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US4491479A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Shaped semi-solid articles

Assignee: Adnovum AG
•
Filing: 1983-11-10
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Granted: 1985-01-01
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Expires: 2003-11-10
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Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to the formation of a semi-solid article by providing a mixture of monomeric aliphalic or aliphatic polyhydroxy compound and the polymeric polyhydroxy compound which is insoluble in the polyhydroxy compound at room temperature, but is soluble therein at elevated temperatures, forming shaped article from said mixture, heating the shaped article so formed so that the polymeric polyhydroxy compound dissolves in a monomeric polyhydroxy compound and cooling the shaped article while maintaining the shape thereof. This produces a semi-solid material which behaves like a solid in the sense that it retains its shape in the absence of chemical stress and resists deformation if mechanical stress is applied and exhibits elasticity if deformed and is restored in a substantial degree to its original shape if mechanical stress causing the deformation is released. It has been found that these semi-solid articles so formed are hydrophilic in that the material is capable of absorbing water or aqueous solution in substantial amounts. The invention also includes slow release device incorporating the semi-solid article produced by the method of the invention.

Inventors

  • 👤 Alfred E. Lauchenauer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 14:23
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08K; C08K5/00; C08K5/04; C08K5/05; C08K5/053; A; A61; A61L; A61L15/00; A61L15/16; A61L15/20; A61L15/22; A61L15/28

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 118 words
A method of forming a semi-solid shaped article which method comprises (a) forming a mixture comprising (i) a monomeric alicyclic or aliphatic polyhydroxy compound having at least one hydroxy group per 4 carbon atoms, with (ii) a polymeric polyhydroxy compound which is insoluble in said monomeric polyhydroxy compound at room temperatures, but is soluble therein at elevated temperatures (b) forming the shaped article from said mixture (c) heated the shaped article to a temperature at which the polymeric polyhydroxy compound dissolves in the monomeric polyhydroxy compound, (d) and cooling the shaped article while maintaining the shape thereof steps (a) and (b) being effected at a temperature insufficient to dissolve the polymeric polyhydroxy compound in the monomeric polyhydroxy compound.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 118 words
A method of forming a semi-solid shaped article which method comprises (a) forming a mixture comprising (i) a monomeric alicyclic or aliphatic polyhydroxy compound having at least one hydroxy group per 4 carbon atoms, with (ii) a polymeric polyhydroxy compound which is insoluble in said monomeric polyhydroxy compound at room temperatures, but is soluble therein at elevated temperatures (b) forming the shaped article from said mixture (c) heated the shaped article to a temperature at which the polymeric polyhydroxy compound dissolves in the monomeric polyhydroxy compound, (d) and cooling the shaped article while maintaining the shape thereof steps (a) and (b) being effected at a temperature insufficient to dissolve the polymeric polyhydroxy compound in the monomeric polyhydroxy compound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the polymeric polyhydroxy compound is present in relation to the monomeric polyhydroxy compound in the ratio 0.5:99.5 to 20:80 by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the monomeric compound is an aliphatic compound.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the monomeric compound has at least 1 hydroxy group for each 3 carbon atoms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the monomeric polyhydroxy compound comprises a polymer containing not more than five recurring units.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the monomeric polyhydroxy compound contains atoms other than carbon hydrogen and oxygen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the polymeric polyhydroxy compound contains at least one hydroxy group per aliphatic carbon atom, or per ring-carbon atom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the polymeric polyhydroxy compound is capable of absorbing water or an ionic solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that at least one agent for subsequent release to the surroundings is incorporated in said mixture or in said shaped article.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the monomeric polyhydroxy compound is a glycol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 in which the glycol is ethylene glycol, propane diol, or butane diol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the monomeric polyhydroxy compound is glycerol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 37 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the polymeric polyhydroxy compound is selected from the group consisting of guar and ethers or esters thereof, pectine and ethers or esters thereof and cellulose ethers and esters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the shaped article is heated in step (c) to a temperature of 100°-170° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 in which said heating is to 110° to 150° C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 in which the heating is to 120°-145° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 in which the mixture comprises glycerol, xanthane, and hydroxyethyl cellulose.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 in which the mixture comprises glycerol and hydroxypropyl guar.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 15 words
A slow release element comprising a semisolid article produced by the method of claim 9.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 14 words
A slow release element as claimed in claim 19 which is hydrophilic and translucent.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3398007A Cited
US4128507A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-01-01 1988-07-02 1989-01-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-01-01 1992-07-02 1993-01-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-01-01 1996-07-02 1997-01-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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