AU2163392A - A composition for treating a soft tissue injury - Google Patents

Description

A Composition for Treating a Soft Tissue Injury The present invention is particularly concerned with treatment of injured ligaments or other soft tissue injuries such as shin soreness of horses legs. Typically, if a race horse injures a leg whether this be by way of strained ligaments or other soft tissue injury, it is necessary to rest the race horse and hope that the injury will heal itself. In many cases, the injury will not heal itself and the race horse is prevented from racing again. It follows therefore, that there is a need for a composition for treatment of soft tissue leg injuries of horses which treatment ultimately leads to healing of the soft tissue injury.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a composition for treating an injured ligament, comprising a chemical for initiating swelling of soft tissue adjacent an injured region and an antiseptic which is arranged to pass through the swollen soft tissue to the injured region, the composition in use being arranged to draw affected material from the injured region through the surrounding soft tissue to promote healing of the injured region.

Preferably, the affected material is serum. Preferably, the composition comprises a coagulant which is arranged to be carried through the swollen soft tissue to the injured region to reduce bleeding at the injured region.

Preferably, the composition increases blood flow in the injured region. The antiseptic, preferably is carried by a carrier substance through the swollen soft tissue.

It is further preferred that the antiseptic is also a coagulant. The chemical for initiating swelling, desirably acts to draw affected material from the injured region. The composition may be arranged to be applied to the soft tissue surrounding the injured region.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the chemical is alkaline. The composition may comprise an oil. The oil may- act as a carrier for the antiseptic and coagulant and desirably act as a barrier to the chemical.

Preferably, the chemical increases blood flow to the injured region.

The composition may permit exchange of gases through the soft tissue surrounding the injured region.

It is preferred that the composition increase blood flow to the injured region. The composition may increase movement of platelets to the injured region.

Optionally, the composition accelerates repair of cells in the injured region.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the chemical may comprise ammonia in solution, preferably, NH4oH.

Desirably, the antiseptic comprises eucalyptus oil.

The eucalyptus oil may comprise a carrier substance.

The chemical, preferably comprises cloudy ammonia.

The chemical may comprise NH4oH and an alkaline substance. Alternatively, the chemical may comprise NH4oH and soap flakes or detergent.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the chemical comprises soap flakes or an other alkaline substance in a proportion which makes up less than 5% of the composition by volume or by weight.

The NH4oH may contain a binding agent or a surfactant such as soap flakes.

It is preferred that the composition contains 3 to 85 millilitres of eucalyptus oil, 5 to 95 millilitres of cloudy ammonia and 0 to 40 millilitres of ammonia solution per 100 millilitres of composition.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a composition comprising 5 to 97% H4oH and 3 to 95% eucalyptus oil.

Preferably, the composition also contains 5 to 95% cloudy ammonia.

Alternatively, the composition comprises an alkaline chemical such as NaoH.

Preferably, the alkaline ^• chemical is present in the composition in only a small amount less than 5% by volume of the overall composition.

Preferably, the composition comprises 0 to 95% by volume cloudy aπimonia.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only.

In its most preferred form, the composition in accordance with the present invention can be made with the component shown in table 1.

Quantity Ingredients

150ml Eucalyptus Oil (Linament Quality)

1 litre Cloudy Ammonia (Assay-2.88% NH3 W/W)

150ml 28% Ammonia Solution (Assay-28%-30% NH3 W/W)

The overall concentration of ammonia, is approximately 6.16% W/W H3 and in a 100ml solution eucalyptus oil comprises 11.54ml, cloudy ammonia 76.92ml and ammonia solution 11.54ml.

The ingredients may be varied according to the information shown in table 2.

Variation Ingredient Variation Range (%) Range (mis)

3-85 Eucalyptus Oil 3-85

0-95 Cloudy Ammonia 0-95 0-40 Ammonia Solution 0-40

The overall percentage of ammonia (assay NH3 W/W) can vary between 2% to 10%. A method of mixing the above ingredients will now be described.

The eucalyptus oil is poured into a glass bottle, then the cloudy ammonia solution is added and the bottle is sealed with an air tight seal and the bottle is then shaken until the contents are blended. The bottle is then allowed to sit out of direct sunlight in a cool spot for 3 to 6 weeks and the contents are blended by shaking twice a day for one week, then once a day until sufficiently blended or mixed and thus mature.

When the solution is ready for use, the strong ammonia solution is added and the bottle is once again shaken. The contents of the bottle are then ready for use. The cloudy ammonia normally contains 30% NH3 and water and soap flakes.

The ingredients described above can be ^• varied. Cloudy ammonia for instance, can be replaced by peanut oil or olive oil as long as the ammonia solution is still retained.

