Apparatus and method for instantly manufacturing a batch of customized dosage

• US 20050210834A1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M/S KEI Vita Private Limited
• Original Assignee: M/S KEI Vita Private Limited
• Inventors: Kamineni, Shobana
• Granted Patent: US 7,574,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/415
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/20 Arrangements for transferring or mixing fluids, e.g. from vial to syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/002 Compounding apparatus specially for enteral or parenteral nutritive solutions bottling liquids B67C
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/60 Mixing solids with solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 29/40113 Conical, double-conicalor diabolo shapes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 29/63 with fixed bars, i.e. stationary, or fixed on the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/841 with component receptacles fixed in a circular configuration on a horizontal table, e.g. the table being able to be indexed about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 11/10 intermittently rotated
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 53/90 Capsules

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for instantly manufacturing a batch of customized pharmaceutical dosages are provided. A batch of customized pharmaceutical dosages is manufactured as per the requirements of an individual, which may depend on age, gender, health, lifestyle, disease, habits, etc. The ingredients or components of the customized pharmaceutical dosages are selected as per the requirement of the individual. These ingredients or components are mixed/blended to form a homogenous mixture. The requisite quantities of the homogenous mixture, based on the individual'"'"'s requirement, are then measured and converted to a desired final form, e.g., tablets, capsules or sachets. These tablets, capsules, etc., are then packaged and the packages are labeled.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing a batch of customized dosages of pharmaceutical formulations, the pharmaceutical formulations being customized as per the requirements of an individual, the system comprising:

a. a logic unit, the logic unit generating customized dosage and process parameters depending upon the requirements of the individual;

b. a microprocessor based control unit, the control unit controlling the manufacturing process based on the generated customized dosage and process parameters;

c. a bin assembly, the bin assembly storing various individual ingredients that are required to manufacture the pharmaceutical formulations, in separate containers;

d. a blender unit, the blender unit receiving the required quantities of the ingredients from the bin assembly as per the dosage and process parameters, the drawing being controlled by the control unit, and preparing a homogeneous mixture of the received ingredients as per the dosage and process parameters;

e. a conversion unit, the conversion unit converting the homogeneous mixture to a final form, the conversion unit being connected to the blender unit for receiving the homogenous mixture; and

f. a packaging and labeling unit, the packaging and labeling unit packaging the final form of dosages and printing labels on the packaging.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the blender unit is a dual bender that comprises:

a. a first blender, the first blender having blades for blending the ingredients;

b. a second blender, the second blender having blades for blending the ingredients; and

c. a movable support arm, the support arm connecting the first blender and the second blender, the support arm ensuring simultaneous functioning of the two blenders for a continuous operation of the process plant, the support arm positioning the first blender and the second blender such that at a given time one blender receives and blends the ingredients, and the other blender connects to the conversion unit.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the conversion unit is a tablet conversion unit, the tablet conversion unit comprising:

a. a dosager assembly, the dosager assembly measuring and drawing the required quantity of the homogeneous mixture for a dosage from the blender unit;

b. a die for the tablet, the die receiving the homogenous mixture from the dosager assembly;

c. a punch assembly, the punch assembly punching the homogeneous mixture in the die of the table assembly to produce a tablet; and

d. a table assembly, the die being placed on the table assembly, the table assembly positioning the die for the dosager assembly operation and the punch assembly operation.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the conversion unit is a capsule conversion unit, the capsule conversion unit filling the customized dosages into capsules.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the conversion unit is a sachet conversion unit, the sachet conversion unit filling the customized dosages into sachets.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 further comprising a cleaning unit for cleaning the dual blender unit, the conversion unit and all paths connecting various units of the system, the cleaning unit comprising:

a. air blower means for blowing air to remove the residues left in the dual blender unit, the conversion unit and the paths connecting the various units; and

b. a vacuum pump for suction of residue and transferring it into disposable bags.

7. A method for instantly manufacturing a batch of dosages of a pharmaceutical formulation, the pharmaceutical formulation being customized as per the specifics and requirements of an individual, the method comprising the steps of:

a. inputting the information about the specifics and requirements of the individual;

b. generating the process and customized dosage parameters based on the specifics and requirements of the individual, the customized dosage parameters including parameters related to ingredients, dosage and duration, the process parameters including parameters for carrying out the process of manufacture of the customized dosage as defined by the customized dosage parameters;

c. measuring and drawing the selected ingredients based on the customized dosage parameters;

d. blending the selected ingredients or components in a blender to obtain a homogeneous mixture, blending being carried out in accordance with the generated process parameters; and

e. dispensing the batch of customized dosages.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of automatic cleaning of various units used to manufacture the customized dosages for obtaining a residue free manufacturing unit.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the information supplied by the individual comprises somatotype, lifestyle, health and illness information.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of blending comprises the steps of controlling the speed of rotation, controlling the angle of rotation and number of rotations, as per the process parameters.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of dispensing the batch of customized dosages comprises the steps of:

a. measuring the homogeneous mixture for obtaining a single customized dosage;

b. converting the measured homogeneous mixture into a final form;

c. packaging the final form; and

d. printing labels on the packaged final form, the labels representing the composition of the dosages.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the final form of the customized dosage is tablet.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the final form of the customized dosage is capsule.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the final form of the customized dosage is sachet.