Formation of monodisperse particles
US6331290A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 22, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 22, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB05B17/0607
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Particles are made from a liquid feedstock (13) containing a pharmaceutical composition, the particles either being solid or being liquid droplets in an aerosol, by supplying the feedstock to an electronic droplet generator (18), and collecting the droplets in a holding chamber (20). Evaporation of the solvent creates particles which may be trapped using a cyclone (22). The generator (18) comprises a feed chamber (28) to which the feedstock is supplied, a dispensing chamber (30) having an inlet port communicating with the feed chamber and having an outlet port (34), and electronic means (36) for repeatedly applying a pressure pulse to the feed chamber and a pressure pulse to the dispensing chamber so that a droplet is ejected. Each droplet is of volume substantially equal to that of the dispensing chamber, so the particles can be substantially monodisperse, and may be of diameter in the range 0.1-20 .mu.m.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.