Methods and kits for removing, treating, or preventing lice with driable pediculostatic agents

• US 6,265,384 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2000
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dale L. Pearlman
• Original Assignee: Dale L. Pearlman
• Inventors: Pearlman, Dale L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fay, Zohreh
• Assistant Examiner(s): KWON, YONG SOK
• Application Number:
  US09/491,114
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 514/31, 514/407, 514/881, 514/250, 424/70, 424/405, 424/94.61, 424/653, 424/461, 132/142
• US Class Current: 514/31
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/30 characterised by the surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 31/02 Acyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 37/40 having at least one carboxylic group or a thio analogue, or a derivative thereof, and one oxygen or sulfur atom attached to the same aromatic ring system
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 41/02 containing a sulfur-to-oxygen double bond
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 61/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing substances of unknown or undetermined composition, e.g. substances characterised only by the mode of action
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/434 Luminescent, Fluorescent; Optical brighteners; Photosensitizers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/342 Alcohols having more than seven atoms in an unbroken chain
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/463 containing sulfuric acid derivatives, e.g. sodium lauryl sulfate
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 17/02 containing insect repellants

Abstract

Methods and kits for removing, treating or preventing head lice infestations in patients in need of such treatment are disclosed and include topically applying to the lice-infested area an effective amount of a driable pediculostatic agent for a time sufficient to immobilize the lice, drying the agent onto the application site and removing the dried agent, thereby removing the lice and nits.

Claims

1. A method of removing ectoparasites from a subject, said ectoparasites having an immersion reflex, comprising:

a) applying to an area of the subject'"'"'s body having the ectoparasites an effective amount of a composition comprising a driable pediculostatic acent, said driable pediculostatic agent consisting essentially of at least one compound selected from the group, consisting of non-volatile surfactants, polar organic compounds, non-volatile fatty alcohols, and non-volatile fatty esters, for a time sufficient to trigger the immersion reflex in said ectoparasites;

b) drying said composition with air or with heat; and

c) removing said ectoparasites and optionally said dried pediculostatic agent.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the ectoparasites are head lice and the subject is a human.

3. The method of claim 2 which further includes the step of combing the hair after step a) and before step b).

4. The method of claim 3 in which said combing is performed with a fine-toothed delousing comb.

5. The method of claim 2 in which the dried agent remains on the body for a time sufficient to kill at least some of the lice prior to removal.

6. The method of claim 2 in which the dried agent remains on the body for at least 8 hours.

7. The method of claim 2, in which the dried agent remains on the body for at least 24 hours.

8. The method of claim 2, in which the dried agent remains on the body for at least 2 days.

9. The method of claim 2, in which the dried agent remains on the body for at least 7 days.

10. The method of claim 2, in which the dried agent remains on the body for longer than 7 days.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the dried pediculostatic agent is removed by rinsing the application site with water, optionally with the aid of a soap or shampoo.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the driable pediculostatic agent has an Immersion Reflex Index of 120 or less.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the driable pediculostatic agent consists essentially of a non-volatile surfactant.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of anionic agents, cationic agents, amphoteric agents, zwitterionic agents, nonionic agents and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sodium lauryl sulfate, sorbitan tristearate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan monopalmitate and butylene glycol distearate.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the driable pediculostatic agent consists essentially of a non-volatile surfactant and a polar organic compound.

17. The method of claim 16, in which the polar organic compound is selected from the group consisting of (C1-C20) alkylene glycols, polyethylene glycols, polyethylene oxides, (C1-C20) polyols, glycerol and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 13 in which the composition solvent is water.

19. The method of claim 2 in which the driable pediculostatic agent consists essentially of a non-volatile fatty alcohol.

20. The method of claim 19 in which the composition is an aqueous composition.

21. The method of claim 2 in which the driable pediculostatic agent consists essentially of a non-volatile fatty ester.

22. The method of claim 21 in which the composition is an aqueous composition.

23. The method of claim 2 in which the driable pediculostatic agent consists essentially of an alkanol and a non-volatile surfactant.

24. The method of claim 23 in which the composition is an aqueous composition.

25. The method claim 2 in which the composition comprises water, cetyl alcohol, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearyl alcohol, methyl paraben, propylparaben, and butylparaben.

26. A method for the prevention of active lice infestations, comprising:

a) applying to an area of the body at risk of lice infestation an amount of a composition comprising a driable pediculostatic agent sufficient to soak or saturate the area for a period of time equal to about 1 to 50 times the Immersion Reflex Index of the driable pediculostatic agent, said driable pediculostatic agent consisting essentially of at least one compound selected from the group compound, a non-volatile surfactant, a polar organic compound, non-volatile fatty alcohol, and a non-volatile fatty ester;

b) drying the composition onto the area of the body with air or with heat; and

c) removing the dried pediculostatic agent after the dried pediculostatic agent has remained on the area for a time period sufficient to kill at least some of the lice.

27. A method of treating a lice infestation, comprising the steps of:

a) applying to the hair of a lice-infested area of the body an effective amount of a composition comprising a driable pediculostatic agent, said driable pediculostatic agent consisting essentially of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a non-volatile surfactant, a polar organic compound, a non-volatile fatty alcohol and a non-volatile fatty ester;

b) allowing the driable pediculostatic agent to remain on the area for period of time equal to or greater than the Immersion Reflex Index for the agent;

c) drying the driable pediculostatic agent onto the application site;

d) removing the dried agent; and

e) repeating steps (a)-(d) at intervals of 1 to 3 times weekly until the lice infestation is cured.

28. The method of claim 27 further including the step of combing the hair after step b) and prior to step c).

29. The method of claim 27 further including the step of allowing the dried agent to remain on the application site following step c) for a period of time sufficient to kill at least some of the lice.