Color changing matrix as wear indicator

• US 7,338,664 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Philbrook, Carl M., Tseng, Mingchih M.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRASS, FREDERICK F
• Application Number:
  US10/663,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20040134010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 424/10.3, 424/10.32, 424/401, 424/425, 424/435, 424/469, 424/486, 424/487, 855/2, 855/7, 855/8
• US Class Current: 424/435
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/00 Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water driven brush bodies A46B13/00; massage apparatus with liquid delivery A61H7/002, A61H2201/105; applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by liquid carrying members in general, e.g. by pads B05C1/00, B05D1/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/43 Pigments; Dyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/43 Guanidines
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/8135 Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by an acyloxy radical of a saturated carboxylic acid, of carbonic acid or of a haloformic acid; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers, e.g. vinyl esters (polyvinylacetate)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/86 Polyethers
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 11/00 Preparations for care of the teeth, of the oral cavity or of dentures; Dentifrices, e.g. toothpastes; Mouth rinses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2929 Bicomponent, conjugate, composite or collateral fibers or filaments [i.e., coextruded sheath-core or side-by-side type]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2938 Coating on discrete and individual rods, strands or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2967 Synthetic resin or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2969 Polyamide, polyimide or polyester
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2971 Impregnation

Abstract

A sustained-release matrix for dental application includes either an anti-microbial agent or a colorant that is released from the matrix when the matrix contacts water. The preferred matrices include a water-soluble polymer and a water-insoluble support resin.

Claims

1. A color-changing matrix comprising a layer including a mixture of a water-insoluble polymer, an undissolved water-soluble polymer comprising polyethylene oxide, and a water-leachable colorant that leaches from the matrix when the matrix is exposed to water to provide a change in color.

2. The color-changing matrix of claim 1 wherein said water-insoluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrenes, polyurethanes, ethylene vinyl acetate polymers, polyethylenes, styrene/rubber polymers, and ethylene/propylene polymers.

3. The color-changing matrix of claim 1 or 2 wherein the layer additionally comprises an antimicrobial agent.

4. The color-changing matrix of claim 3 adapted to leach colorant corresponding with the depletion of said antimicrobial agent.

5. A method of indicating wear comprising providing a color-changing matrix according to claim 1, and repeatedly contacting said matrix with water to cause said matrix to change color.

6. The color-changing matrix of claim 1 wherein the layer includes over 50% of the water-insoluble polymer by weight.

7. The color-changing matrix of claim 1 wherein the water-insoluble polymer comprises a polystyrene.

8. A color-changing matrix comprising a layer including a mixture of a water-insoluble polymer, a water-soluble homopolymer of polyethylene oxide, and a water-leachable colorant that leaches from the matrix when the matrix is exposed to water to provide a change in color.

9. The color-changing matrix of claim 8 wherein said water-insoluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrenes, polyurethanes, ethylene vinyl acetate polymers, polyethylenes, styrene/rubber polymers, and ethylene/propylene polymers.

10. The color-changing matrix of claim 8 wherein the layer additionally comprising an antimicrobial agent.

11. The color-changing matrix of claim 8 adapted to leach colorant corresponding with the depletion of said antimicrobial agent.

12. A method of indicating wear comprising providing a color-changing matrix according to claim 8, and repeatedly contacting said matrix with water to cause said matrix to change color.

13. The color-changing matrix of claim 8 wherein the layer includes over 50% of the polyoxyethylene oxide by weight.

14. The color-changing matrix of claim 8 wherein the water-insoluble polymer comprises a polystyrene.

15. A color-changing matrix comprising a layer including a mixture of a water-insoluble polymer, an undissolved water-soluble polymer, and a water-leachable colorant that leaches from the matrix when the matrix is exposed to water to provide a change in color,

wherein the layer includes over 50% of the water-soluble polymer by weight.