Claims for Patent: 6,103,248

Summary for Patent: 6,103,248

Title:	Topical preparation and therapy for head lice
Abstract:	A topical preparation for applying to scalp hair for the treatment of head lice, the topical preparation including a killing agent effective to kill the head lice, a lipophilic carrier for the killing agent, the carrier including a surfactant effective to allow the topical preparation to be washed out of the hair, and the carrier having a viscosity within a range of from about 10,000 centipoise to about 85,000 centipoise at 21.degree. C. A topical therapy for head lice includes applying the topical preparation to dry scalp hair infested with head lice, and leaving the topical preparation on the hair at least about 15 minutes. The therapy preferably includes applying a second application of the topical preparation about 6-10 days after the first application.
Inventor(s):	Burkhart; Craig G. (Toledo, OH), Burkhart; Craig N. (Toledo, OH)
Assignee:
Application Number:	09/083,593
Patent Claims:	1. A topical preparation for applying to scalp hair for the treatment of head lice, the topical preparation comprising: a killing agent effective to kill the head lice, a lipophilic carrier for the killing agent, the carrier containing a surfactant effective to allow the topical preparation to be washed out of the scalp hair, and the carrier having a viscosity within a range of from about 10,000 centipoise to about 85,000 centipoise at 21.degree. C. 2. The topical preparation defined in claim 1 wherein the killing agent is an insecticide. 3. The topical preparation defined in claim 1 wherein the carrier by itself is effective to kill adult head lice. 4. The topical preparation defined in claim 1 wherein the surfactant has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance within a range of from about 4 to about 12. 5. The topical preparation defined in claim 1 wherein the surfactant comprises a mixture of a hydrophilic surfactant and a lipophilic surfactant. 6. The topical preparation defined in claim 1 wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant. 7. The topical preparation defined in claim 1 wherein the carrier has a viscosity within a range of from about 25,000 centipoise to about 65,000 centipoise at 21.degree. C. 8. The topical preparation defined in claim 1 wherein the surfactant is present in an amount within a range of from about 10% to about 20% surfactant by weight of the carrier. 9. The topical preparation defined in claim 1 wherein the carrier has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance of not greater than about 8.5. 10. A topical therapy for head lice comprising applying a first application of a topical preparation to dry scalp hair infested with head lice, and leaving the topical preparation on the scalp hair at least about 15 minutes, the topical preparation comprising a killing agent effective to kill the head lice, a lipophilic carrier for the killing agent, the carrier containing a surfactant effective to allow the topical preparation to be washed out of the scalp hair, and the carrier having a viscosity within a range of from about 10,000 centipoise to about 85,000 centipoise at 21.degree. C. 11. The topical therapy defined in claim 10 additionally comprising applying a second application of the topical preparation about 6-10 days after the first application. 12. The topical therapy defined in claim 11 additionally comprising applying a third application of the topical preparation about 6-10 days after the second application. 13. The topical therapy defined in claim 10 wherein the topical preparation is applied so that the scalp hair is totally saturated with the topical preparation. 14. The topical therapy defined in claim 10 wherein the topical preparation is left on the scalp hair at least about one hour. 15. The topical therapy defined in claim 10 wherein the topical preparation is left on the scalp hair overnight. 16. The topical therapy defined in claim 10 wherein the treated person changes clothes after application of the topical preparation. 17. The topical therapy defined in claim 10 wherein the topical preparation is applied so that the scalp hair is totally saturated with the topical preparation, the carrier by itself is effective to kill adult head lice, and the killing agent is effective to kill lice eggs to prevent reinfestation. 18. The topical therapy defined in claim 10 wherein the surfactant has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance within a range of from about 4 to about 12. 19. A topical preparation for applying to scalp hair for the treatment of head lice, the topical preparation comprising: a killing agent effective to kill the head lice, a lipophilic carrier for the killing agent, the carrier containing a surfactant effective to allow the topical preparation to be washed out of the scalp hair, and the carrier having a viscosity within a range of from about 25,000 centipoise to about 85,000 centipoise at 21.degree. C. 20. The topical preparation defined in claim 19 wherein the carrier has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance of not greater than about 8.5.