The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 27, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 16, 1999
Mazen Hanna, Bradford, GB;
Peter York, West Yorkshire, GB;
Inhale Therapeutic Systems, Inc., San Carlos, CA (US);
Abstract
The invention provides a method and apparatus for forming particles of a substance, comprising (a) introducing into a particle formation chamber, the temperature and pressure in which are controlled, a first supercritical fluid (SCF) and a solution or suspension of the substance in a vehicle; (b) simultaneously introducing an impinging flow of a second supercritical fluid (SCF), at an angle to, and directed at, the direction of flow of the first supercritical fluid, so as to increase the amount of kinetic energy transferred to the solution or suspension; and (c) using either or both of the first and the second supercritical fluids to disperse the solution or suspension, and to extract the vehicle from it, substantially simultaneously and substantially immediately on introduction of the fluids into the particle chamber.