IP Library Granted Patent US 12,290,492
Granted Patent B2
US 12,290,492 · App. 18/223,733 · Granted May 6, 2025

Extensional viscosity to promote safe swallowing of food boluses

Inventors: Adam Stewart Burbidge (Arzier, CH); Jan Engmann (Epalinges, CH); Simina Popa Nita (Morges, CH)
Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
A61K31/07A23L29/206A23L29/238A23L29/25A23L33/40A61K31/122A61K31/375A61K31/7048A61K33/00A61K35/741A61K35/744A61K35/747A61K36/815A61K47/36A61K47/46A61K2035/115
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,290,492
App. No.
18/223,733
Granted
May 6, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Nutritional products having improved cohesiveness of food boluses and methods of making and using same are provided. The nutritional products may include nutritional compositions and high molecular weight, water-soluble polymers such that the nutritional products have extensional viscosities that provide improved cohesiveness to the nutritional products and Trouton ratios of at least 6. Methods of administering such nutritional products to patients having impaired swallowing ability and/or dysphagia are also provided.

Claims (7)

1. A method of replacing saliva in an individual in need thereof, the method comprising:

administering an effective amount of a liquid nutritional product to the individual, the liquid nutritional product comprising a nutritional composition and a food-grade polymer,

wherein the food grade polymer is selected from the group consisting of okra gum, konjac mannan, tara gum, fenugreek gum, tamarind gum, cassia gum, cactus mucilage, mallow mucilage, flax seed mucilage, marshmallow mucilage, ribwort mucilage, mullein mucilage, cetraria mucilage, and combinations thereof,

the liquid nutritional product comprises an amount of the food-grade polymer such that the liquid nutritional product has an increased cohesiveness relative to the nutritional composition and has a Trouton ratio of 6 to 15.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid nutritional product has an extensional viscosity greater than 100 mPa s.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the food grade polymer is okra gum and/or cactus mucilage.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the food grade polymer is selected from the group consisting of mallow mucilage, ribwort mucilage, mullein mucilage, and mixtures thereof.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 2, 2025
From: BURBIDGE, ADAM STEWART; ENGMANN, JAN; NITA, SIMINA POPA
To: NESTEC S.A.
Reel/Frame 069724/0098 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 2, 2025
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A.
Reel/Frame 069814/0130 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 11193803 · Dec 15, 2011 · regional
Continuity (6)
Division 16789022 · Feb 12, 2020
Continuation 14002052
Provisional Application 61447745 · Mar 1, 2011
Provisional Application 61469852 · Mar 31, 2011
Provisional Application 61570879 · Dec 15, 2011
Related Publication 20230355546A1 · Nov 9, 2023
References Cited (51)
US 3664847A · Hyldon et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 6248390B1 · Stillman · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6277395B1 · Fukui et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6296245B1 · Donnis et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 7008654B1 · Fuchs · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7115297B2 · Stillman · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7410660B2 · Mercati · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7638150B2 · Holahan · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 8802077B2 · Petit et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9452150B2 · Ueshima et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20030091613A1 · DeWille et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040258823A1 · Dufresne et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20070224126A1 · Dufresne et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
CN 1284838 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 11124342 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP 2000191553 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001245613 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2003189802 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005333385 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006234444 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007105018 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007143545 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008228729 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008263918 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009000055 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009153441 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009278893 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010083858 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 0060953 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO 03011051 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
WO 2006054886 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007097315 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009098469 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009113845 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009135867 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010050541 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010122332 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
Wendin et al. “Objective and quantitative definitions of modified food textures based on sensory and rheological methodology” Food and Nutrition Research, 2010, vol. 54, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
Indian Patent Office Communication for Corresponding Application No. 7322/DELNP/2013 dated Jan. 3, 2020 (4 pages). [cited by applicant]
Ramsden Chapter 15 “Plant and Algal Gums and Mucilages.” Chemical and Functional Properties of Food Saccharides, edited by Piotr Tomasik: 231, 2003 (Year: 2003). [cited by applicant]
Gull-Guerrero “Nutritional composition of Plantago species (P. major L., P. lanceolata L., and P. media L.).” Ecology of Food and Nutrition 40(5): 481-495, 2001 (Year: 2001). [cited by applicant]
Cardenas et al. “Rheology and aggregation of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) mucilage in solution”, Journal of the Professional Association for Cactus Development 2: 152-159, 1997 (Year: 1997). [cited by applicant]
Hussein et al. “Utilization of some plant polysaccharides for improving yoghurt consistency.” Annals of Agricultural Sciences 56(2): 97-103, 2011 (Year: 2011). [cited by applicant]
Turker et al. “Common mullein ( [cited by applicant]
Ghadimi et al. “Free amino acids of different kinds of milk”, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 13 (1963): 75-81, 1963. [cited by applicant]
De Block et al. “Evaluation of two methods for the determination of lactulose in milk.” International Dairy Journal 6(2): 217-222, 1996. [cited by applicant]
Gronlund et al. “Maternal breast- milk and intestinal bifidobacteria guide the compositional development of the Bifidobacteriu m microbiota in infants at risk of allergic disease.” Clinical & Experimental Allergy 37(12)… [cited by applicant]
Chinese Office Action for Application No. 201280011111.1, dated Apr. 3, 2015, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Sengkhamparn et al. “Physicochemical properties of pectins from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)”, Food Hydrocolloids (1 ): 35-41 Jan. 2010. [cited by applicant]
Chan, Philip Shiu-Kin, et al. “Study of the shear and extensional rheology of casein, waxy maize starch and their mixtures.” Food hydrocolloids 21 (5): 716-725, 2007. [cited by applicant]
Stintzing et al. “Phytochemical and nutritional significance of cactus pear”, European Food Research and Technology 212: 396-407, 2001. [cited by applicant]