Methods and apparatus for making particles using spray dryer and in-line jet mill

US6962006B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Acusphere, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Donald E. Chickering, III · Framingham, US
• Sridhar Narasimhan · Framingham, US
• David Altreuter · Wayland, US
• Paul Kopesky · Quincy, US
• Mark Keegan · Andover, US
• Julie Straub · Winchester, US
• Howard Bernstein · Cambridge, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 19, 2002
• Grant date: Nov 8, 2005
• Expiry date: Apr 29, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F26B3/12
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent), through an atomizer and into a primary drying chamber, having a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and bulk material dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in drying gas; and (c) flowing the particles and at least a portion of the drying gas through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles. By coupling spray drying with “in-line” jet milling, a single step process is created from two separate unit operations, and an additional collection step is advantageously eliminated. The one-step, in-line process has further advantages in time and cost of processing.