US 12,109,311 B2 · Lyophilization systems and methods

Abstract

System and methods related to lyophilization of pharmaceutical products are disclosed. In some embodiments, vials of product are moved through a system using one or more movers which are electromagnetically levitated and moved through the system without making mechanical contact with each other or the system. Load lock chambers may allow a mover to enter from one process region's environment and then be brought to an environment condition of the next process region to allow materials to be passed through conditioning, nucleation, and/or vacuum drying regions prior to finally exit the system to an unloading zone. The movers may then be cleaned or reloaded with vials to begin the process again with a new load of vials.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for lyophilization of pharmaceutical products comprising:

at least one mover configured to support one or more containers containing a therapeutic composition;
an inlet of the system for receiving the at least one mover;
an outlet of the system for outputting the at least one mover from the system;
a plurality of chambers disposed between the inlet and outlet, wherein the plurality of chambers includes at least a first chamber configured to perform a nucleation operation on the therapeutic composition and a second chamber disposed downstream of the first chamber configured to perform a vacuum drying operation on the therapeutic composition;
and
a plurality of stators configured to electromagnetically levitate and move the at least one mover from the inlet, through the plurality of chambers, and to the outlet.

3 more elements

A system for lyophilization of pharmaceutical products comprising:

at least one mover configured to support one or more containers containing a therapeutic composition;
an inlet of the system for receiving the at least one mover;
an outlet of the system for outputting the at least one mover from the system;
at least one load lock chamber disposed between the inlet and outlet;
at least one process chamber disposed downstream of the load lock chamber;
a plurality of stators configured to electromagnetically levitate and move the at least one mover from the inlet, through the at least one load lock chamber and the at least one process chamber to the outlet;
at least one processor configured to control the stators, the at least one load lock chamber, and the at least one process chamber.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lyophilization systems and methods

Life of this patent

Lyophilization systems and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20