Freeze-drying methods and related products
AssigneesMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Politecnico Di Torino
InventorsBernhardt Levy Trout, Roberto Pisano, Luigi Carlo Capozzi
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Abstract
The disclosure in some aspects relates to systems and related methods for the continuous freeze-drying of materials (e.g., pharmaceuticals) with high speed and control.
Claims87
A method for processing a composition, the method comprising:
- continuously moving a vessel configured to contain a composition through a plurality of modules arranged to promote step-wise freezing and/or drying of the composition, wherein the vessel comprises a housing defining a boundary between an exterior surrounding of the vessel and an interior space configured to contain the composition, and wherein, during movement of the vessel through the plurality of modules, the vessel is arranged to promote heat transfer between the exterior surrounding and the interior space across a portion of the housing contactable with the composition in the interior space when the composition is present in the interior space.
A method for freeze-drying a substance, the method comprising:
- a) continuously moving a vessel that contains a composition comprising a substance through a conditioning module, wherein the vessel resides in the conditioning module for a time sufficient to bring the composition to a conditioning temperature;
- b) continuously moving the vessel from the conditioning module to, and then through, a freezing module, wherein the vessel resides in the freezing module for a time sufficient to freeze the composition;
- and
- c) continuously moving the vessel from the freezing module to, and then through, a primary drying module, wherein the vessel resides in the primary drying module for a time sufficient to sublimate a frozen solvent from the composition.
A system for processing a composition, the system comprising:
- a plurality of modules arranged to promote step-wise freezing and drying of a composition;
- and
- a conveyer system configured to continuously move a vessel configured to contain the composition through the plurality of modules,
- wherein the vessel comprises a housing defining a boundary between an exterior surrounding of the vessel and an interior space configured to contain the composition, and wherein, when present in a module of the plurality of modules, the vessel is arranged to promote heat transfer between the exterior surrounding and the interior space across the entire portion of the housing contactable with the composition in the interior space when the composition is present in the interior space.
A system for the continuous freeze-drying of a composition, the system comprising:
- a first module and a second module, wherein the first module comprises a freezing chamber and the second module comprises a drying chamber, and wherein vessels comprising a composition are suspended in a line along a conveyor;
- and
- an interface apparatus connecting the first module to the second module.
A method for processing a composition, the method comprising using the system of 27 or 53 to continuously freeze-dry a composition.
A method for processing a composition, the method comprising:
- continuously moving a plurality of vessels along a common path and at a common rate through a plurality of modules arranged to promote step-wise freezing and/or drying of the composition, wherein each vessel is configured to contain the composition, wherein each vessel comprises a housing defining a boundary between an exterior surrounding of the vessel and an interior space configured to contain the composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.