US20020173760A1 - Antiseptic tampon and method of preparing it - Google Patents
Antiseptic tampon and method of preparing it Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020173760A1 US20020173760A1 US10/173,098 US17309802A US2002173760A1 US 20020173760 A1 US20020173760 A1 US 20020173760A1 US 17309802 A US17309802 A US 17309802A US 2002173760 A1 US2002173760 A1 US 2002173760A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- mixture
- tampon
- sheaths
- excipient
- antiseptic
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000002421 anti-septic effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 41
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 17
- 239000000546 pharmaceutical excipient Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 33
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 30
- 230000002209 hydrophobic effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 241000193830 Bacillus <bacterium> Species 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000002745 absorbent Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000002250 absorbent Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 229920004918 nonoxynol-9 Polymers 0.000 claims description 5
- 229940087419 nonoxynol-9 Drugs 0.000 claims description 5
- FBWNMEQMRUMQSO-UHFFFAOYSA-N tergitol NP-9 Chemical group CCCCCCCCCC1=CC=C(OCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCOCCO)C=C1 FBWNMEQMRUMQSO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000003821 menstrual periods Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000003856 thermoforming Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 125000005456 glyceride group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005304 joining Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000314 lubricant Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 210000001215 vagina Anatomy 0.000 description 13
- 208000015181 infectious disease Diseases 0.000 description 5
- 230000001050 lubricating effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 210000004400 mucous membrane Anatomy 0.000 description 5
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229940079593 drug Drugs 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004800 polyvinyl chloride Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920000915 polyvinyl chloride Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000829 suppository Substances 0.000 description 2
- 210000004291 uterus Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- CKQAOGOZKZJUGA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1-nonyl-4-(4-nonylphenoxy)benzene Chemical class C1=CC(CCCCCCCCC)=CC=C1OC1=CC=C(CCCCCCCCC)C=C1 CKQAOGOZKZJUGA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920000742 Cotton Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 244000199866 Lactobacillus casei Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000013958 Lactobacillus casei Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000002202 Polyethylene glycol Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000297 Rayon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 244000052616 bacterial pathogen Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000008280 blood Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000004369 blood Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008240 homogeneous mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007794 irritation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229940017800 lactobacillus casei Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920001223 polyethylene glycol Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000934 spermatocidal agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004753 textile Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000003905 vulva Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L15/00—Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
- A61L15/16—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
- A61L15/42—Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties
- A61L15/46—Deodorants or malodour counteractants, e.g. to inhibit the formation of ammonia or bacteria
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L15/00—Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
- A61L15/16—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
- A61L15/36—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons containing microorganisms
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L15/00—Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
- A61L15/16—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
- A61L15/42—Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties
- A61L15/50—Lubricants; Anti-adhesive agents
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L2300/00—Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices
- A61L2300/20—Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices containing or releasing organic materials
- A61L2300/216—Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices containing or releasing organic materials with other specific functional groups, e.g. aldehydes, ketones, phenols, quaternary phosphonium groups
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L2300/00—Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices
- A61L2300/40—Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices characterised by a specific therapeutic activity or mode of action
- A61L2300/404—Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L2300/00—Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices
- A61L2300/60—Biologically active materials used in bandages, wound dressings, absorbent pads or medical devices characterised by a special physical form
- A61L2300/606—Coatings
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S604/00—Surgery
- Y10S604/904—Tampons
Definitions
- the invention relates to an antiseptic tampon and a method of preparing it.
- a standard tampon is known to constitute a focus of potential infection of the vagina because its insertion can be accompanied by the introduction of more or less pathogenic bacteria present in the vulva and on the surrounding skin surface.
- the tampon is made from an absorbent material and tends to dry the mucous membranes of the vagina, which makes them fragile and more sensitive to various infections.
- a tampon has also been proposed, in particular in the document EP-A-0 110 793, which has a cup-shaped cell at one end and a pessary containing an antiseptic or medication and fixed into the cell by a soluble adhesive gum.
- the pessary When the tampon is inserted, the pessary is in the vicinity of the neck of the uterus and renders aseptic the vagina and the blood flowing into the vagina.
- the object aims particularly to provide a simple, effective and economic solution to the problems cited above.
- An object of this invention is an aseptic tampon which avoids the risks of infection of the vagina without making the mucous membranes of the vagina fragile.
