Method and System

• US 20070169836A1
• Filed: 01/18/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Astrazeneca AB (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Original Assignee: Astrazeneca AB (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Inventors: Djurle, Alf, Wurst, Reiner
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/074 Filling capsules; Related operations
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/32 by weighing check-weighing of filled containers or receptacles B65B1/46
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/36 by volumetric devices or methods checking volume of filled material B65B1/48
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/46 Check-weighing of filled containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/001 Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/00 Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property determining weight by measuring volume G01F
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 53/90 Capsules

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for dosing a pharmaceutical product in a packaging machine comprising at least one volumetric dosing unit with a dosing chamber. The method comprises metering a volume of a first component, weighing the first component, introducing the first component into a package and metering a volume of a second component, introduce

g the second component into the package and weighing of the package into which the components have being introduced.

The invention further relates to a system for dosing a pharmaceutical product in a packaging machine comprising at least one volumetric dosing unit with a dosing chamber. The system comprises at least one volumetric dosing unit for metering a volume of the components. Further, means for introducing the said components into a package and means for weighing the components and the package are comprised. The means for weighing comprises a first weighing unit for weighing the package and the components, and a second weighing unit for weighing the first component after metering the first component by volume and before introducing the first component into the package.

Claims

1. A method for dosing a pharmaceutical product contained in a packaging machine, wherein:

the machine comprises at least one volumetric dosing unit with a dosing chamber,

the pharmaceutical product comprises at least a first component and a second component, and

at least one of the components comprises an active ingredient, the method comprising the steps of;

metering a volume of the first component,

weighing the metered volume of the first component;

introducing the metered and weighed volume of the first component into a package;

metering a volume of the second component;

introducing the metered volume of the second component into the package; and

weighing the package containing the first and second components,

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dosing chamber has a first slidable part and a second slidable part.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of weighing the metered volume of the second component before the second component is introduced to the package.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of sealing the package containing the first and second components before the package is weighed.

5. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the pharmaceutical product comprises more than two components, and

wherein the method comprises weighing a metered volume of at least two of the components before introducing the components into the package.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of using the results from the step of weighing the metered volume of the first component in a feed-back loop regulation of the volume metering of the first pharmaceutical component.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the feed-back loop regulation is intermittent.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the feed-back loop regulation is continuous.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the weight of the metered volume of the first component is significantly less than the weight of the metered volume of the second component.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the weight ratio between the metered volume of the first and the second components is more than 1:

10.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the weight ratio between the metered volume of the first and the second components is more than 1:

100.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metered volume of the first component is significantly smaller than the metered volume of the second component.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the volume ratio between the first and the second components is more than 1:

10.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the volume ratio between the first and the second components is more than 1:

100.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the package is a sachet.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the sachet is made of aluminum foil.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the package is a blister package.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the package is a capsule.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the components is in the form of pellets.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the components is a powder.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the components is in the form of granules.

30. A package containing a pharmaceutical product comprising at least a first and a second component wherein each of the components is dosed by the method according to claim 1.

31. A method for producing a package containing a pharmaceutical product comprising at least a first and a second components wherein the method comprises:

dosing the components according to the method of claim 1 into the package; and

sealing the package.

22. A system for dosing a pharmaceutical product comprising at least a first and a second component, the system comprising:

at least one volumetric dosing unit for metering a volume of the components and having a dosing chamber,

means for introducing the components into a package,

means for weighing the components and the package,

wherein the weighing means comprises a first weighing unit for weighing the package containing the first and second components, and

a second weighing unit for weighing a metered volume of the first component before the first component is introduced into the package.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the dosing chamber has a first slidable part and a second slidable part.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the system comprises a first volumetric dosing unit for metering a volume of the first component, and a second volumetric dosing unit for metering a volume of the second component.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein the weighing means further comprises a third weighing unit, for weighing a metered volume of the second component before the second component is introduced into the package.

26. The system according to claim 22, further comprising means for sealing the package containing the first and second components.

27. The system according to claim 25, further comprising means for feed-back loop regulation of the volume metering of the components, wherein the means uses the obtained weight of the metered volume of at least one of the components.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the means for feed-back loop regulation performs intermittent regulation of the volume metering of the component during operation of the system.

29. The system according to claim 27, wherein the means for feed-back loop regulation performs continuous regulation of the volume metering of the component during operation of the system.