Abstract:
The application describes a convenient portable kit for the application of topical medications. The kit can be used, for example, as a convenient system for application of cold sore medication. The kit includes a container for a quantity of fluid medication sufficient for several treatments together with a plurality of applicators for said medicine. The applicators are specially designed to apply the medicine accurately and with minimal pain.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This application relates to a kit for topical application of medications, for example for the treatment of cold sores. 
     A cold sores, sometimes called a “fever blister,” is a blister or sore which usually appears on the outside of the lips or mouth. It is different from a canker sore, which appears inside the mouth. Cold sores are caused by a virus and are considered a medical condition. Cold sores are usually caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). This virus is part of the same family that causes chickenpox, shingles (herpes zoster), and genital herpes (HSV-2). 
     Cold sores can be different for each person, but, in general, an outbreak lasts about 7 to 10 days and occurs 3 or 4 times a year. During this time, the pain associated with the cold sore can be intense. In addition, cold sores are very contagious and can be spread through physical contact. 
     Treatment for cold sores can be in the form of oral antiviral medications, but is more commonly in the form of a topical antiviral medication, generally in the form of a cream or ointment. Such medications are available for purchase over-the-counter, without a prescription. Common active ingredients in such medications include, without limitation penciclavir (sold under tradenames Vectavir, Fenestil Pencivir and Denivir, and acyclovir (sold under the tradename Zovirax). Other known antiviral agents which have been used topically and which exhibit an inhibitory effect against HSV in vitro, are for example adenine arabinoside (ara-A, vidarabine), arabinosyladenine-monophosphate (ara-AMP), lobucavir (bishydroxymethylcyclobutylguanine, BHCG), brivudine (bromovinyldeoxyuridine, BVDU), desciclovir, famciclovir, cidofovir (HPMPC, GS504), idoxuridine, netivudine (zonavir, BW882C87), PAA (phosphonoacetate), PFA (phosphonoformate), sorivudine (brovavir, BV-araU), trifluridin (trifluorothymidine, TFT), tromantadine, valacyclovir, virend, 1-docosanol (lidakol), 348U87, 2242 (2-amino-7-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl)purine), HOE 961, civamide (capsaicin), PMEA (9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine), peptide T, BILD 1263, CRT. 
     Because of the highly contagious nature of the virus that causes cold sores, persons with cold sores are warned against kissing others, or touching the cold sores. It is therefore surprising that instructions accompanying many over-the counter products direct the user to “squeeze a small amount onto your finger and apply to the affected area.” In some instances, users are directed to wear a glove or a finger cot or use an applicator (e.g. cotton swab) when applying the topical treatment. These conflicting instructions and the extra effort required to use a glove may result in individuals not applying the medication with the recommended frequency (usually every two to three hours) or for the recommended duration (usually  7  days). Cotton swabs may result is fibers being trapped in the cold sore. 
     Notwithstanding the inadequacy of existing methods for application of topical antiviral medications, there are few if any improvements in this area. U.S. Pat. No. 6,211,243 discloses an applicator for cold sore medication which has an absorbent, agitation pad, that is abutted against a frangible reservoir. The pad is a cluster of fibers or bristles which are able to hold the treatment composition and abrade disordered tissue. It appears therefore that the intent of this applicator is to use the same applicator for multiple uses (thereby creating a risk of reinfection or transfer to others) and to scrub the topical agent into the cold sore, a process that would cause pain. US Patent Publication No. 2008/0072432 discloses a “dispensing utensil” which can be used to store and dispense cold sore medication. However, the implement or tool used for this application is an applicator pad or brush. Thus, this is also an applicator for multiple uses with its attendant problems. 
     In short, there remains a need for a product that facilitates easy use of topical cold sore medications, with limited pain and reduced risk of reinfection or transfer of infection to others. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a product. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a kit for the treatment of medical conditions requiring topical application of a medication. The kit comprises a case having disposed therein: 
     (a) a container of the medication, wherein the medication is in a fluid form and wherein the container contains sufficient medication for a plurality of applications; and 
     (b) a plurality of applicators each integrally formed from a resilient material, wherein each applicator comprises a handle portion and a flattened blade portion connected by a neck portion, said neck portion being thinner in cross section in at least one dimension than the handle portion and the blade portion such that the flattened blade portion can be deflected during use, and wherein the flattened blade portion has a surface that does not absorb the medication. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a kit in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of an applicator useful in the kit of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a plurality of applicators on a carrier prior to use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a kit for the treatment of medical conditions requiring topical application of a medication.  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a kit in accordance with the invention. The kit has a case  10 , a container of the medication  12  and a plurality of applicators  14 . Optionally, the kit may also include a mirror  16 , and be able to receive printed instructions for use  18  within the case  10 . The container of medication contains enough of the medication for a plurality of treatments, for example enough for one entire course of recommended treatment. The numbers of the applicators in the kit and the number of treatments are preferably the same. 
       FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of an applicator useful in the kit of the invention. The applicator comprises an integrally formed handle portion  20  and a flattened blade portion  22  connected by a resilient neck portion  24 . The term “integrally formed” means that the applicator is formed from a single piece of shaped material, for example from a molded plastic material. 
     The handle portion  20  in  FIG. 1  has a generally rectangular cross section and has an optional thumb depression  26  formed therein to assist a user in grasping the applicator. The overall shape of the handle portion  20  is, however, a matter of design choice. Thus, the handle portion  20  could have a circular or oval cross section, or a more square cross section and might have raised ridges in place of the thumb depression. 