- an object of this invention is an antiseptic tampon which is prepared from a standard tampon.
- a further object of this invention is a method of preparing an antiseptic tampon which is economical and which lends itself to automatic mass production on machines of a type known in the art.
- the invention proposes a method of preparing a tampon made from an absorbent material and containing an antiseptic product, characterized in that it consists of introducing metered quantities of a liquid mixture of antiseptic product and hydrophobic excipient into individual tampon packaging sheaths, then introducing tampons into said sheaths so that their ends intended to be covered with said mixture are at the bottom of said sheaths and in contact with the mixture, and closing and sealing said sheaths.
- tampons in accordance with the invention are prepared concomitantly with packaging them, in a particularly simple and economic manner.
- this method also consists of preparing the mixture of antiseptic product and excipient by heating the excipient to melt it, adding the antiseptic product to the molten excipient and mixing the antiseptic product and the excipient before pouring the mixture into the packaging sheaths, and then solidifying the mixture of antiseptic product and excipient on the tampons by cooling after closing the sheaths.
- the method according to the invention also consists of thermoforming semicylindrical cells in two strips of plastics material, for example PVC, the cells opening onto a lateral edge of said strips, applying the two strips face-to-face to form said sheaths by joining two facing cells, and heat-welding the two strips together.
- plastics material for example PVC
- a method of the above kind can be executed on machines of a type known in the art, used in particular to manufacture suppositories, and therefore requires a small investment in hardware, since it is sufficient to adapt existing machines.
- Döderlein's bacillus (lactobacillus casei) is added to the mixture of the excipient and the antiseptic product before they are poured into the packaging of the tampons, for example in freeze-dried form and at a rate of the order of 90 mg per tampon.
- the tampons prepared in the above way are intended to be used at the end of a menstrual period, to re-seed the flora normally present in the vagina.
- the invention also proposes an antiseptic tampon, prepared by the method above-described, characterized in that the mixture of the antiseptic product and the hydrophobic excipient forms a covering of an end portion of the tampon.
- This mixture of antiseptic product and hydrophobic excipient covers the end part of the tampon in the vicinity of the neck of the uterus when the tampon is in place and prevents all risk of drying the mucous membranes of the vagina or making them fragile, with an additional antiseptic effect which protects the vagina from the risks of infection.
- the hydrophobic excipient is advantageously a lubricant which facilitates inserting the tampon and avoids the need to use an applicator.
- the antiseptic product is nonoxynol 9.
- this antiseptic tampon is prepared from a standard tampon.
- FIG. 1 is a diagram showing essential steps of a method according to the invention
- FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a tampon in accordance with the invention inside its individual packaging.
- the first step consists of paying out two strips 10 of a heat-sealable plastics material, such as polyvinyl chloride, for example, and thermoforming semicylindrical cells 12 in each of the strips, the cells opening at one end onto a lateral edge of the corresponding strip 10 , whereas their other end is at a distance from the other lateral edge of the strip 10 .
- a heat-sealable plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride, for example
- the two strips 10 are then moved towards each other and pressed together with their semicylindrical cells 12 substantially vertical and facing each other to form cylindrical sheaths 14 open at the top.
- the two strips 10 are fixed together to form a single strip except in a lateral area 16 in which the two strips 10 remain separate from each other, this lateral area 16 extending along the lateral edge of the strips 10 on the same side as the bottoms of the sheaths 14 .
- the two strips 10 are heat-welded together at a temperature of approximately 200° C.
- the next step of the method consists of pouring into each sheath 14 a metered quantity of a liquid mixture containing an antiseptic product and a hydrophobic and lubricating excipient.
- the mixture is prepared by melting the excipient, which is advantageously based on glycerides, for example the product SUPPOCIRE AM sold by GATTEFOSSE.
- the product is placed in a tank 18 with thermostatically controlled heating walls. This tank is heated to a temperature of approximately 50-55° C., for example, and a quantity of excipient is then placed in it, for example approximately 60 kg; the excipient is then maintained in the molten state in the tank at a temperature in the order of 38° C.
- the tank 18 is equipped with a paddle-blade stirrer for mixing the excipient in the tank until it has all melted.
