Method of inducing nucleation of a material
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of inducing nucleation of a phase transition in a material comprising the steps of:
- bringing the material to a temperature near or below a phase transition temperature; and
decreasing the pressure proximate the material to induce nucleation of the phase transition in the material.
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Abstract
Methods of inducing nucleation of a material is provided. The disclosed methods comprise the steps of bringing the material to a temperature near or below a phase transition temperature and altering the pressure to induce nucleation of the material. The disclosed methods are useful in freeze-drying processes, particularly pharmaceutical freeze-drying processes.
37 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of inducing nucleation of a phase transition in a material comprising the steps of:
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bringing the material to a temperature near or below a phase transition temperature; and decreasing the pressure proximate the material to induce nucleation of the phase transition in the material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of controlling the freezing process of a material comprising the steps of:
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cooling the material at a prescribed cooling rate; rapidly decreasing the pressure to nucleate freezing within the material; and continuing cooling of the nucleated material to a prescribed final temperature to further freeze the material. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A solidification process comprising the steps of:
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bringing a material to a temperature near or below a phase transition temperature; decreasing the pressure proximate the material to induce nucleation of solidification within the material; and cooling of the nucleated material to a prescribed final temperature to further solidification. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A method of controlling the condensation process of a gas comprising the steps of:
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cooling the gas to a temperature near or below a phase transition temperature; decreasing the pressure to induce nucleation of condensation within the gas; and continuing cooling of the nucleated gas to a prescribed final temperature to further condensation.
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32. A method of inducing a phase transition of a material comprising the steps of:
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warming the material to a temperature near or above a phase transition temperature; and decreasing the pressure proximate the material to induce the phase transition of the material.
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33. A method of phase transitioning a material comprising the steps of:
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bringing the material to a temperature near a phase transition temperature in a pressurized gas atmosphere; and decreasing the pressure to induce the phase transition of the material.
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Specification