Patent ID: 12185767

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiments in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exec exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

It is widely known that the presence ofLactobacillusin the vagina plays a key role in maintaining pH levels, and serves an active role in protecting against infection.Lactobacillusspecies have been shown to inhibit growth ofCandidaand bacteria known to cause bacterial vaginosis. In addition, vaginosis has been associated with decreased colony counts ofLactobacillus, suggesting that lack of colonization may lead to increased susceptibility to infection.

Referring toFIGS.1A and1B, illustrated is an infused undergarment10having a preferred use to increase colonization ofLactobacillusin women with vaginal infections. The undergarment10is formed with a waist opening12at the top14of the undergarment10. A left leg opening16is formed at the bottom left18of the undergarment10, and a right leg opening20is formed at the bottom right22of the undergarment10. A crotch portion25is positioned between the left leg opening18and the right leg opening20. The infused undergarment10is preferably in the shape of a panty, wherein a receptacle26is placed in the crotch portion25along the inner surface28of the panty. While a panty is depicted, the receptacle can be constructed and adopted to work in an undergarment as small as a thong. The undergarment10is constructed of a microfiber material having quick drying and moisture wicking properties. In one embodiment, the undergarment is constructed of a microfiber material having a 50% Polyester and 50% Elasterell blended fabric. In another embodiment, the undergarment is constructed of a microfiber material comprising 25% to 50% Elastane. In one embodiment, the receptacle26is formed integral with the undergarment10. In another embodiment, the receptacle26is attached to the inner surface28of the crotch area.

Referring toFIGS.2A and2B, depicted is the receptacle26having a substantially rectangular shape with an upper wall30and a lower wall32to create a cavity therebetween34; the upper wall30including an elongated opening extending a length between the left and right leg openings16,20. Should the receptacle26not be formed integral to the undergarment10, the preferred material remains the same as the undergarment, wherein the receptacle26is attached by thread.

Referring toFIGS.3A and3B, depicted is a polyurethane foam member40to be placed within the receptacle26. The foam member40is an open cell powder-absorbent pad, preferably polyurethane flexible foam made of isocyanates and polyether or polyester polyols. The foam member40has an upper surface42and a lower surface44; the upper surface42having grooves46arranged in a diamond pattern with a depth between 1 mm and 3 mm. One skilled in the art will recognize that the pattern need not be limited to a diamond shape, rather a pattern that has grooves forming a depth is used to hold the powder wherein leg movement operates to help move the powder. For instance in another embodiment a foam member50may have an upper surface52having grooves54with a depth between 1 mm and 3 mm forming a hexagonal or honeycomb pattern56as depicted inFIG.4.

A predetermined amount ofLactobacillus crispatusfreeze dried powder is infused in the foam member40. TheLactobacillus crispatusfreeze dried powder is transferred through the groove46for dispersion through an elongated opening35. The foam member40and receptacle26cause movement of the powder to be distributed along the grooves46and pass through the elongated opening35as a result of leg movement by the individual wearing the undergarment10. The process allows woman to increase the colonization ofLactobacillusin addressing vaginal infections comprising the steps of:

Step 1: providing an undergarment10defined by a waist opening12at the top14of the undergarment, a left leg opening16at the bottom left18of the undergarment, a right leg opening20at the bottom right22of the undergarment, and a crotch portion25in between the left leg opening16and the right leg opening20, and having a receptacle26formed integral or attached to said crotch section25. The receptacle26having an elongated opening35extending a length between said left leg opening16and right leg opening20.

Step 2: inserting a polyurethane foam member40having a predetermined amount ofLactobacillus crispatusFreeze Dried Powder infused in the foam member40into said receptacle26.

Step 3: positioning said undergarment10on a woman's torso, wherein the individual wearing said undergarment10is treated with a release of saidLactobacillus crispatusfreeze dried powder through said elongated opening35during leg movement for treatment of vaginal infections.

Step 4: repeating Steps 1-3 for ten consecutive days.

The foam member40with theLactobacillus crispatusfreeze dried powder operates in combination with grooves to expel the powder from the receptacle26through the opening35. The leg movement of the individual allows movement of powder within the receptacle26and what could be described as a pump. TheLactobacillus crispatusfreeze dried powder is flowable with good handling and packaging characteristics and formulate to retain functional attributes of the native biomolecule. In the preferred process stated above, the treatment is sold as a kit with ten individual packages of undergarments. The infused undergarment is stored in a sealed aluminum foil package. Sealing of the undergarment allows ease of use by simply opening of the package. The undergarments can be cleaned and reuse wherein the infused foam replacement member would be provided in sealed aluminum packages and inserted into a receptacle of undergarment.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more” or “at least one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.”

The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements, possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited possessing only those one more elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more features, possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures, and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.