Metering and packaging method and device for pharmaceuticals and drugs
AssigneeMicrodose Technologies, Inc.
InventorsAndrew L. Abrams, Anand V. Gumaste
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electrostatic phototechnology is used to package microgram quantities of fine powders such as drugs in discrete capsule and tablet form. An electrostatic "image" having a given size and charge density is exposed to ionized drug powder to attract a known amount of drug to the image. The resultant drug "image", is then transferred to a an open ended capsule, a partially formed tablet or edible wafer or belt. The capsule is then sealed, i.e. by capping, or the tablet finished.
Claims35
The method of packaging dry powder pharmaceuticals, drugs and reagents comprising the steps of developing a predetermined electrostatic charge having a predetermined "image" area on a powder carrier surface, contacting said carrier surface with a sufficient amount of powder to neutralize said charge, whereby to isolate a predetermined quantity of powder, moving said isolated quantity of powder and said surface to a transfer station, transferring said isolated quantity of powder to a partially formed discrete package carried on a transport belt, whereby to form a discrete packaging containing said predetermined amount of powder.
The method of packaging dry powder pharmaceuticals, drugs and reagents comprising the steps of developing a predetermined electrostatic charge having a predetermined "image" area on a powder carrier surface, contacting said carrier surface with a sufficient amount of powder to neutralize said charge, whereby to isolate a predetermined quantity of powder, moving said isolated quantity of powder and said surface to a transfer station, transferring said isolated quantity of powder to a transport belt, and dividing said belt to form discrete packages each containing a predetermined amount of powder.
Apparatus for packaging for powder comprising:
- a source of powder,
- a powder carrier surface;
- means for applying a predetermined electrostatic charge to a predetermined area of said carrier surface, to create a charge "image" on said surface,
- means for applying to said powder an electrostatic charge opposite to that of said electrostatic charge on said carrier surface;
- means for exposing said charged area of said area on said carrier surface to charged powder to create a powder "image" on said carrier surface,
- means for transferring said powder adhering to said carrier surface to a transfer system and neutralizing said electrostatic charge on said carrier surface to cause the powder to transfer into a discrete, package, carried on a transport belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.