- a predetermined quantity of an antiseptic product is then added to the tank, preferably nonoxynol 9, which is an anhydrous viscous liquid, principally composed of polyethylene glycol monononylphenyl ethers, with the general formula C9H19C6H4—(OCH2—CH2)n-OH, where n is generally equal to 9 but can be from 6 to 16.
- nonoxynol 9 is an anhydrous viscous liquid, principally composed of polyethylene glycol monononylphenyl ethers, with the general formula C9H19C6H4—(OCH2—CH2)n-OH, where n is generally equal to 9 but can be from 6 to 16.
- the tank 18 is connected to metering apparatus 20 of a type known in the art for pouring the mixture of antiseptic product and excipient into the sheaths 14 , at a rate of 700 mg per sheath, for example, to fill the lower ends of the sheaths.
- Standard tampons 22 are then inserted into the sheaths 14 , for example manually or by means of an automatic feed system 24 , so that the rounded end 26 of the tampon is immersed in the mixture contained in the bottom of the sheath 14 .
- the standard tampon 22 is made from natural fibers (viscose and/or cotton) contained in a soft web of a non-woven textile material and possibly includes an extraction cord 28 made from a hydrophobic material.
- the sheaths 14 containing the tampons 22 then move to a sealing and marking station 30 in which the upper end 32 of each sheath 14 is sealed and printed with a batch number and an expiry date.
- the sheaths 14 then enter a tunnel in which they are cooled to room temperature, at which the mixture of antiseptic product and excipient covering the lower end portion of each tampon 22 solidifies.
- Pre-cut transverse lines 24 are formed in the strips 10 between the sheaths 14 .
- Cutting means 36 then cut the strips 10 into cards containing a predetermined number of tampons packaged in the sheaths 14 .
- the cards can themselves be packaged in cardboard cartons on which the corresponding batch numbers and expiry dates are printed.
- FIG. 2 is a diagram showing to a larger scale a tampon according to the invention in its individual packaging sheath 14 .
- the lower end 26 of the tampon 22 has a solid covering consisting of the mixture of the antiseptic product and the hydrophobic and lubricating excipient and the lower end of the sheath 14 is extended by two independent flaps formed by the parts of the strips 10 in the free area 16 between two transverse cuts 34 , enabling the sheath to be opened easily by pulling on these two flaps.
- the quantity of antiseptic product that each tampon includes can obviously be varied to some degree. It is less than approximately 150 mg and preferably of the order of 50 mg in the case of nonoxynol 9. Similarly, the quantity of hydrophobic and lubricating excipient can vary about the value of 650 mg per tampon, for example from approximately 500 to 800 mg.
- the antiseptic product and the hydrophobic and lubricating excipient used are very well tolerated and have virtually no contra-indications, with the result that the tampon according to the invention does not cause any irritation of the mucous membranes of the vagina, and tests have shown that it can be classified as a material that is not sensitized by contact with the skin.
- the tampon according to the invention can also be used at the end of a menstrual period to reseed the flora normally present in the vagina.
- Doderlein's bacillus (Bacillus casei) is added to the mixture of the antiseptic product and the excipient poured into the packaging sheaths 14 .
- Doderlein's bacillus is available in freeze-dried form and is metered at a rate of the order of 80 to 120 mg per tampon, preferably approximately 90 mg.
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Epidemiology (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Hematology (AREA)
- Microbiology (AREA)
- Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
- Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
- Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
- Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
- Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)
- Compounds Of Alkaline-Earth Elements, Aluminum Or Rare-Earth Metals (AREA)
- Lubricants (AREA)
- Food Preservation Except Freezing, Refrigeration, And Drying (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to an antiseptic tampon and a method of preparing it, which method consists of introducing metered quantities of a liquid mixture of antiseptic product and hydrophobic excipient into individual sheaths (14) for packaging tampons, then introducing standard tampons (22) into said sheaths (14) so that their lower ends are immersed in the mixture of antiseptic product and excipient, and then closing and sealing said sheaths (14).
Description
- This application is a continuation of the PCT International Application No. PCT/FR00/03681 filed Dec. 26, 2000, which is based on the French Application No. 99-16847 filed Dec. 29, 1999.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The invention relates to an antiseptic tampon and a method of preparing it.
- 2. Description of the Prior Art
- A standard tampon is known to constitute a focus of potential infection of the vagina because its insertion can be accompanied by the introduction of more or less pathogenic bacteria present in the vulva and on the surrounding skin surface. The tampon is made from an absorbent material and tends to dry the mucous membranes of the vagina, which makes them fragile and more sensitive to various infections.
