Preparation and characterization of formulations in a high throughput mode
First Claim
1. A modular robotic system comprising:
- a rack and vial storage system for storing racks and vials;
a consumables storage system for storing materials;
a robotic arm for transferring vials from a first location to a second location, or for transferring racks from a first location to a second location;
a dispensing, pipetting, or characterization station for dispensing active ingredients, water, or additives to vials to yield a formulation, wherein said robotic arm transfers materials from said consumables storage system to said dispensing, pipetting, or characterization station;
a mixing station for mixing formulation to yield mixture; and
a phase stability station for phase analysis of said mixture;
wherein said first location is;
rack and vial storage system, dispensing, pipetting or characterization station, mixing or homogenizing station, or phase stability station; and
wherein said second location is;
rack and vial storage system, dispensing, pipetting or characterization station, mixing station, or phase stability station.
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Abstract
The invention is an automated robotic system for the production and testing of formulations at a very high throughput. It is an integrated system of hardware and software capable of preparing and evaluating hundreds of emulsions per day. The system can formulate aqueous solutions (SL), oil in water emulsions (EW), suspo-emulsions (SE), micro capsule suspensions (CS), micro-emulsions (ME), and suspension concentrates (SC) at the 1 ml to 25 ml scale. The system can process emulsions rapidly in an automated way and enable very flexible formulation recipes to be introduced. The system allows chemists to generate experimental samples of varying recipe and method to be conducted in parallel with projected throughput of up to 1200 formulations processed and characterized per day. Materials and consumables can be distributed from storage storage systems to the work stations where dispensing of ingredients in various states can be performed, including solids, liquids, gels, pastes, suspensions and waxes. The emulsions formed can be characterized using methods including phase diagnosis, turbidity analysis, viscosity and particle sizing using automated test equipment. An integrated module can also perform Tank Mix Compatibility testing in high throughput mode. The modular system allows future processes and tests to be added, either to a station, or as a new station. The software capability includes tracking of processes from start to finish and the integration of analytical data with the as-designed and as-formulated experimental results.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A modular robotic system comprising:
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a rack and vial storage system for storing racks and vials;
a consumables storage system for storing materials;
a robotic arm for transferring vials from a first location to a second location, or for transferring racks from a first location to a second location;
a dispensing, pipetting, or characterization station for dispensing active ingredients, water, or additives to vials to yield a formulation, wherein said robotic arm transfers materials from said consumables storage system to said dispensing, pipetting, or characterization station;
a mixing station for mixing formulation to yield mixture; and
a phase stability station for phase analysis of said mixture;
wherein said first location is;
rack and vial storage system, dispensing, pipetting or characterization station, mixing or homogenizing station, or phase stability station; and
wherein said second location is;
rack and vial storage system, dispensing, pipetting or characterization station, mixing station, or phase stability station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A modular robotic system comprising:
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a rack and vial storage system for storing racks and vials;
a consumables storage system for storing materials;
a robotic arm for transferring vials from a first location to a second location, or for transferring racks from a first location to a second location;
a dispensing, pipetting, or characterization station for dispensing active ingredients, water, or additives to vials,;
a solid dispensing station for dispensing solids by weight into vials, wherein said solids are active ingredients or additives;
a liquids, suspensions, gels, or meltables station for dispensing high viscosity fluids, gels, pastes, or meltables, wherein said high viscosity fluids, gels, pastes, or meltables are active ingredients or additives;
wherein said combination of said active ingredients, water, and additives from said dispensing, pipetting, or characterization station, said solid dispensing station, or said liquids, suspensions, gels, or meltables station yields a formulation;
a mixing station for mixing formulation to yield mixture; and
a phase stability station for phase analysis of said mixture;
a flexible robotic arm station, wherein said flexible robotic arm transfer racks from robotic arm to a third location upon said modular robotic system; and
a comminution station for grinding solid particles;
wherein said first location is;
rack and vial storage system;
dispensing, pipetting or characterization station;
mixing or homogenizing station;
phase stability station;
solid dispensing station;
liquids, suspensions, gels, or meltables station;
or comminutor station;
wherein said second location is;
rack and vial storage system;
dispensing, pipetting or characterization station;
mixing station;
phase stability station;
solid dispensing station;
liquids, suspensions, gels, or meltables station;
flexible arm station;
orcomminutor station; and
wherein said third location is;
rack and vial storage system;
dispensing, pipetting or characterization station;
mixing station;
phase stability station;
solid dispensing station;
liquids, suspensions, gels, or meltables station;
orcomminutor station. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of preparing and characterizing formulations in a high throughput mode comprising:
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loading rack(s) and vial(s), wherein said racks and vials are loaded into a rack and vial storage system;
loading consumables, wherein said consumables are loaded into a consumables storage system;
loading active ingredients, wherein said active ingredients are loaded on a liquid dispensing, pipetting, characterization station;
loading additive one, wherein said additive one is loaded on a liquid, suspensions, gels, and meltables dispensing station;
loading additive two, wherein additive two is a high viscosity liquid, and wherein said additive two is loaded in a gel dispensor;
loading additive three, wherein additive three is a solid, and wherein said additive three is loaded into a solid source hopper;
loading water, wherein said water is loaded on a liquid dispensing, pipetting, characterization station; and
transferring said consumables, wherein said consumables are transferred from said consumables storage system by a robotic arm and transferred on a rail to said liquids, suspensions, gels and meltables station and to said dispensing, pipetting, characterization station. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification