Abstract:
A protein-based composition for application to the mouth end of a smoking article to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide, tar and nicotine inhaled by a smoker. Also disclosed is a method for the cessation of smoking by applying the protein-based compostion to the mouth end of a smoking article.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to the tobacco art, and more particularly, to a smoking cessation product comprising a protein for binding carbon monoxide and a fluid/gel base that is applied to a smoking article and that reduces the amount of carbon monoxide, tar and nicotine that is inhaled by a smoker.  
           [0002]    There have been attempts to design tar and nicotine reducing elements for tobacco smoke described in the prior art and several of these elements contain means for moistening or humidifying a porous filter. Typically, a frangible module containing water or an aqueous solution is embedded in the filter and the module is compressed to release the liquid before the filter is used. The moistened filter material in the element then exhibits an improved ability to remove the primary tars and nicotine.  
           [0003]    For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,246, to Eric E. Walker, a tobacco smoke filter element comprised of a resilient, water impervious elongated tubular casing having a porous plug of filtering material disposed in each end of said casing; opposed, mutually spaced, disc-like walls disposed within said casing between said plugs, one wall within said casing between said plugs and one wall abutting the inner surface of each plug, said walls defining a chamber within the central portion of said casing and having at least one port in each wall. The device further includes at least one liquid containing module disposed within said chamber and extending between said walls, wherein said walls have at least one passage for allowing smoke through said filter element and means carried by said element and cooperating between said module and at least one port in each of said walls for directing liquid from said module through the ports into said plugs responsive to compression of the external walls of said chamber so that said plugs may act selectively as a dry filter, or when said casing is compressed, as a filter moistened by said liquid.  
           [0004]    In U.S. Pat. No. 3,428,049 to Leake et al., one or more modules are surrounded by a compressed filter material in the element. When the module is compressed, the liquid saturates the filter material causing it to expand into the space occupied by the module. It is made as part of the cigarette, confined to the filter.  
           [0005]    In U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,226 to Horsewell et al. a liquid-containing capsule is disposed between an absorbent plug, adjacent the tobacco, and a nonabsorbent plug such that when the capsule is compressed the liquid is released into the absorbent plug. U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,665 to Lundegard also describes a frangible, liquid containing module disposed between two plugs. Compression of this module releases the liquid into both plugs for enhanced filtering.  
           [0006]    In addition, many different liquids have been encapsulated within the filter mechanism of smoking articles to moisten the filters. Examples thereof are water, glycerin, and aqueous solutions or emulsions containing aromatic flavoring agents. These liquids act, in the filter, primarily to cool the smoke and to facilitate condensation of volatile components therein on the filter substrate.  
           [0007]    The above described filters describe smoke filters containing collapsible or frangible capsules filled with water or other liquids. Filter elements containing liquid pose a problem of retaining the liquid during storage, and those containing capsules or other containers of a liquid often present within the filter structure cause a problem when the liquid is released as the liquid holds the filter element in a collapsed state after pressure on filter has been released.  
           [0008]    Thus, the aforementioned prior art filters lack the desired versatility necessary for widespread acceptance.  
           [0009]    In the above described products, the liquid products were incorporated inside the filter or made as an attachment to the filter.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,003,387, 4,046,153 and 3,797,644, are directed to, AquaFilter, a disposable cigarette holder made of plastic, which has a wet cotton filter on the inside. The wetness in the cotton filter is glycerin and water. The holder is attached to the mouth end of a cigarette through which smoke is drawn into and over the wet cotton filter, held together by plastic casing, into a smoker&#39;s mouth. This caused the smoke to condensate tar and nicotine (total particular matter) on to the fiber wet filter. Most smokers, however, object to having a foreign object, such as a plastic attachment in their mouth.  
           [0011]    As a practical matter, the process of manufacturing and packaging cigarettes and the necessity for storing cigarettes of varying periods of time, have proven to be affected because of damage to filter, drying out, impact or disfiguring of the filter with moisture before being smoked.  