- To reduce this inconvenience it has been proposed to make tampons from a less absorbent material, although they then have to be changed more frequently, for example every four hours, which is highly inconvenient and a great nuisance.
- A tampon has also been proposed, in particular in the document EP-A-0 110 793, which has a cup-shaped cell at one end and a pessary containing an antiseptic or medication and fixed into the cell by a soluble adhesive gum. When the tampon is inserted, the pessary is in the vicinity of the neck of the uterus and renders aseptic the vagina and the blood flowing into the vagina.
- The above tampon is difficult to mass produce economically, in particular because of the cell formed at the end of the tampon, the application of a soluble adhesive gum and the placing of a pessary of antiseptic or medication in the cell.
- The object aims particularly to provide a simple, effective and economic solution to the problems cited above.
- An object of this invention is an aseptic tampon which avoids the risks of infection of the vagina without making the mucous membranes of the vagina fragile.
- Also an object of this invention is an antiseptic tampon which is prepared from a standard tampon.
- A further object of this invention is a method of preparing an antiseptic tampon which is economical and which lends itself to automatic mass production on machines of a type known in the art.
- Accordingly, the invention proposes a method of preparing a tampon made from an absorbent material and containing an antiseptic product, characterized in that it consists of introducing metered quantities of a liquid mixture of antiseptic product and hydrophobic excipient into individual tampon packaging sheaths, then introducing tampons into said sheaths so that their ends intended to be covered with said mixture are at the bottom of said sheaths and in contact with the mixture, and closing and sealing said sheaths.
- Thus tampons in accordance with the invention are prepared concomitantly with packaging them, in a particularly simple and economic manner.
- According to another further characteristic of the invention, this method also consists of preparing the mixture of antiseptic product and excipient by heating the excipient to melt it, adding the antiseptic product to the molten excipient and mixing the antiseptic product and the excipient before pouring the mixture into the packaging sheaths, and then solidifying the mixture of antiseptic product and excipient on the tampons by cooling after closing the sheaths.
- This produces a lubricating, hydrophobic, antiseptic and strong covering of the end of the tampon which is inserted into the vagina first.
- Advantageously, the method according to the invention also consists of thermoforming semicylindrical cells in two strips of plastics material, for example PVC, the cells opening onto a lateral edge of said strips, applying the two strips face-to-face to form said sheaths by joining two facing cells, and heat-welding the two strips together.
- A method of the above kind can be executed on machines of a type known in the art, used in particular to manufacture suppositories, and therefore requires a small investment in hardware, since it is sufficient to adapt existing machines.
- According to another feature of the invention, Döderlein's bacillus (lactobacillus casei) is added to the mixture of the excipient and the antiseptic product before they are poured into the packaging of the tampons, for example in freeze-dried form and at a rate of the order of 90 mg per tampon.
- The tampons prepared in the above way are intended to be used at the end of a menstrual period, to re-seed the flora normally present in the vagina.
- The invention also proposes an antiseptic tampon, prepared by the method above-described, characterized in that the mixture of the antiseptic product and the hydrophobic excipient forms a covering of an end portion of the tampon.
- This mixture of antiseptic product and hydrophobic excipient covers the end part of the tampon in the vicinity of the neck of the uterus when the tampon is in place and prevents all risk of drying the mucous membranes of the vagina or making them fragile, with an additional antiseptic effect which protects the vagina from the risks of infection.
- The hydrophobic excipient is advantageously a lubricant which facilitates inserting the tampon and avoids the need to use an applicator.
- In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the antiseptic product is nonoxynol 9.
- The above product has been used for more than thirty years as a spermicide in many preparations for vaginal application and its good local and general tolerance have been proven by many studies.
- According to another feature of the invention, this antiseptic tampon is prepared from a standard tampon.
- This feature greatly reduces the unit cost of the tampon according to the invention.
- The invention will be better understood and other features, details and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent after reading the following description, which is given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- FIG. 1 is a diagram showing essential steps of a method according to the invention;
- FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a tampon in accordance with the invention inside its individual packaging.
