# US 10,117,835 B2 · Nozzle, apparatus, and method for producing microparticles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,117,835 B2 - Document ID: US10117835B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/378,292 - Filed: 2016-12-14 - Published: 2018-04-26 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-25 - Assignees: Metal Industries Research & Development Centre - Applicants: Metal Industries Research & Development Centre - Inventors: Cheng-Han Hung; Zong-Hsin Liu; Ying-Chieh Lin; Ming-Fang Tsai; Hai-Ching Tsou; Ying-Cheng Lu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117835B2 ## CPC - A61K 9/1682: {Processes} - B01J 2/06: in a liquid medium - B01J 2/18: using a vibrating apparatus - B01J 13/02: Making microcapsules or microballoons {(for medical preparations A61K9/50)} - B01J 13/08: Simple coacervation, i.e. addition of highly hydrophilic material {(combined with spraying B01J13/043; combined with mechanical division B01J13/04)} - B01J 13/12: removing solvent from the wall-forming material solution - B01J 13/20: After-treatment of capsule walls, e.g. hardening - B29B 9/10: by moulding the material, i.e. treating it in the molten state - B29B 9/12: characterised by structure or composition - B29B 9/16: Auxiliary treatment of granules - A61K 9/1647: {Polyesters, e.g. poly(lactide-co-glycolide)} - B29B 2009/168: {Removing undesirable residual components, e.g. solvents, unreacted monomers; Degassing} - B29K 2105/0035: {Medical or pharmaceutical agents} - B29K 2995/006: Bio-degradable, e.g. bioabsorbable, bioresorbable or bioerodible - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS ## Abstract A nozzle includes a nozzle body having a fluid passageway to which extension tubes are communicated. Each extension tube includes an end having an outlet port. The outlet ports are spaced from each other. An apparatus includes the nozzle, a fluid tank into which the extension tubes extends, a fluid shear device mounted in the fluid tank, and a temperature control system in which the fluid tank is mounted. A method includes filling a water phase fluid into the fluid tank. An oil phase fluid flows out of the nozzle body via the outlet ports. The water phase fluid is disturbed and flows out of the outlet ports to form semi-products of microparticles in the fluid tank. Each semi-product has an inner layer formed by the oil phase fluid and an outer layer formed by the water phase fluid. The outer layers of the semi-products are removed to form microparticles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nozzle for producing microparticles, comprising: a nozzle body including a fluid passageway therein, with a plurality of extension tubes communicated with an end of the fluid passageway, with each of the plurality of extension tubes including a distant end having an outlet port and located distant to the fluid passageway, and with the outlet ports of the plurality of extension tubes spaced from each other, wherein the distant end of each of the plurality of extension tubes having the outlet port includes a layer of hydrophobic material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The nozzle for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of extension tubes is parallel to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The nozzle for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 1, with the outlet port of each of the plurality of extension tubes having a diameter, and with each of the plurality of extension tubes including a tubular wall having a thickness smaller than the diameter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The nozzle for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 1, with the outlet port of each of the plurality of extension tubes having a diameter, with two adjacent extension tubes having a minimum spacing therebetween, and with the minimum spacing being larger than the diameter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The nozzle for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distant end of each of the plurality of extension tubes having the outlet port is an inclined end. ### Claim 6 An apparatus for producing microparticles, comprising: a nozzle for producing microparticles, with the nozzle including a nozzle body having a fluid passageway therein, with a plurality of extension tubes communicated with an end of the fluid passageway, with each of the plurality of extension tubes including a distant end having an outlet port and located distant to the fluid passageway, and with the outlet ports of the plurality of extension tubes spaced from each other; a fluid tank, with the plurality of extension tubes of the nozzle body extending into the fluid tank; a fluid shear device mounted on the fluid tank; and a temperature control system, with the fluid tank mounted in the temperature control system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 6, with the fluid tank receiving a water phase fluid, with the water phase fluid received in the fluid tank including a level defining a liquid level, and with the outlet port of each of the plurality of extension tubes located under the liquid level. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a collection tank, with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe coupled to the fluid tank and extending through a wall of the fluid tank, and with the collection tank intercommunicated with the outlet pipe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fluid shear device includes a stirring device mounted on the fluid tank. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fluid shear device includes a supersonic wave generator mounted to an outer wall of the fluid tank. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) A method for producing microparticles using the apparatus as claimed in claim 6, with the method comprising: filling a water phase fluid into the fluid tank, with the outlet port of each of the plurality of extension tubes located in the water phase fluid; filling an oil phase fluid into the fluid passageway of the nozzle body, and making the oil phase fluid flow out of the nozzle body via the outlet ports of the plurality of extension tubes; activating the fluid shear device to disturb the water phase fluid, and making the oil phase fluid flowing out of the outlet ports of the plurality of extension tubes form a plurality of semi-products of microparticles in the fluid tank; collecting the semi-products of microparticles, with each of the plurality of semi-products of microparticles including an inner layer formed by the oil phase fluid and an outer layer formed by the water phase fluid; and removing the outer layers of the plurality of semi-products of microparticles. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 11, wherein the oil phase fluid is produced by heating a polymer to a glass transition temperature. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 12, further comprising activating the temperature control system to maintain the water phase fluid at a predetermined temperature before the oil phase fluid enters the fluid passageway, and the predetermined temperature is equal to or lower than the glass transition temperature of the oil phase fluid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 11, further comprising producing the oil phase fluid by adding an organic solvent into a polymer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 11, wherein the oil phase fluid is a biodegradable polymer mixed with a pharmaceutically active ingredient. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 11, wherein the oil phase fluid is a biodegradable polymer mixed with a gas. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 11, wherein when the oil phase fluid enters the fluid passageway, pressurizing the fluid passageway to drive the oil phase fluid into the water phase fluid via each outlet port, thereby generating a continuous oil phase fluid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method for producing microparticles as claimed in claim 11, further comprising processing the plurality of semi-products of microparticles by drying or by washing by an aqueous solution to remove the outer layers of the plurality of semi-products.