Nasal spray for decongesting nasal passages

• US 6,641,799 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nos Spray, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nos Spray, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldberg, Trevor Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartley, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haghighatian, Mina
• Application Number:
  US10/115,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20030190288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 424/45, 424/434, 424/51, 514/853
• US Class Current: 424/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0043 Nose

Abstract

A therapeutic composition for use as a nasal spray the aids in decongesting of the nasal passages by osmotic effect, thinning of mucus and stimulation of ciliary function. Preferred embodiments of the composition contain a sugar solution, a sodium bicarbonate solution, saline, glycerin, water, and a preservative.

Claims

1. A composition for osmotic decongestion and moisturization of the nasal passages consisting essentially of:

water;

a ciliary stimulant that is an about 23% to about 24% saline and is between about 4% and 5% of the total composition by volume;

a mucus thinning agent;

a sugar solution as an osmotic agent;

glycerin; and

a preservative,

wherein said composition is alkaline and is hypertonic with respect to cells of the nasal mucosa.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein said mucus thinning agent is an alkaline agent.

3. A composition according to claim 2 wherein said mucus thinning agent is an alkaline solution that is between about 8% and 9% sodium bicarbonate and is about 20% of the total composition by volume.

4. A composition according to claim 1 further comprising a pH adjusting agent.

5. A composition according to claim 4 wherein said acid is a 10% solution of hydrochloric acid.

6. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the pH of the composition is between about 7.5 and about 8.5.

7. A composition according to claim 6 wherein the pH is about 8.

8. A composition according to claim 1 wherein said sugar is selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides ad disaccharides.

9. A composition according to claim 8 wherein said sugar is selected from the group consisting of glucose, sucrose and fructose.

10. A composition according to claim 9 wherein said sugar is sucrose.

11. A composition according to claim 1 wherein said osmotic agent is an about 85% sucrose solution and is between about 3% and 4% of the total composition by volume.

12. A composition according to claim 1 wherein said preservative is potassium sorbate.

13. A composition according to claim 1 wherein said glycerin is about 5% of the total composition by volume.

14. A composition for osmotic decongestion and lubrication of the nasal passages consisting essentially of:

between 67% and 68% water;

between 4% and 5% of a 23% to 24% saline solution;

between 3% and 4% of an 85% sugar solution;

about 5% glycerin;

about 20% of a 8% to 9% sodium bicarbonate solution; and

a preservative;

wherein said composition has a pH of about 8 and is hypertonic with respect to cells of the nasal mucosa.

15. A composition according to claim 14 wherein said sugar is selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides and disaccharides.

16. A composition according to claim 15 wherein said sugar is selected from the group consisting of glucose, sucrose and fructose.

17. A composition according to claim 14 wherein said sugar is glucose.

18. A composition according to claim 14 wherein said preservative is potassium sorbate.

19. A composition according to claim 14 further comprising hydrochloric acid.

20. A method of preparing an alkaline, hypertonic composition for use in osmotic decongestion of the nasal passages, the method consisting essentially of:

obtaining a quantity of water that is between about 67% and 68% of the total composition by volume;

adding a quantity of a ciliary stimulant that is a saline and is between about 4% and 5% of the total composition by volume;

adding a quantity of a mucus thinning agent that is about 20% of the total composition by volume;

adding a quantity of an osmotic agent that is a sugar solution and is between about 3% and 4% of the total composition by volume;

adding a quantity of glycerin that is about 5% of the total composition by volume;

adding less than 1% by volume of a preservative;

stirring the composition to ensure thorough mixing and adjusting the pH to between 7.5 and 8.5.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the ciliary stimulant is an about 23% to about 24% saline solution.

22. A method according to claim 20 wherein the mucus thinning agent is an alkaline agent.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the mucus thinning agent is an alkaline solution that is between about 8% and about 9% sodium bicarbonate.

24. A method according to claim 20 wherein the pH adjustment is accomplished by adding a 10% solution of hydrochloric acid.

25. A method according to claim 20 wherein the pH is adjusted to about 8.

26. A method according to claim 20 wherein the sugar is selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides or disaccharides.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the sugar is selected from the group consisting of glucose, sucrose and fructose.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the sugar is sucrose.

29. A method according to claim 20 wherein the preservative is potassium sorbate.

30. A method according to claim 20 further comprising the step of packaging the composition for use by an individual.

31. A method of moisturizing and relieving congestion of the nasal mucosa consisting of applying to the nasal mucosa a composition consisting essentially of:

about 67% to 68% water;

a ciliary stimulant that is an about 23% to about 24% saline solution and is between about 4% and 5% of the total composition by volume;

a mucus thinning agent;

a sugar solution as an osmotic agent;

glycerin;

a pH adjusting agent; and

a preservative,

wherein said composition is alkaline and hypertonic with respect to cells of the nasal mucosa.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein the mucus thinning agent is an alkaline agent.

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein said mucus thinning agent is an alkaline solution that is between about 8% and 9% sodium bicarbonate and is about 20% of the total composition by volume.

34. A method according to claim 31 wherein the pH adjusting agent is an acid.

35. A method according to claim 34 wherein the pH adjusting agent is a 10% solution of hydrochloric acid.

36. A method according to claim 31 wherein the pH of the composition is between about 7.5 and about 8.5.

37. A method according to claim 36 wherein the pH of the composition is about 8.

38. A method according to claim 31 wherein the sugar is selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides and disaccharides.

39. A method according to claim 38 wherein the sugar is selected from the group consisting of glucose, sucrose and fructose.

40. A method according to claim 39 the sugar is sucrose.

41. A method according to claim 31 wherein the osmotic agent is an about 85% sucrose solution and is between about 3% and 4% of the total composition by volume.

42. A method according to claim 31 wherein the preservative is potassium sorbate.

43. A method according to claim 31 wherein the glycerin is about 5% of the total volume of the composition.

44. A method of relieving congestion of the nasal mucosa consisting of:

removing fluid from the nasal mucosa through osmosis by the application of a hypertonic solution comprising sugar;

thinning the mucus present in the nose by the application of an alkaline solution; and

stimulating ciliary function by application of a saline solution;

wherein the steps of removing fluid, thinning mucus and stimulating ciliary function are all physiological responses to the application of a single composition consisting essentially of water, an alkaline mucus thinning agent, a sugar solution, glycerine, a preservative, an a saline solution.

45. A method according to claim 44 further comprising moistening the nasal mucosa through the application of glycerin to a nasal mucosa.

46. A method according to claim 45 wherein the pH of the combined elements applied to the nasal mucosa is about 8.