- In the method shown in FIG. 1, the first step consists of paying out two
strips 10 of a heat-sealable plastics material, such as polyvinyl chloride, for example, and thermoformingsemicylindrical cells 12 in each of the strips, the cells opening at one end onto a lateral edge of thecorresponding strip 10, whereas their other end is at a distance from the other lateral edge of thestrip 10. - The two
strips 10 are then moved towards each other and pressed together with theirsemicylindrical cells 12 substantially vertical and facing each other to formcylindrical sheaths 14 open at the top. - The two
strips 10 are fixed together to form a single strip except in alateral area 16 in which the twostrips 10 remain separate from each other, thislateral area 16 extending along the lateral edge of thestrips 10 on the same side as the bottoms of thesheaths 14. - In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two
strips 10 are heat-welded together at a temperature of approximately 200° C. - The next step of the method consists of pouring into each sheath14 a metered quantity of a liquid mixture containing an antiseptic product and a hydrophobic and lubricating excipient.
- The mixture is prepared by melting the excipient, which is advantageously based on glycerides, for example the product SUPPOCIRE AM sold by GATTEFOSSE. The product is placed in a
tank 18 with thermostatically controlled heating walls. This tank is heated to a temperature of approximately 50-55° C., for example, and a quantity of excipient is then placed in it, for example approximately 60 kg; the excipient is then maintained in the molten state in the tank at a temperature in the order of 38° C. Thetank 18 is equipped with a paddle-blade stirrer for mixing the excipient in the tank until it has all melted. - A predetermined quantity of an antiseptic product is then added to the tank, preferably nonoxynol 9, which is an anhydrous viscous liquid, principally composed of polyethylene glycol monononylphenyl ethers, with the general formula C9H19C6H4—(OCH2—CH2)n-OH, where n is generally equal to 9 but can be from 6 to 16.
- 5 kg of nonoxynol 9 and 65 kg of excipient are placed in the
tank 18, for example, and mixed for approximately 30 minutes at 38° C. to obtain a homogeneous mixture. - The
tank 18 is connected tometering apparatus 20 of a type known in the art for pouring the mixture of antiseptic product and excipient into thesheaths 14, at a rate of 700 mg per sheath, for example, to fill the lower ends of the sheaths. -
Standard tampons 22 are then inserted into thesheaths 14, for example manually or by means of anautomatic feed system 24, so that therounded end 26 of the tampon is immersed in the mixture contained in the bottom of thesheath 14. - The
standard tampon 22 is made from natural fibers (viscose and/or cotton) contained in a soft web of a non-woven textile material and possibly includes anextraction cord 28 made from a hydrophobic material. - The
sheaths 14 containing thetampons 22 then move to a sealing and markingstation 30 in which theupper end 32 of eachsheath 14 is sealed and printed with a batch number and an expiry date. - The
sheaths 14 then enter a tunnel in which they are cooled to room temperature, at which the mixture of antiseptic product and excipient covering the lower end portion of eachtampon 22 solidifies. - Pre-cut
transverse lines 24 are formed in thestrips 10 between thesheaths 14. - Cutting means36 then cut the
strips 10 into cards containing a predetermined number of tampons packaged in thesheaths 14. The cards can themselves be packaged in cardboard cartons on which the corresponding batch numbers and expiry dates are printed. - FIG. 2 is a diagram showing to a larger scale a tampon according to the invention in its
individual packaging sheath 14. - The
lower end 26 of thetampon 22 has a solid covering consisting of the mixture of the antiseptic product and the hydrophobic and lubricating excipient and the lower end of thesheath 14 is extended by two independent flaps formed by the parts of thestrips 10 in thefree area 16 between twotransverse cuts 34, enabling the sheath to be opened easily by pulling on these two flaps. - The quantity of antiseptic product that each tampon includes can obviously be varied to some degree. It is less than approximately 150 mg and preferably of the order of 50 mg in the case of nonoxynol 9. Similarly, the quantity of hydrophobic and lubricating excipient can vary about the value of 650 mg per tampon, for example from approximately 500 to 800 mg.
- The preparation of tampons in accordance with the invention, which uses standard tampons and existing machines for manufacturing suppositories, is highly economical and requires a relatively small investment.
- The antiseptic product and the hydrophobic and lubricating excipient used are very well tolerated and have virtually no contra-indications, with the result that the tampon according to the invention does not cause any irritation of the mucous membranes of the vagina, and tests have shown that it can be classified as a material that is not sensitized by contact with the skin.
