Spray dry process for applying anticoagulant on a syringe barrel

• US 20030120198A1
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Church, Stephen, Barkell, Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/293,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20030120198A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/21
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/10 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 33/0011 Anticoagulant, e.g. heparin, platelet aggregation inhibitor, fibrinolytic agent, other than enzymes, attached to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/10 Heparin; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/006 the gas supply or exhaust being effected through hollow spaces or cores in the materials or objects, e.g. tubes, pipes, bottles F26B9/003 and F26B9/103 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/12 Velocity of flow; Quantity of flow , e.g. by varying fan speed, by modifying cross flow area F26B21/004 takes precedence; changing air flow pattern F26B21/022
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/12 in the form of a spray , i.e. sprayed or dispersed emulsions or suspensions spray drying of solutions B01D1/18

Abstract

A method for coating a substrate surface, such as an interior portion of a syringe is provided. An aqueous anticoagulant solution is atomized onto the substrate surface and dried by the forced flow of warm air. Water is removed during the drying leaving a coating of anticoagulant. A concentrated aqueous anticoagulant solution is used to reduce the time required for drying. A syringe having an interior portion coated with anticoagulant is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for coating a substrate with an anticoagulant comprising:

providing a concentrated aqueous anticoagulant solution;

providing a flow of pressurized air;

providing a nozzle having a first chamber in fluid communication with said flow of pressurized air and having a second chamber in fluid communication with said anticoagulant solution;

atomizing said anticoagulant solution into fine mist droplets as said anticoagulant solution exits said second chamber; and

directing said droplets into said flow of pressurized air to direct said droplets towards a surface of a substrate to coat said surface with said anticoagulant solution.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising drying said anticoagulant solution on said surface of said substrate by forcing warm air over said surface to evaporate water from said anticoagulant solution to leave a coating of solid anticoagulant thereat.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said warm air is at least about 40°

C.; and

further wherein said warm air is no more than about 60°

C.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said warm air is forced over said surface from at least about 5 seconds;

and

further wherein said warm air is forced over said surface from at no more than about 60 seconds.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said warm air is forced over said surface at a velocity of at least about 5 meters per second;

and

further wherein said warm air is forced over said surface at a velocity is no greater than about 15 meters per second.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said anticoagulant solution includes ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or heparin.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said anticoagulant solution is a calcium balanced lithium heparin having a heparin concentration of at least about 3,000 IU per milliliter;

and

further wherein said anticoagulant solution has a heparin concentration of no more than about 10,000 IU per milliliter.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said anticoagulant solution is a calcium balanced lithium heparin having a heparin concentration of at least about 6,500 IU per milliliter;

and

further wherein said anticoagulant solution has a heparin concentration of no more than about 7,500 IU per milliliter.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said surface is an interior portion of a syringe.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said atomizing includes atomizing at least about a 1 microliter of said anticoagulant solution;

and

further wherein said atomizing includes atomizing no more than about a 20 microliters of said anticoagulant solution.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing hydrophobicity at said surface of said substrate prior atomizing said anticoagulant solution.

12. The step of claim 11 wherein said step includes coating said surface with a silicone oil.

13. A method for coating an interior portion of a syringe with an anticoagulant comprising:

providing a concentrated aqueous anticoagulant solution;

providing a flow of pressurized air;

providing at least two spray nozzles each having a first chamber in fluid communication with said flow of pressurized air and each having a second chamber in fluid communication with said anticoagulant solution;

atomizing from about 1 to about 20 microliters of said anticoagulant solution into fine must droplets as said anticoagulant solution exits said second chamber of one of said spray nozzles;

directing said droplets into said flow of pressurized air exiting said one spray nozzle to direct said droplets towards an interior portion of a syringe to coat said portion with said anticoagulant solution;

atomizing from about 1 to about 20 microliters of said anticoagulant solution into fine must droplets as said anticoagulant solution exits said second chamber of the other of said spray nozzles;

directing said droplets into said flow of pressurized air exiting said other spray nozzle to direct said droplets towards said portion of said syringe to coat said portion with said anticoagulant solution; and

drying said anticoagulant solution on said surface of said substrate to evaporate water from said anticoagulant solution to leave a physical coating of solid anticoagulant thereat.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said drying further includes forcing warm air over said surface.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said anticoagulant solution is a calcium balanced lithium heparin having a heparin concentration of at least about 3,000 IU per milliliter;

and

further wherein said anticoagulant solution has a heparin concentration of no more than about 10,000 IU per milliliter.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said anticoagulant solution is a calcium balanced lithium heparin having a heparin concentration of at least about 6,500 IU per milliliter;

and

further wherein said anticoagulant solution has a heparin concentration of no more than about 7,500 IU per milliliter.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising coating said surface with a silicone oil prior to atomizing said anticoagulant solution.

18. A syringe for collecting a blood sample comprising:

an interior portion having a physical coating of air-dried calcium balanced lithium heparin;

said coating being deposited by atomizing from 1 to 20 microliters of a concentrated aqueous calcium balanced lithium heparin solution.

19. The syringe of claim 18 wherein said concentrated aqueous calcium balanced lithium heparin solution contains at least about 3,000 IU per milliliter of heparin;

and

further wherein said concentrated aqueous calcium balanced lithium heparin solution contains no more than about 10,000 IU per milliliter heparin.

20. The syringe of claim 19 wherein said syringe has a nominal size from about 1 cc to about 5 cc.

21. The syringe of claim 18 wherein said concentrated aqueous calcium balanced lithium heparin solution contains at least about 6,500 IU per milliliter of heparin;

and further wherein said concentrated aqueous calcium balanced lithium heparin solution contains no more than about 7,500 IU per milliliter heparin.

22. The syringe of claim 21 wherein said syringe has a nominal size from about 1 cc to about 5 cc.