Pouched product comprising dissolvable composition

Abstract

A pouched product including an outer water-permeable pouch defining a cavity and a composition configured for oral use situated within the cavity is provided. The composition is at least partially orally dissolvable, and includes one or more dissolvable fillers in an amount of at least about 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition; a humectant in an amount up to about 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition; and at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or both at least one active ingredient and at least one flavorant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pouched product comprising an outer water-permeable pouch defining a cavity and a composition configured for oral use situated within the cavity, wherein the composition is at least partially dissolvable, the composition comprising:
 one or more dissolvable fillers in an amount of at least about 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition;   a humectant in an amount up to about 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition; and   at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or both at least one active ingredient and at least one flavorant.   
     
     
         2 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is at least about 50% orally dissolvable on a weight basis. 
     
     
         3 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein from about 95% to about 100% of the composition by weight is orally dissolvable. 
     
     
         4 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more dissolvable fillers is selected from the group consisting sugars, sugar alcohols, soluble starches, soluble fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more dissolvable fillers comprise a sugar alcohol. 
     
     
         6 . The pouched product of  claim 5 , wherein the sugar alcohol is isomalt. 
     
     
         7 . The pouched product of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more dissolvable fillers further comprise maltodextrin. 
     
     
         8 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein the humectant is present in an amount from about 15 about 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         9 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein the humectant is glycerin, propylene glycol, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one sweetener. 
     
     
         11 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in particulate form, granulated form, or in the form of one or more pellets or tablets. 
     
     
         12 . The pouched product of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more dissolvable fillers comprise a sugar alcohol and maltodextrin, and optionally, wherein the composition further comprises microcrystalline cellulose in an amount up to about 40% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         13 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of beads, the composition comprising a sugar alcohol in an amount from about 67% to about 78% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, and glycerin in an amount from about 16% to about 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         14 . The pouched product of  claim 13 , wherein the sugar alcohol is isomalt. 
     
     
         15 . The pouched product of  claim 13 , wherein the composition further comprises microcrystalline cellulose in an amount of up to about 5% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         16 . The pouched product of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the beads are coated with a release modifying agent selected from the group consisting of lipids, waxes, cellulose derivatives, binders, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The pouched product of  claim 13 , wherein the pouched product comprises a mixture of beads having different dissolution rates. 
     
     
         18 . The pouched product of  claim 13 , further comprising microcrystalline cellulose in the form of a physical mixture with the beads. 
     
     
         19 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of botanical materials, stimulants, amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, cannabinoids, cannabimimetics, terpenes, pharmaceutical agents, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one active ingredient comprises a nicotine component. 
     
     
         21 . The pouched product of  claim 20 , wherein the nicotine component comprises resin-bound nicotine. 
     
     
         22 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more organic acids, an alkali metal salt of the one or more organic acids, or both. 
     
     
         23 . The pouched product of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more organic acids or alkali metal salt thereof is present in the composition in an amount by weight of from about 0.1 to about 10%, or from about 0.1 to about 0.5%, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         24 . The pouched product of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more organic acids is citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, octanoic acid, benzoic acid, a toluic acid, salicylic acid, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The pouched product of  claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the organic acid, the alkali metal salt of the organic acid, or both are associated with at least a portion of the nicotine component in the form of an ion pair. 
     
     
         26 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein the outer water-permeable pouch is biodegradable. 
     
     
         27 . The pouched product of  claim 1 , wherein the outer water-permeable pouch is dissolvable.