           [0012]    Another example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,319,632 to Henry Burbig, relates to a cigarette moistener device. In this device the interior of the filter tip of a cigarette is moistened. The device is topped by a receptacle and is provided with a hollow needle extending axially thereof, wherein the needle has a number of openings in the side thereof and the hollow needle extends into the moistener container. Where the moistener container is a squeeze bottle with resilient side, the insertion of the filter into the receptacle and squeezing the sides of the moistener container will result in impregnating the inner part of the filter with moisture The utilization of a hollow needle of greatly restricted diameter will meter the amount of moisture thus expressed on a single squeeze, to impregnate the interior of the cigarette filter with water.  
           [0013]    In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,158, 099 and 5, 240,015 to Rosen et al, the invention is a wetted impact barrier that is applied to the surface of a cigarette filter. This product has the ability to remove nicotine and tar. This solution does not remove carbon monoxide from the smoke.  
           [0014]    However, none of the above products/inventions are suitable for removing carbon monoxide gas from the cigarette smoke. Therefore, they are ineffective in treating smoking addiction.  
           [0015]    Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that reduces the bloods ability to transport oxygen around the body. It is present in quantity in cigarette and smoke. As it reduces the body&#39;s oxygen carrying ability, the heart is required to beat faster to compensate for the lack of oxygenated blood. This leads to heart disease and strokes—the biggest killer of smokers. Traditionally, quit smoking solutions, such as those mentioned above, have concentrated on nicotine removal, as nicotine is a chemical that makes smoking addictive. However, this may not be the only addictive aspect of cigarette smoke. Increased heart rate due to CO stimulates the smoker, and thus makes the activity of smoking more enjoyable and reinforces the desire to smoke. In addition, CO is responsible for reducing the flow of oxygen and nutrients through the placenta to a developing fetus and is therefore a major health risk when a pregnant woman smokes.  
           [0016]    In 1995, approximately 14 percent of women smoked during pregnancy down 5 percent from 1994 and 29 percent since 1989. Despite the decline, smoking prevalence among pregnant women still exceeds the Healthy People 2000 objective to reduce smoking by pregnant women to 10 percent (Center for Disease Control—Fact Sheet on Smoking and Pregnancy, http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/fact/smokpreg.htm). Numerous scientific studies have established that smoking by pregnant women, or their regular exposure to secondhand smoke, dramatically increases the risk of a range of health problems both to themselves and their offspring, including the following: spontaneous abortions, ectopic pregnancies, other birth and delivery problems, fetal brain damage, growth retardation/low birth weight, lower or higher than normal infant blood pressure (depending on gestational age at delivery), problems requiring neonatal intensive care, infant death from perinatal disorders, sudden infant death syndrome, cancer-causing agents in infant&#39;s blood, potentially carcinogenic genetic mutations, childhood leukemia, mental retardation, respiratory disorders during childhood, eye problems during childhood, Attention Deficit Disorder, other learning and developmental problems, behavioral problems, violence, and criminality, smoking during adolescence and various adult health problems.  
           [0017]    Thus, there is a major need for a product that reduces the toxicity of smoking articles and aids in the cessation of smoking.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0018]    The invention is a smoking cessation product which utilizes proteins that bind carbon monoxide. The proteins are integrated with a base fluid to form a combined gel. When applied to the filter of a cigarette, the combined gel has the ability to remove or reduce the nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide levels in the cigarette smoke.  
           [0019]    Using a protein to trap carbon monoxide (CO) reduces the effect that CO has on the smoker. Specifically, a smoker&#39;s blood cells will not become saturated to the same degree with CO, (forming carboxyhaemoglobin) which will lead to a reduced burden on the cardiovascular system. In addition, a decrease in carboxyhaemoglobin levels leads to a reduction in a smoker&#39;s heart rate and this in turn reduces the feeling of euphoria that smokers receive when smoking. Since increased heart rate induced by CO reinforces the psychological and physiological motivation to smoke, a reduction of CO and thus heart rate reduces the motivation to smoke and results in a better, more effective, smoking cessation product.  
           [0020]    Cessation of smoking and the reduction of CO, tar and nicotine in cigarettes provides a major advantage to women who smoke during pregnancy. CO crosses the placenta barrier and is a major health hazard to the unborn fetus. Other smoking cessation compositions that allow the smoker to continue smoking while they are attempting to quit nevertheless expose the fetus to potential CO harm. Utiilzing this present invention, pregnant smokers can still continue to smoke while undergoing nicotine withdrawal treatment and the CO effect on the infant is reduced.  
