# US 5,347,794 A · Equipment for manufacturing of subcutaneous capsules

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- Number: US 5,347,794 A
- Document ID: US5347794A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/096,961
- Filed: 1993-07-26
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1991-07-03
- Assignees: Leiras Oy
- Inventors: Rolf Hartzell; Timo Helle; Pekka Lankinen; Pekka Nieminen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5347794A

## CPC

- A61J 3/07: into the form of capsules or similar small containers for oral use
- A61M 31/002: {Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time (artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50)}
- Y10S 53/90: Capsules
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

Apparatus for manufacturing a subcutaneous capsules filled with a selected medicine comprising: a tube cutting mechanism which cuts a continuous length of tubing into a plurality of tubular capsules, each capsule having an open top end and an open bottom end; a capsule support mechanism which holds the capsules in a predetermined array, the bottom open ends of the capsules being sealed by a sealing mechanism; a plurality of spring mechanisms insertable into the open top ends of each capsule held in the array, each spring mechanism receiving a selected quantity of medicine for each capsule, each spring mechanism being rotatable and delivering the selected quantities of medicine into each capsule by insertion of the spring mechanisms into the open top ends of each capsule and rotation of the spring mechanisms.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for manufacturing a subcutaneous capsules filled with a selected medicine comprising:
a tube cutting mechanism which cuts a continuous length of tubing into a plurality of tubular capsules, each capsule having an open top end and an open bottom end;
a capsule support mechanism which holds the capsules in a predetermined array, the bottom open ends of the capsules being sealed by a sealing mechanism;
a plurality of spring mechanisms insertable into the open top ends of each capsule held in the array, each spring mechanism receiving a selected quantity of medicine for each capsule, each spring mechanism being rotatable and delivering the selected quantities of medicine into each capsule by insertion of the spring mechanisms into the open top ends of each capsule and rotation of the spring mechanisms.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a device insertable into the open bottom end of a capsule,
the sealing mechanism including means for injecting a glue material into the open bottom end of a capsule at a predetermined rate and means for controllably removing the injecting means from the open bottom end of a capsule at a predetermined rate such that a predetermined amount of the glue material is injected into the open bottom end of a capsule.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a mechanism which seals the open top ends of the capsules after the capsules are filled with the selected quantities of medicine.

### Claim 4

Apparatus for manufacturing subcutaneous capsules filled with a selected medicine comprising:
a tube cutting mechanism which cuts a continuous length of tubing into a plurality of tubular capsules, each capsule having an open top end and an open bottom end after being cut;
a capsule support mechanism which holds the capsules in a predetermined array;
a capsule filling mechanism which fills each of the capsules with a selected quantity of medicine;
a bottom sealing mechanism which seals the bottom ends of each capsule before the capsules are filled;
a plurality of spring mechanisms insertable into the open ends of the capsules, each spring mechanism receiving the selected quantity of medicine for each capsule and including means for rotating the spring mechanisms upon insertion into the capsules such that the selected quantities of medicine are delivered into each capsule in the array; and
a top sealing mechanism which seals the top ends of the capsules after the capsules are filled with the selected quantities of medicine.