Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

Zeneca Limited

Raymond C Rowe

Sidney F Forse

Christopher G Booth

Timothy J Noakes

Ian D Pavey

James McAinsh

Brian L Corfield

Douglas Bray

A method of administering to the eye a liquid ophthalmic formulation, comprising an ophthalmologically acceptable liquid and optionally containing an ophthalmologically-active substance, characterized in that the formulation has a viscosity in the range 10.sup.-3 to 1.0 Pa.s and a resistivity lower than 10.sup.4 ohm.cm, and that a jet of the formulation is ejected towards the eye, from a spray nozzle situated adjacent to a piezoelectric or electromagnetic transducer, to form a stream of uniformly-sized, equally spaced, uncharged droplets, the stream of uncharged droplets is subsequently directed past a charging electrode to induce an electric charge on each droplet in the stream, and the charged droplets discharge their electric charge by earthing on contact with the eye; and spraying apparatus suitable for use in that method.

Aqueous ophthalmic sprays

A method of administering less than 20 .mu.l of a solution of an ophthalmically effective substance to the eye characterized in that the formulation has a viscosity and resistivity which makes it suitable for electrodynamic spraying, and the formulation is supplied to a spray nozzle wherein a sufficiently large electrical potential, relative to earth, is applied to the formulation that a sufficient electrical gradient is provided at the spray nozzle to atomize the formulation as a spray of electrically charged droplets. Also liquid solution formulations of opthalmically effective substances for use in the method of the invention; and electrodynamic spraying apparatus, convenient for hand held use, for use in the method of the invention.

Ocular treatment

A method of administering less than 20 .mu.l of a solution of an ophthalmically effective substance to the eye characterized in that the formulation has a viscosity and resistivity which makes it suitable for electrodynamic spraying, and the formulation is supplied to a spray nozzle wherein a sufficiently large electrical potential, relative to earth, is applied to the formulation that a sufficient electrical gradient is provided at the spray nozzle to atomize the formulation as a spray of electrically charged droplets. Also liquid solution formulations of ophthalmically effective substances for use in the method of the invention; and electrodynamic spraying apparatus, convenient for hand held use, for use in the method of the invention.

Apparatus, for example an inhaler, is disclosed in which a spray is formed electrostatically from an outlet 6 to achieve uniform droplet size. The spray is then discharged for its intended use--in the example inhaling. The spray is discharged completely by corona produced by a sharp discharge electrode 16 which is charged to a polarity opposite that of the liquid. In order to prevent the corona from spoiling the formation of the spray itself, the liquid of the outlet 6 is protected by a neutral shield electrode 8. The spray issues through a hole 14 in the shield electrode. The hole is sufficiently small to prevent corona getting through, yet sufficiently large to allow the spray through.

Apparatus for producing a spray of droplets of a liquid

Colored intagliated articles, for example colored intagliated pharmaceutical tablets, on which the intagliations are highlighted. The articles are colored intagliated articles bearing a layer consisting essentially of a defined optically anisotropic substance, for example magnesium carbonate. Process for manufacturing said articles.

Colored intagliated articles

Coated articles, for example colored pharmaceutical tablets, bearing highlighted intagliations. The articles are colored intagliated articles bearing at least one film coat comprising at least one optically anisotropic substance, for example magnesium carbonate, and at least one film coating agent. Process for manufacturing said articles.

Coated colored intagliated articles

Process for the manufacture of colored intagliated articles

Process for manufacturing colored solid articles, e.g. pharmaceutical tablets, bearing at least one highlighted intagliation, which comprises (1) either (A) applying to said articles a film coating suspension comprising at least one defined optically anisotropic substance and at least one film coating agent, or (B) applying to said articles a suspension comprising at least one defined optically anisotropic substance but no film coating agent, and then (2) spraying the resulting articles with a solvent, and in which both of the steps (1) and (2) are carried out in a conventional film coating apparatus.

Manufacture of highlighted intagliated articles

Sustained release pharmaceutical composition consisting of a hard gelatine capsule containing film coated spheroids, the spheroids comprising propranolol, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, in admixture with non-water-swellable microcrystalline cellulose, and the said spheroids having a film coat comprising ethylcellulose optionally together with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and/or a plasticizer.

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Congleton, United Kingdom

Raymond C Rowe