           [0021]    The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying description below. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description. In the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms also include the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All patents and publications cited in this specification are incorporated herein by reference.  
         DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0022]    The smoking cessation product comprises a composition that is applied to the mouth end of a smoking article. Various proteins can be used in this invention, for example, Heme proteins, such as Hemoglobin and Myoglobin and proteins containing a Heme group; Blue Copper Proteins, Metalloproteins and CooA protein. In a preferred embodiment, Hemoglobin is used. The invention is not limited however, to these proteins and any protein that attracts or binds with carbon monoxide (CO) can be used.  
           [0023]    Alongside the protein, a control agent/chemical can be used to decrease the affinity of the protein to bind with oxygen and facilitate the binding of CO. As a non-limiting example, 2,3 diphosphoglycerine is used alongside Hemoglobin to shift the oxygen-dissociation balance from oxygen to CO.  
           [0024]    In addition, the pH levels of the combined gel can be maintained in a stable range, facilitating the dissociation of oxygen in favor of CO. Citric acid, in varying amounts depending upon the composition of the gel/fluid, can be used to moderate the pH value.  
           [0025]    A gel/fluid base component of the invention can be made from syrup-type solutions, such as; corn syrups, honey, glycol, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, maple syrup. In addition, any sugar base liquids, such as; all fruit syrups, gur-gum, may also be used. Further, all food grade oils, such as; soybean oil, corn oil, pectin and food grade gels may be used. The base component acts when applied physically by the user on the top surface of the mouthpiece of all filter types, primarily acts as a barrier, when smoked, causing impact, cooling of the smoke and facilitating condensation of nicotine and tar compounds which are able to be seen on the top surface of mouthpiece of cigarettes.  
           [0026]    The composition is not part of a cigarette or cigarette rod. Only when the fluid is applied physically onto the top surface of the filter mouthpiece of the cigarette does it become part of the filter. The gel/fluid is made in a clean environment and mixed utilizing normal machinery, though methodologies may vary. The fluid can be colored so that one can see where the fluid is being applied to the top surface of filter mouthpiece. The gel/fluid base has a viscosity to coat the end of a cigarette wherein the coating or composition placed on the end of the cigarette being of sufficient amount to reduce the tar and nicotine and CO produced from the combustion of said product.  
           [0027]    Although the invention has hereto before been described with regard to use with and application to cigarettes, the composition is also contemplated for use with and application to other smoking articles, such as cigars. The composition can be dispensed onto the filter using a squeezable container having a dispenser, or via a pipette which can be inserted into the container to draw an amount of the composition for application to the filter. In addition to this, any suitable container could be used to dispense the fluid onto the surface of the filter.  
           [0028]    The invention is further defined by reference to the following examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, both to the materials and methods, may be practiced without departing from the purpose and interest of the invention. 
       
    
    
     EXAMPLES  
     Example 1  
       [0029]    For example, one representation of the product is Hemoglobin protein, 2,3 diphosphoglycerine (2,3 DPG), glucose syrup, water, citric acid, sodium benzorate and potassium sorbate, where Hemoglobin binds CO as it passes through the filter, 2,3 DPG increases the affinity of Hemoglobin towards CO, glucose syrup and water act as a cooling and condensing agent and add viscosity to the product, citric acid maintains an appropriate pH level and sodium benzorate and potassium sorbate stabilize the entire product.  
         [0030]    Two brands of cigarettes (Silk Cut and Rothmans) were treated with the combined compound described above by applying three drops of the compound onto the top surface of mouthpiece onto the filter material before being smoked utilizing a squeeze bottle dispenser. The cigarettes were then smoked on a cigarette smoking machine according to the Cambridge method approved and utilized by the F.T.C. Another group Silk Cut and Rothman cigarettes were smoked on the cigarette smoking machine, as is (without the composition). Using the above defined combination composition provided the following results:  
                                                             Brand of   Nicotine       Carbon       Cigarette   Reduction   Tar Reduction   Monoxide Reduction                                Silk Cut   97.1%   98.9%   88.5%       Rothmans   98.0%   99.4%   91.1%