     The flattened blade portion  22  is the part of the applicator to which the medication is applied. As shown, this portion has a generally flat top surface  28 . The opposing surface (not shown) may also be flat or is may be rounded or have aesthetic features as a design choice. Thus, the term “flattened blade portion” refers to a part of the applicator having at least one generally flat surface  28  to which the medication is applied. The reverse surface may be flat, or may have a curved or decorative surface. 
     The neck portion  24  is a region of reduced cross sectional height disposed between the flattened blade and the handle. In particular, the cross sectional height A in  FIG. 2  is reduced relative to the cross sectional height of the handle and the blade. The neck  24  may also have a reduced cross sectional width if desired. The purpose of the reduction in cross sectional height is to provide the applicator with a resilient flexibility, so that it may bend in the region of the neck when in use. Since cold sores are frequently quite painful, applying medication with a rigid applicator would increase the risk of discomfort, and thus increase the likelihood of non-compliance with the treatment regimen. By reducing the cross sectional height of the neck portion, the applicator has a softer, gentler touch, thus reducing the likelihood of discomfort. 
     The dimensions of applicator are not critical, but represent a balancing of several concerns. It is desirable for the case (which can be made from paper, i.e. a resealable box, or plastic) to be of a size which will conveniently fit in a purse or in a pocket so that it can be easily carried by the user. Since the case may need to house 20, 30 or more applicators in order to handle a full treatment regimen, the size of each individual applicator needs to be fairly small. On the other hand, if the applicator is too small, it becomes difficult for some people to use. Thus, in preferred embodiments, the applicator of the invention has a length of from 3 to 6 cm, for example 3.5 to 6 cm, and a cross sectional height in the handle and blade region of from 0.8 to 1.2 mm. The neck portion then suitably has a lesser cross sectional height, in the range of from 0.5 to 0.7 mm. 
     The applicator is integrally formed from a material which provides two important characteristics: (1) the material should be non-absorbent with respect to the medication; and (2) the material should have sufficient flexibility and resilience to allow the neck to bend in response to very little pressure in order to provide a soft applicator feel. Suitable materials for this purpose are polyolefins, such as low density polyethylene and high density polyethylene, although other plastics that have flexibility sufficient to provide a “soft” touch are also suitable. 
       FIG. 3  shows a plurality of applicators  14  associated on a carrier  30  for placement in the kit of the invention. The number of applicators in the kit may suitably vary from a number sufficient to provide for a day or a few days of treatment (for example 5 to 10 applicators) so that the applicators can be used at times when there is limited ability for hand-washing, or may be a larger number sufficient to provide an applicator for each treatment in the container. In this latter case, the plurality of applicators is equal in number to the plurality of applications in the container. However, it is not necessary that all of the applicators be originally provided in the kit, so long as the case is of sufficient size to receive some plurality of applicators. The applicators may be unwrapped, individually wrapped, or provided on a carrier such as that shown in  FIG. 3  in which they are associated as a group and protected from dust by an overwrap formed from a material such as oriented polyproylene, polythyelene terephthalate (PET) and low density polyolefins for example low density polyethylene. Transparency is desirable to allow visual confirmation of the number of applicators present, but is not required. When a single applicator  14  is removed from the carrier  30 , the remaining applicator tips may remain protected in the carrier  30 , which may be a reclosable sachet. 
     The medication in the container is provided in a fluid form. A fluid form of medication can be squeezed, dropped or pumped from the container and will have sufficient viscosity and/or surface tension to remain on the blade portion of the applicator even if it is tipped into an inverted position in preparation for application. Examples of fluid forms include without limitation gels, foams, creams, ointments, pastes, viscous liquids, and lotions. 
     The container can be a tube, a dropper or a pump dispenser, or any other type of container which can house the medication in a fluid form and dispense it onto the blade portion of the applicator. 
     The medication itself can be any type of medication that is routinely applied as a topical agent over multiple treatments. In specific embodiments, the medication contains an active ingredient used in the treatment of cold sores. Examples of specific active ingredients include without limitation antivirals such as penciclavir, famcyclovir, valcyclovir or acyclovir, numbing agents such as tetracaine, benzocaine, lidocaine, benzyl alcohol, camphor, and phenol; and other active agents used for this purpose such as Docosanol, zinc, lysine, phenol, and tannic acid. 
     To use the kit of the invention, a user takes a single applicator and applies to it an amount of medication consistent with the instructions. If desired, the surface  28  of the blade portion of the applicator may have markings thereon to assist in the dispensing of an appropriate amount of the medication. The specific positioning of these markings, if present will depend on the type of fluid form in which the medication is present, the concentration of the medication, and the size of the area to be treated. Once the medication is on the applicator, the applicator is used to apply the medication to the area to be treated. The applicator is then disposed of since there are additional applicators in the kit for use with subsequent applications. Thus, use of the kit overcomes the need to touch the cold sore or other area being treated with the fingers, the need to touch the medication with the fingers, the need to wash one&#39;s hands before or after the treatment, the risk of cross-contamination through repeat use of the same applicator. In addition, because of the kit format, the medication and the applicators are conveniently carried to be available for treatment initiation at the first sign of a cold sore (a tingle) or for maintaining the treatment regimen throughout a normal day. Thus, use of the kit improves the quality of care and enhances compliance in the treatment of cold sores.