Powder filling systems, apparatus and methods
AssigneeInhale Therapeutic Systems
InventorsDerrick J. Parks, Michael J. Rocchio, Kyle Naydo, Dennis E. Wightman, Adrian E. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, systems and apparatus for the metered transport of fine powders into receptacles are provided. According to one exemplary method, the fine powder is first fluidized. At least a portion of the fluidized fine powder is then captured. The captured fine powder is then transferred to a receptacle, with the are provided transferred powder being sufficiently uncompacted so that it may be dispersed upon removal from the receptacle.
Claims68
A method for transporting powder having fine particles, comprising:
- placing the powder into a hopper;
- fluidizing at least some of the powder in the hopper by agitating the fine particles;
- permitting said fluidized fine particles to fall mechanically unassisted from the hopper through a convergent flow path and into at least one metering chamber;
- and
- transferring the captured powder from said metering chamber to a receptacle, wherein the transferred powder is sufficiently uncompacted so that it may be dispersed upon removal from the receptacle.
A method for transferring a medicament of powder having fine particles with a mean size in the range from 1 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m, said method comprising:
- placing the powder into a hopper to form a powder bed;
- sifting an amount of the powder from the powder bed to fluidize the fine powder;
- allowing the fluidized powder to fall mechanically unassisted from the hopper and, through a convergent flow path until captured in a chamber that is positioned below the powder bed;
- adjusting the amount of powder in the chamber to be a unit dosage amount;
- and
- transferring the unit dosage amount of powder from the chamber to a receptacle, wherein the transferred powder is sufficiently uncompacted so that it may be dispersed upon removal from the receptacle.
An apparatus for transporting powder having fine particles into at least one receptacle, said apparatus comprising:
- a hopper which is adapted to receive and hold the powder;
- means for fluidizing the powder by agitation to aerate and separate the fine particles;
- means positioned below the hopper and the fluidizing means for allowing at least a portion of the fluidized fine particles to fall mechanically unassisted through a convergent flow path and into a metering chamber;
- and
- means for ejecting the captured powder from the metering chamber and into the receptacle.
An apparatus as in claim, 32, wherein the means for ejecting the captured powder comprises a compressed gas source in communication with the port.
A system for filling receptacles with unit dosages of a medicament of fine powder, said system comprising:
- a hopper having a top end and a bottom end;
- an elongate rotatable member positioned below the hopper, the rotatable member having a plurality of chambers about its periphery;
- at least one sifter positioned at the bottom end of the hopper for fluidizing at least some of the fine powder within the hopper;
- an intermediate member defining a convergent flow path between the sifter and at least one of the chambers to allow the fluidized powder to fall mechanically unassisted from the sifter and into said chamber;
- means for drawing air through the chambers to assist in capturing the fluidized powder in the chambers;
- means for ejecting the captured powder from the chambers and into the receptacles;
- a controller for controlling the means for drawing air and the ejecting means;
- and
- means for aligning the chambers with the fluidizing means and the receptacles.
A system for filling receptacles with unit dosages of a medicament of fine powder, said system comprising:
- a hopper which is adapted to receive and hold the powder
- an elongate rotatable member having a plurality of chambers about its periphery;
- means for fluidizing the fine powder;
- means for drawing air through the chambers to assist in capturing the fluidized powder in the chambers;
- an intermediate member defining a convergent flow path between the hopper and rotatable member to allow the fluidized fine powder to fall mechanically unassisted from the hopper and into the chamber;
- means for ejecting the captured powder from the chambers and into the receptacles;
- a controller for controlling the means for drawing air and the ejecting means;
- means for aligning the chambers with the fluidizing means and the receptacles;
- and
- a receptacle holder which holds the receptacles below the rotatable member;
- wherein the chambers are aligned in rows, and further comprising means for moving the rotatable member so that certain of the chambers are in alignment with a row of receptacles.
An apparatus for transporting fine powder into at least one receptacle, said apparatus comprising:
- a hopper having a top end and a bottom end;
- a sifter disposed near the bottom end of the hopper which fluidizes the fine powder as it exits the bottom end of the hopper by agitating the fine powder;
- a chamber disposed below the sifter to capture at least a portion of the fluidized fine powder from the fluidized state;
- an intermediate member defining a convergent flow path between the sifter and the chamber to allow the fluidized fine powder to fall mechanically unassisted from the sifter and into the chamber;
- and
- an ejection mechanism which ejects the captured powder from the chamber and into the receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.