Universidad De Sevilla

Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.

Aradigm Corporation

Ingeniatrics Tecnologias, S.l.

Alfonso Miguel Ganan-Calvo

Jeffrey Badovick

Manuel Marquez

Antonio Barrero Ripoll

Joan Rosell

Alvaro Fito-Planas

Javier Perez-Vaquero

Ignacio Gonzalez Loscertales

María Flores Mosquera

Raul Cortijo Bon

Inmaculada Munoz

Gloria Jurado

Antonio Serrano

Sandra Velazquez

Jeronimo Escudero

Miguel Asensio-Cano

Jorge Lopez - Serrano

Concentric flow focusing encapsulation devices and methods for production of microencapsulated droplets of a first core material surrounded by a second shell material include assessment of non-dimensional fluid dynamic parameters that are related to the characteristics of produced droplets. The parameters are specifically related to characteristics such as homogenous or non-homogenous modes of concentric droplet breakup, density distribution of various droplet sizes, and qualities such as monodispersity of droplets produced. By identifying control parameters in specific regions, control variables may be selected to produce droplets or particles with desired qualities.

Concentric capillary microencapsulation devices and methods

A drug delivery device is disclosed which produces aerosolized particles of pharmaceutically active drug for delivery to a patient by inhalation. The device includes a liquid feeding source such as a channel to which formulation is added at one end and expelled through an exit opening. The feeding channel is surrounded by a pressurized chamber into which gas is fed and out of which gas is expelled from an opening. The opening from which the gas is expelled is positioned directly in front of the flow path of liquid expelled from the feeding channel. Various parameters are adjusted so that pressurized gas surrounds liquid flowing out of the feeding channel in a manner so as to maintain a stable capillary microjet of liquid until the liquid exits the pressure chamber opening and is aerosolized into particles having a uniform diameter in the range of about 1 to 5 microns.

Device and method for creating aerosols for drug delivery

A drug delivery device and method is disclosed which produces aerosolized particles of pharmaceutically active drug for delivery to a patient by inhalation. The device is comprised of a liquid feeding source such as a channel to which formulation is added at one end and expelled through an exit opening. The feeding channel is surrounded by a pressurized chamber into which gas is fed and out of which gas is expelled from an opening. The opening from which the gas is expelled is positioned directly in front of the flow path of liquid expelled from the feeding channel. Various parameters are adjusted so that pressurized gas surrounds liquid flowing out of the feeding channel in a manner so as to maintain a stable capillary microjet of liquid until the liquid exits the pressure chamber opening and is aerosolized. The aerosolized particles having a uniform diameter in the range of about 1 to 5 microns are inhaled into a patient's lungs and thereafter reach the patient's circulatory system.

The present invention is related to the production of capsules or particles of micro and nanometric size, for introduction into food, using stable electrified coaxial jets of two immiscible liquids with diameters in the micro and nanometric range. An aerosol of charged structured droplets forms when the jets dissociate by capillary instabilities. The structured droplets, which are mano-dispersed in size, contain a first liquid (generally the material desired to be added) that is surrounded by a second liquid. Generally the second liquid provides a barrier or protective coating which allows the addition of the first liquid to a food product without adversely affecting the organoleptic or other properties of the food product.

Production of capsules and particles for improvement of food products

Liquid atomization process

The invention is directed to a stable capillary microjet and a monodisperse aerosol formed when the microjet dissociates. A variety of devices and methods are disclosed which allow for the formation of a stream of a first fluid (e.g. a liquid) characterized by forming a stable capillary microjet over a portion of the stream wherein the microjet portion of the stream is formed by a second fluid (e.g. a gas). The second fluid is preferably in a different state from the first fluid--liquid-gas or gas-liquid combinations. However, the first and second fluids may be two different fluids in miscible in each other. The stable capillary microjet comprises a diameter d.sub.j at a given point A in the stream characterized by the formula: ##EQU1## wherein d.sub.j is the diameter of the stable microjet, = indicates approximately equally to where an acceptable margin of error is .+-.10%, .rho..sub.1 is the density of the liquid and .DELTA.P.sub.g is change in gas pressure of gas surrounding the stream at the point A.

Stabilized capillary microjet and devices and methods for producing same

Growing community of inventors

Seville, Spain

Alfonso Miguel Ganan-Calvo