Liquiflash particles and method of making same
AssigneeFuisz Technologies Ltd.
InventorsGarry L. Myers, Robert K. Yang, Mark R. Herman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a method of making discrete particles by subjecting an organic feedstock to liquiflash conditions whereby the feedstock is transformed instantaneously from solid to liquiform to solid. Liquiform is a transient condition wherein the feedstock has substantially unimpeded internal flow. Shear force is imparted to the liquiform feedstock in an amount sufficient to separate tiny masses of feedstock. The tiny masses solidify as discretized particles. The present invention also includes unique products resulting from the process, e.g., a monodispersed microsphere product and coated particles prepared therefrom.
Claims34
A medicament comprising monodispersed microspheres of an active agent, each of said microspheres having a solid spherical body with substantially no discontinuity therethrough and having active agent substantially evenly distributed throughout, wherein at least about 80% of the particles have a largest diameter of 60% of the mean diameter and the mean particle size is not greater than 500 microns.
Discrete particles comprising:
- monodispersed solid microspheres of heat sensitive material having a smooth spherical surface and substantially no discontinuity therethrough, and having a mean particle size of not greater than 500 microns prepared by
- a) subjecting a solid heat sensitive organic feedstock optionally containing at least one active ingredient and capable of being transformed to liquiform in the substantial absence of dissolving medium, to liquiflash conditions, which transform said feedstock from a solid to a liquid to a solid in less than five (5) seconds, said liquid characterized as having substantially unimpeded internal flow, and
- b) imparting shear force against flowing feedstock resulting from step "a)" in an amount sufficient to separate discrete particles by natural mass separation of said flowing feedstock in the presence of shear force impinging thereon while in said unimpeded-flow condition, wherein any active ingredient is substantially evenly distributed throughout the particles and wherein at least about 80% of the particles have a largest diameter of 60% of the mean diameter and the mean particle size is not greater than 500 microns.
Coated particles comprising:
- 1) monodispersed solid microspheres of heat sensitive material having a smooth spherical surface and substantially no discontinuity therethrough, and having a mean particle size of not greater than 500 microns prepared by
- a) subjecting a solid heat sensitive organic feedstock optionally containing at least one active ingredient and capable of being transformed to liquiform in the substantial absence of dissolving medium, to liquiflash conditions, which transform said feedstock from a solid to a liquid to a solid in less than five (5) seconds, said liquid characterized as having substantially unimpeded internal flow, and
- b) imparting shear force against flowing feedstock resulting from step "a)" in an amount sufficient to separate discrete particles by natural mass separation of said flowing feedstock in the presence of shear force impinging thereon while in said unimpeded-flow condition, wherein any active ingredient is substantially evenly distributed throughout the particles;
- and
- 2) at least one coating of a substance selected from the group consisting of controlled release and taste masking substances and wherein at least about 80% of the particles have a largest diameter of 60% of the mean diameter and the mean particle size is not greater than 500 microns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.