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:
Jul. 19, 2005
Filed:
Jan. 07, 2004
Donald E. Chickering, Iii, Framingham, MA (US);
Sridhar Narasimhan, Framingham, MA (US);
David Altreuter, Brookline, MA (US);
Paul Kopesky, Quincy, MA (US);
Mark Keegan, Andover, MA (US);
Julie A. Straub, Winchester, MA (US);
Howard Bernstein, Cambridge, MA (US);
Donald E. Chickering, III, Framingham, MA (US);
Sridhar Narasimhan, Framingham, MA (US);
David Altreuter, Brookline, MA (US);
Paul Kopesky, Quincy, MA (US);
Mark Keegan, Andover, MA (US);
Julie A. Straub, Winchester, MA (US);
Howard Bernstein, Cambridge, MA (US);
Acusphere, Inc., Watertown, MA (US);
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.