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:
Feb. 03, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 24, 2000
Aristippos Gennadios, Greensboro, NC (US);
Michelle A. Gillette, High Point, NC (US);
Roger E. Gordon, Greensboro, NC (US);
Banner Pharmacaps, Inc., High Point, NC (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a process for coloring gelatin-based formulations involving adding a saturated fatty acid to the gelatin-based formulation along with lake pigment, whereby the saturated fatty acid is added in an amount so as to prevent cross-linking between the gelatin-based formulations and the aluminum cations released by the lake pigments. Preferably, this amount is about 10% to about 300% by weight of the added lake pigment content. With this process, the resulting colored gelatin exhibits acceptable machineability characteristics and disintegration. As an example, the colored gelatin produced by this process has a viscosity of less than approximately 10,000 cP at about 60° C. Additionally, the present invention is a gelatin-based formulation made from the above-described process. The gelatin-based formulation includes gelatin, lake pigment(s), and a sufficient amount of fatty acid to prevent cross-linking between the gelatin and the cations released from the lake pigment(s). Further, the present invention includes a dosage form that includes the described gelatin-based formulation as the sheath material. The dosage form may encapsulate a liquid, suspension, semi-solid, or solid pharmaceutical, nutritional, herbal, or personal care product, or combination thereof.