- Repeated use of the tampon reduces and prevents the risks of infection and strengthens the protection of the mucous membranes of the vagina.
- The tampon according to the invention can also be used at the end of a menstrual period to reseed the flora normally present in the vagina. To this end, Doderlein's bacillus (Bacillus casei) is added to the mixture of the antiseptic product and the excipient poured into the
packaging sheaths 14. Doderlein's bacillus is available in freeze-dried form and is metered at a rate of the order of 80 to 120 mg per tampon, preferably approximately 90 mg.
Claims (12)
1. A method of preparing tampons made from an absorbent material and containing an antiseptic product, comprising the following steps of:
introducing metered quantities of a liquid mixture of said antiseptic product and a hydrophobic excipient into individual tampon packaging sheaths,
then introducing said tampons into said sheaths so that ends of said tampons intended to be covered with said mixture are at the bottom of said sheaths and in contact with said mixture, and
closing and sealing said sheaths.
2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of preparing said mixture of antiseptic product and hydrophobic excipient by heat-melting said excipient, by adding said antiseptic product to the molten excipient and by mixing said antiseptic product and said molten excipient before pouring said mixture into said sheaths, and then by solidifying said mixture on said tampons by cooling after closing said sheaths.
3. A method according to claim 1 , comprising a step of adding Dbderlein's bacillus to said mixture of antiseptic product and hydrophobic excipient, before pouring said mixture into said sheaths.
4. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of thermoforming semicylindrical cells in two strips of plastics material, said cells opening onto a lateral edge of said strips, applying said two strips face-to-face to form said sheaths by joining two facing semi-cylindrical cells, and heat-welding said strips together.
5. An antiseptic tampon made from an absorbent material and having an end portion covered by a mixture of an antiseptic product and an hydrophobic excipient.
6. A tampon according to claim 5 , wherein said antiseptic product is nonoxynol 9.
7. A tampon according to claim 5 , wherein said hydrophobic excipient is a lubricant and is based on glycerides.
8. A tampon according to claim 5 , wherein said mixture contains a quantity of said antiseptic product less than to approximately 150 mg.
9. A tampon according to claim 5 , wherein said mixture contains approximately 500 to 800 mg of said hydrophobic excipient.
10. A tampon according to claim 5 , individually packaged in a sealed sheath of plastics material.
11. A tampon according to claim 5 , prepared from a standard tampon.
12. A tampon according to claim 5 , wherein said mixture covering of said end portion contains Doderlein's bacillus and said tampon is intended to be used at the end of a menstrual period.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/470,569 US7091395B2 (en) | 1999-12-29 | 2003-06-02 | Antiseptic tampon and method of preparing it |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR99-16847 | 1999-12-29 | ||
FR9916847A FR2803208A1 (en) | 1999-12-29 | 1999-12-29 | PERIODIC ANTISEPTIC BUFFER AND PROCESS FOR PREPARING THE SAME |
PCT/FR2000/003681 WO2001049332A1 (en) | 1999-12-29 | 2000-12-26 | Antiseptic tampon and preparation method |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/FR2000/003681 Continuation WO2001049332A1 (en) | 1999-12-29 | 2000-12-26 | Antiseptic tampon and preparation method |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/470,569 Division US7091395B2 (en) | 1999-12-29 | 2003-06-02 | Antiseptic tampon and method of preparing it |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20020173760A1 true US20020173760A1 (en) | 2002-11-21 |
Family
ID=9554147
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/173,098 Abandoned US20020173760A1 (en) | 1999-12-29 | 2002-06-18 | Antiseptic tampon and method of preparing it |
US10/470,569 Expired - Fee Related US7091395B2 (en) | 1999-12-29 | 2003-06-02 | Antiseptic tampon and method of preparing it |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/470,569 Expired - Fee Related US7091395B2 (en) | 1999-12-29 | 2003-06-02 | Antiseptic tampon and method of preparing it |
