Method and equipment for fractionation of granules for use in pharmaceutical compositions

A sieve guide assembly, comprising:

• a circular sieve screen and a sieve guide;
• wherein the sieve guide is fixedly attached to the sieve screen,
• wherein the sieve guide comprises:
• (a) a circular guide portion comprising a first radial opening extending from a first to a second side wherein the circular portion is positioned centrally on the circular sieve screen and defines a central loading area of the sieve screen for granules to be fractionated,
• (b) a lateral guide portion comprising (i) a first lateral guide member extending from a first side of the first radial opening to a periphery of the sieve screen, and (ii) a second lateral guide member extending from a second side of the first radial opening towards the periphery;
• wherein when the sieve guide assembly is mounted in a fractionating device and when the fractionating device induces an orbital and a lateral flow, the lateral guided flow of the granules are guided along the first and second lateral guide members.

A fractionating device adapted to fractionate granules, comprising:

• (a) a sieve deck comprising an inlet and a tubular rim portion comprising an outlet, wherein the outlet comprises an opening extending from a first to a second side, and
• (b) a sieve screen and a sieve guide received in the sieve deck, wherein the sieve guide is fixedly attached to the sieve screen;
• wherein the sieve guide comprises:
• (i) a circular guide portion comprising a first radial opening extending from a first to a second side, wherein the circular guide portion is positioned centrally on the sieve screen and defines a central loading area of the sieve screen adapted to receive granules through the inlet, and
• (ii) a lateral guide portion comprising a first guide member extending from the first side of the first radial opening to a periphery of the sieve screen;
• wherein the outlet of the sieve deck comprises an opening extending from a first to a second side;
• wherein the sieve guide is arranged in a specific angular position with the first lateral guide member aligned with the first side of the outlet of the sieve deck;
• wherein the first radial opening is arranged with an angular overlap with the outlet;
• and
• wherein when the fractionating device induces an orbital and a lateral flow, the granules are guided along the first lateral guide member to the outlet.