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

• US 6,350,734 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2001
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• 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, BRIAN YONG S
• Application Number:
  US09/941,412
• Time in Patent Office: 182 Days
• Field of Search: 514/31, 424/9.6
• 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 rendering ectoparasites removable 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, said composition comprising;

(i) a driable pediculostatic agent, 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; and

(ii) a detectable marker, and then

b) drying said composition with air or with heat.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said marker is a dye.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said dye is fluorescent.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said dye is visible in natural light.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said dye has a color not naturally found in hair.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said marker is a visibly detectable particle.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said visibly detectable particle glitters.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said ectoparasites are head lice.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said ectoparasite are pubic lice.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said ectoparasite are ticks.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said ectoparasite are mites.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said dried composition remains on the body for at least 8 hours.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said driable pediculostatic agent consists essentially of a nonvolatile surfactant.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said nonvolatile surfactant is a surface tension depressant.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said nonvolatile surfactant is a wetting agent.

31. A kit for the removal, treatment or prevention of lice or nits, comprising:

a) an amount of a composition comprising a driable pediculostatic agent effective for at least one application, wherein said driable pediculostatic agent consists 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; and

b) instructions effective to perform the method of either of claims 1 or 16,

wherein said instructions are directly affixed to the container enclosing said composition.

32. The kit of claim 31, wherein said composition further comprises a detectable marker.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said marker is a dye.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said dye is fluorescent.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said dye is visible in natural light.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said dye has a color not naturally found in hair.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein said marker is a visibly detectable particle.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said visibly detectable particle glitters.

39. The kit of claim 31, further comprising:

a lice comb.

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

a) applying to an area of the subject'"'"'s body at risk of lice infestation an effective amount of a composition, said composition comprising;

(i) a driable pediculostatic agent, 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; and

(ii) a detectable marker, and then

b) drying said composition with air or with heat.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said marker is a dye.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said dye is fluorescent.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said dye is visible in natural light.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said dye has a color not naturally found in hair.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said marker is a visibly detectable particle.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said visibly detectable particle glitters.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein said ectoparasites are head lice.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein said ectoparasite are pubic lice.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein said ectoparasite are ticks.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein said ectoparasite are mites.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein said dried composition remains on the body for at least 8 hours.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein said driable pediculostatic agent consists essentially of a nonvolatile surfactant.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein said nonvolatile surfactant is a surface tension depressant.

30. The method of claim 16, wherein said nonvolatile surfactant is a wetting agent.