine, Selegiline, Lamotrigine, Prochlorperazine, and combinations thereof.

53. The method of claim 33, wherein the cutting comprises forming individual oral products that are shield-shaped.

54. The method of claim 33, wherein the cutting comprises forming individual oral products each have a diameter of between 5 mm and 25 mm and a thickness of between 1 mm and 10 mm.

36. A method of forming an oral product comprising:

extruding a mouth-stable polymer;

dispersing an additive within the mouth-stable polymer during or after the extruding step; and

forming the extruded mouth-stable polymer to form individual oral products.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the individual oral products have a compressibility @ 250 N of between 45% and 90%.

55. The method of claim 36, wherein the mouth-stable polymer matrix comprises polyurethane.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the mouth-stable polymer matrix comprises at least 60 weight percent of the polyurethane.

57. The method of claim 36, wherein the additive comprises nicotine or a derivative thereof.