1-173. (canceled)
174. A method of treating a skin condition or disease characterized by ulceration, inflammation, or blistering of the skin comprising applying to the skin an allantoin-containing composition in a therapeutically effective amount, wherein the allantoin-containing composition comprises an oil-in-water emulsion comprising:
greater than 2.0% allantoin;
an emulsifier system including:
(i) an acidic wax; and
(ii) an anionic emulsifier that is substantially hydrophilic and is soluble in water; and an acid to adjust the pH of the composition to a value in the range of from approximately 3.0 to approximately 6.0.
175. The method of claim 174 wherein the pH of the composition is from approximately 4.0 to approximately 5.0.
176. The method of claim 174 wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium oleyl succinate, ammonium lauryl sulfosuccinate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, ammonium laureth sulfate, sodium N-lauryl sarcosinate, and sodium lauryl sulfate.
177. The method of claim 176 wherein the emulsifier is sodium lauryl sulfate.
178. The method of claim 174 wherein the acidic wax is selected from the group consisting of beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, siliconyl beeswax, siliconyl carnauba wax, and a synthetic acidic wax.
179. The method of claim 178 wherein the acidic wax is beeswax.
180. The method of claim 174 wherein the skin condition or disease is selected from the group consisting of epidermolysis bullosa, decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, milia, eczema, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, arthritis, gout, lupus erythematosus, acne, alopecia, carcinomas, psoriasis, rosacea, miliaria, skin infections, post-operative care of incisions, post-operative skin care following any variety of plastic surgery procedures, skin care following radiation treatment, care of dry, cracked or aged skin and skin lines.
181. The method of claim 180 where the skin condition or disease is selected from the group consisting of decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers and diabetic ulcers.
182. The method of claim 174 further comprising administering an additional therapeutic agent in a therapeutically effective quantity.
183. The method of claim 182 wherein the additional therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, leukotriene antagonists, and monoclonal antibodies.
184. The method of claim 174 wherein the composition further comprises at least one of:
(a) an emollient component comprising at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of lanolin oil, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and cod liver oil;
(b) at least one antioxidant selected from the group consisting of butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole;
(c) a preservative component comprising at least one preservative selected from the group consisting of methylparaben and propylparaben;
(d) tetrasodium EDTA; and
(e) a solvent component comprising at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, and glycerin.
185. The method of claim 175 wherein the composition comprises an oil-in-water emulsion comprising:
water;
sodium lauryl sulfate;
propylene glycol;
tetrasodium EDTA;
citric acid;
lanolin oil;
cetyl alcohol;
stearyl alcohol;
an acidic wax selected from the group consisting of beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, siliconyl beeswax, siliconyl carnauba wax, and a synthetic acidic wax;
cod liver oil;
butylated hydroxytoluene;
methylparaben;
propylparaben;
greater than 2.0% allantoin; and
fragrance.
186. The method of claim 185 wherein the acidic wax is beeswax.
187. The method of claim 185 wherein the composition comprises:
from about 50% to about 90% of water;
from about 0.5% to about 4.0% of 30% sodium lauryl sulfate;
from about 2.0% to about 9.0% of propylene glycol;
from about 0.05% to about 0.5% of tetrasodium EDTA;
from about 0.05% to about 0.5% of citric acid;
from about 5% to about 15% of lanolin oil;
from about 1% to about 10% of cetyl alcohol;
from about 1% to about 5% of stearyl alcohol;
from about 0.5% to about 5% of an acidic wax selected from the group consisting of beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, siliconyl carnauba wax, and beeswax, siliconyl carnauba wax, and a synthetic acidic wax;
from about 1.0% to about 7.0% of cod liver oil;
from approximately 0.1% to approximately 1.0% of butylated hydroxytoluene;
from approximately 0.1% to approximately 0.5% of methylparaben;
from approximately 0.1% to approximately 0.5% of propylparaben;
from greater than 1.0% to approximately 12.0% of allantoin; and
from approximately 0.05% to approximately 0.5% of fragrance.
188. The method of claim 187 wherein the acidic wax is beeswax.
189. The method of claim 187 wherein the composition comprises:
approximately 67% of water;
approximately 2.5% of sodium lauryl sulfate;
approximately 5.7% of propylene glycol;
approximately 0.15% of tetrasodium EDTA;
approximately 0.09% of citric acid;
approximately 10.6% of lanolin oil;
approximately 3.5% of cetyl alcohol;
approximately 1.7% of stearyl alcohol;
approximately 2.5% of an acidic wax selected from the group consisting of beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, siliconyl beeswax, siliconyl carnauba wax, and a synthetic acidic wax;
approximately 2.0% of cod liver oil;
approximately 0.5% of butylated hydroxytoluene;
approximately 0.3% of methylparaben;
approximately 0.25% of propylparaben;
approximately 3.00% of allantoin; and
approximately 0.20% of fragrance.
190. The method of claim 189 wherein the acidic wax is beeswax.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A membrane fuel cell delimited by bipolar plates comprising a cathodic compartment and an anodic compartment, said cathodic compartment comprising means for feeding air from the bottom to the top, said anodic compartment comprising means for feeding a hydrogen-containing fuel from the top to the bottom, at least one of said cathodic and anodic compartment comprising a flow distributor consisting of a porous material.
2. The cell of claim 1 wherein said at least one compartment comprising a porous flow distributor is the cathodic compartment.
3. The cell of claim 1 wherein said porous material is selected from the group consisting of three-dimensional reticulated materials, sintered materials, juxtaposed meshes and juxtaposed expanded sheets.
4. The cell of claim 1 wherein said porous material has a porosity dimensioned for generating a gaseous flow pressure variation not higher than 0.5 bar.
5. The cell of claim 1 wherein said porous material has a porosity dimensioned for generating a gaseous flow pressure variation not higher than 0.1 bar.
6. The cell of claim 1 wherein said porous material has a void volumetotal volume ratio not lower than 50%.
7. The cell of claim 6 wherein said ratio is equal to or higher than 75%.
8. The cell of claim 1 comprising a heat extraction device crossed by liquid water in communication with said cathodic compartment through calibrated holes on the relevant bipolar plate delimiting the cell.
9. A fuel cell stack comprising a multiplicity of cells of claim 1.
10. A method for operating the cell of claim 1 or the stack of claim 9 comprising feeding said cathodic compartment with air in a dry state and at al pressure lower than 3 bar.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said pressure is lower than 1.2 bar.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the temperature of the air discharged from the upper part of said cathodic compartment is less than or equal to the dew point defined by the ratio of moles of water of reactionoverall moles of discharged air and water vapor.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the regulation of said temperature of discharged air is obtained by adjusting the temperature of a cooling fluid circulating inside the cell.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said cooling fluid is water injected in the lower part of the cell in the proximity of the air feed.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said water is injected in the lower part of the cell through calibrated holes present on the bipolar plate facing said cathodic compartment.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said calibrated holes are in communication with a heat extracting device whence said water injected in the lower part of the cell proceeds.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the flow-rate of the water flowing in said extracting device is substantially equivalent to the flow-rate of said water injected through said calibrated holes.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein the regulation of the flow-rate of said injected water is carried out as a function of the electrical current output.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein said regulation is achieved by acting on the operating regime of an injection pump.
20. The method of claim 14 wherein said injected water and said air feed have a constant flow corresponding to the value required for the maximum nominal electrical output.