Country Status (20)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US20020173760A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1242127B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4517561B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR100785135B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1198657C (en) |
AT (1) | ATE247991T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU768534B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BR0016789A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2395562C (en) |
DE (1) | DE60004884T2 (en) |
DK (1) | DK1242127T3 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2203553T3 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2803208A1 (en) |
IL (1) | IL150443A0 (en) |
MX (1) | MXPA02006501A (en) |
PL (1) | PL199038B1 (en) |
PT (1) | PT1242127E (en) |
RU (1) | RU2232567C2 (en) |
TR (1) | TR200301850T4 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001049332A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050070865A1 (en) * | 1999-12-29 | 2005-03-31 | Jean-Bastien Pasquini | Antiseptic tampon and method of preparing it |
US20050186427A1 (en) * | 2004-02-19 | 2005-08-25 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Lubricious coated applicator |
US8616149B2 (en) | 2009-03-23 | 2013-12-31 | Uni-Charm Corporation | Apparatus for manufacturing a tampon |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2450013B1 (en) * | 2006-11-24 | 2017-07-12 | Intigena (Schweiz) AG | Sanitary tampon |
EP2863808B1 (en) | 2012-06-22 | 2022-01-26 | Preprogen LLC | Method for obtaining fetal cells and fetal cellular components |
EP3196133B1 (en) * | 2016-01-19 | 2018-03-14 | Ontex BVBA | Improved wrapping device and method |
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- 2000-12-26 BR BR0016789-4A patent/BR0016789A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2000-12-26 IL IL15044300A patent/IL150443A0/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-12-26 CN CNB008179522A patent/CN1198657C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2000-12-26 JP JP2001549698A patent/JP4517561B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2000-12-26 PL PL355445A patent/PL199038B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-12-26 EP EP00993690A patent/EP1242127B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-12-26 TR TR2003/01850T patent/TR200301850T4/en unknown
- 2000-12-26 DE DE60004884T patent/DE60004884T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-12-26 MX MXPA02006501A patent/MXPA02006501A/en active IP Right Grant
- 2000-12-26 KR KR1020027008407A patent/KR100785135B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-12-26 AU AU28590/01A patent/AU768534B2/en not_active Ceased
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- 2000-12-26 WO PCT/FR2000/003681 patent/WO2001049332A1/en active IP Right Grant
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- 2000-12-26 ES ES00993690T patent/ES2203553T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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US8616149B2 (en) | 2009-03-23 | 2013-12-31 | Uni-Charm Corporation | Apparatus for manufacturing a tampon |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP4517561B2 (en) | 2010-08-04 |
PT1242127E (en) | 2003-11-28 |
IL150443A0 (en) | 2002-12-01 |
ES2203553T3 (en) | 2004-04-16 |
DE60004884T2 (en) | 2004-09-09 |
RU2002120505A (en) | 2004-02-20 |
TR200301850T4 (en) | 2004-01-21 |
ATE247991T1 (en) | 2003-09-15 |
AU768534B2 (en) | 2003-12-18 |
US7091395B2 (en) | 2006-08-15 |
PL199038B1 (en) | 2008-08-29 |
CA2395562A1 (en) | 2001-07-12 |
WO2001049332A1 (en) | 2001-07-12 |
EP1242127A1 (en) | 2002-09-25 |
DE60004884D1 (en) | 2003-10-02 |
FR2803208A1 (en) | 2001-07-06 |
RU2232567C2 (en) | 2004-07-20 |
KR20020067579A (en) | 2002-08-22 |
BR0016789A (en) | 2002-09-24 |
PL355445A1 (en) | 2004-04-19 |
JP2003523800A (en) | 2003-08-12 |
EP1242127B1 (en) | 2003-08-27 |
MXPA02006501A (en) | 2004-06-21 |
CA2395562C (en) | 2007-04-03 |
CN1198657C (en) | 2005-04-27 |
AU2859001A (en) | 2001-07-16 |
CN1414867A (en) | 2003-04-30 |
KR100785135B1 (en) | 2007-12-11 |
US20050070865A1 (en) | 2005-03-31 |
DK1242127T3 (en) | 2003-11-17 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PASQUINI, JEAN-BASTIEN, LUXEMBOURG Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:PASQUINI, MICHEL;PASQUINI, JEAN-BASTIEN;REEL/FRAME:013137/0380 Effective date: 20020603 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: J&J ASSET SECURISATION, LUXEMBOURG Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PASQUINI, JEAN-BASTIEN;REEL/FRAME:018816/0647 Effective date: 20061221 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |