Systems, methods and apparatuses for manufacturing dosage forms
AssigneeMcNeil-PPC, Inc.
InventorHarry S. Sowden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods and apparatuses for manufacturing dosage forms, and to dosage forms made using such systems, methods and apparatuses are provided. Novel compression, injection molding, and thermal setting molding modules are disclosed. One or more of such modules may be linked, preferably via a transfer device, into an overall system for making dosage forms. The injection molding module having at least one mold shell with an interior surface capable of producing non-uniform coatings over compressed cores or molded inserts contained therein.
Claims27
A method of making a coated dosage form comprising:
- a) introducing a core into a mold shell;
- b) injecting a flowable material under pressure into the mold shell;
- wherein the mold shell has an interior surface capable of providing a discontinuous coating around said dosage form.
A method of making a coated dosage form, comprising the steps of:
- a) compressing a powder material into a compressed core in a compression module;
- b) transferring said compressed core from the compression module to an injection molding module;
- c) injecting a flowable material into a mold shell having an interior surface capable of providing a discontinuous coating around said compressed core;
- and
- d) hardening said flowable material so as to form a discontinuous coating over said compressed core;
- wherein steps (a) through (d) are linked together such that essentially no interruption occurs between said steps.
A mold shell having a generally global, circular, cylindrical or elliptical shape that is sized for coating a substrate selected from a compressed core and molded dosage inserts having an interior surface with at least one protrusion extending toward a resting position for said substrate.
A linked apparatus for making dosage forms containing a medicant, comprising:
- a) a compression module having means for forming compressed cores by compressing a powder containing said medicant;
- b) a transfer device having means for continuously transferring said compressed cores from said compression module to an injection molding module;
- and
- c) an injection molding module having means for continuously molding a coating of flowable material over said compressed cores that comprises a mold shell having a surface capable of producing a discontinuous coating over said compressed cores.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.