Considering each of the components of the composition individually, it is generally considered that the cloudy ammonia acts to swell soft tissue surrounding an injured region and also acts as a carrier for the eucalyptus oil. The eucalyptus oil can be bought off the shelf and is produced by companies such as Fauldings and Double D and is an antiseptic and also acts as a coagulant to stop bleeding in the region of the injury and as a soothing agent. The ammonia solution is added to provide the desired concentration of NH4oH in order to provide swelling of the soft tissue and to carry the eucalyptus oil to the injured region.

Cloudy ammonia can normally be bought off a supermarket shelf and one brand is named Castle and is produced by Ajax Chemicals Pty Ltd. The cloudy ammonia normally contains NH4oH in 3.7% W/W. The ammonia solution can also be brought from Ajax Chemicals Pty Ltd under the name Uni-Var Analytical Reagent. In this form, the ammonia solution is 28% NH4oH = 35.05, NH3 = 17.03. The NH3 is 28% to 30% W/W, 250 to 265 g/1.

The solution described above can be applied to a horses leg injury in the following manner. The part of the leg which is injured is clipped to remove hair and the solution is applied by a sponge, roller, paint brush, spray or hand. After the solution is applied to the leg, the horse must be tied up for approximately 20 to 30 minutes to prevent it interfering with the treated region of its leg.

When the composition in solution is applied in the above manner, healing of the injured region is substantially increased and straightening of tendons or ligaments which would otherwise heal with a bow or kink along their length. The recovery period is dependent upon the type of injury but is increased substantially and the composition is very effective in removing affected material such as, serum from the injured region to the exterior of the soft tissue and in addition, allows the antiseptic coagulant to enter the injured region although it is applied to the external surface of the skin adjacent the injured region.

Claims (27)

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A composition for treating an injured ligament, comprising a chemical for initiating swelling of soft tissue adjacent an injured region and an antiseptic which is arranged to pass through the swollen soft tissue to the injured region, the composition in use being arranged to draw affected material from the injured region through the surrounding soft tissue to promote healing of the injured region.

2. A composition according to claim 1 further comprising a coagulant which is arranged to be carried through the swollen soft tissue to the injured region to reduce bleeding at the injured region.

3. A composition according to claim 1 or 2 which in use, increases blood flow in the injured region.

4. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a carrier substance for carrying the antiseptic through the swollen soft tissue.

5. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the antiseptic is a coagulant.

6. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the chemical for initiating swelling acts to draw effected material from the injured region.

7. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the chemical is alkaline.

8. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the composition comprises an oil.

9. A composition according to claim 8 wherein the oil acts as a carrier for the antiseptic and as a coagulant.

10. A composition according to claim 9 wherein the oil acts as a barrier to the chemical.

11. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the chemical increases blood flow to the injured region.

12. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a component which permits exchange of gases through the soft tissue surrounding the injured region.

13. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the chemical comprises ammonia in solution.

14. A composition according to claim 13 wherein the chemical is NH4oH.

15. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the antiseptic comprises eucalyptus oil.

16. A composition according to claim 15 wherein the eucalyptus oil comprises a carrier substance.

17. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the chemical comprises cloudy ammonia.

18. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the chemical comprises an alkaline substance in addition to NH4oH.

19. A composition according to claim 18 wherein the alkaline substance comprises soap flakes or detergent.

20. A composition according to claim 20 wherein the chemical comprises soap flakes or another alkaline substance in a proportion which makes up less than 5% of the composition by volume or by weight.

21. A composition according to claim 20 wherein the NH4oH contains a binding agent or a surfactant.

22. A composition according to claim 1 comprising 3 to 85 millilitres of eucalyptus oil, 5 to 95 millilitres of cloudy ammonia and 0 to 40 millilitres of ammonia solution per 100 millilitres of composition.

23. A composition for treating an injured ligament, comprising 5 to 97% NH4oH and 3 to 95% eucalyptus oil.

24. A composition according to claim 23 further comprising 5 to 95% cloudy ammonia.

25. A composition according to claim 23 and 24 wherein the composition comprises 5 to 97% by volume NH4oH, 3 to 95% by volume eucalyptus oil and 0 to 95% by volume cloudy ammonia.

26. A composition according to claim 23 wherein a 1.3 litre sample of the composition comprises 150 millilitres eucalyptus oil of linament quality, 1 litre of cloudy ammonia of Assay-2.88% NH3 W/W and 150 millilitres of 28% ammonia solution of Assay-28%-30% NH3 W/W.

27. A composition substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to table 1 or table 2.