Systems, devices, and methods for making or administering frozen particles

• US 20100163576A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Myhrvold, Nathan P., Boyden, Edward S., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Hyde, Roderick A., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Leuthardt, Eric C., Cook, Daniel B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,485,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/71
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/00 Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/337 having four-membered rings, e.g. taxol
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/70 Carbohydrates; Sugars; Derivatives thereof sorbitol A61K31/047
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/7008 Compounds having an amino group directly attached to a carbon atom of the saccharide radical, e.g. D-galactosamine, ranimustine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/7088 Compounds having three or more nucleosides or nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/00 Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/38 Albumins
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/4833 Thrombin (3.4.21.5)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/4886 Metalloendopeptidases (3.4.24), e.g. collagenase
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/00 Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies materials for immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0004 Homeopathy; Vitalisation; Resonance; Dynamisation, e.g. esoteric applications; Oxygenation of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 45/06 Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 51/1244 microparticles or nanoparticles, e.g. polymeric nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0019 Injectable compositions; Intramuscular, intravenous, arterial, subcutaneous administration; Compositions to be administered through the skin in an invasive manner non-active ingredients are additionally classified in A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0021 Intradermal administration, e.g. through microneedle arrays, needleless injectors mechanical aspects A61M
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/007 Pulmonary tract; Aromatherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/08 Solutions composition of solutions A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1611 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1617 Organic compounds, e.g. phospholipids, fats
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1641 : obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyethylene glycol, poloxamers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1664 : Compounds of unknown constitution, e.g. material from plants or animals oils, fats, waxes, shellac A61K9/1617
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1688 : resulting in pure drug agglomerate optionally containing up to 5% of excipient
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/19 : lyophilised , i.e. freeze-dried, solutions or dispersions lyophilised products with subsequent particle size reduction A61K9/14; granules or pellets made by lyphilisation A61K9/1682; solid oral dosage forms made by lyophilisation A61K9/2095; lyophilisation additives A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 : Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one substrate.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a body portion including at least one nonlinear channel including a hydrophobic surface, and configured to hold at least one fluid composition, the body portion including at least one port, wherein the at least one port provides fluid communication between the at least one nonlinear channel and an environment external to the body portion; and

inlet means for facilitating introduction of at least one fluid composition to the at least one nonlinear channel;

wherein the at least one nonlinear channel is configured to maintain conditions for a time sufficient to at least partially freeze at least one fluid composition received in the at least one nonlinear channel, thereby forming at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement; and

pressure means for translocating the at least one frozen particle composition through the at least one port to the external environment.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one hydrophobic surface includes at least one super hydrophobic surface.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one nonlinear channel is non-planar.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the nonlinear channel defines a uniform or non-uniform path.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the nonlinear channel defines a path including at least one of approximately circular, approximately elliptical, approximately conical, approximately pyramidal, approximately spherical, approximately cuboidal, approximately spiral, or approximately helical.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the nonlinear channel includes approximately 1 rotation, approximately 2 rotations, approximately 3 rotations, approximately 4 rotations, approximately 5 rotations, approximately 6 rotations, approximately 7 rotations, approximately 8 rotations, approximately 9 rotations, approximately 10 rotations, or any value therebetween or greater.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fluid injectors located along the at least one nonlinear channel.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of fluid injectors are located periodically along the at least one nonlinear channel.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one port further comprises at least one fluid injector in fluid communication with the at least one nonlinear channel.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the nonlinear channel follows a substantially circular or spiral path, and includes at least one fluid inlet at each rotation or half rotation along the path.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid includes at least one carrier fluid.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the at least one carrier fluid includes at least one refrigerant or cryogenic fluid.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one nonlinear channel is at least partially enclosed.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one pressure means includes at least one of gravitational force, magnetic force, hydrophobic force, electrostatic force, electromagnetic force, air pressure, fluid pressure, centripetal force, electromotive force, or centrifugal force.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one pressure means includes at least one piezoelectric actuator.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the heat of friction from the at least one force is less than the latent heat of freezing of the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

19. The device of claim 1, further comprising administration means including at least one component for administering the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement to at least one substrate.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the administration means include at least one hose, sprayer, spigot, or nozzle.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the at least one nozzle includes at least one de Laval nozzle.

24. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one mechanical, electrical, or magnetic means for controlling at least one parameter for making or administering the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

28. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one regulator means for adjusting the temperature of at least a portion of the at least one compartment.

29. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one measuring means for sizing, detecting, or analyzing the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the at least one measuring means includes at least one mechanical, electrical, or photonic device.

31. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one reducing means for reducing particle size of the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the at least one reducing means for reducing particle size includes at least one of piezoelectric means or sonication means.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the at least one reducing means for reducing particle size includes at least one of a mechanical cutter, electrical cutter, or fluid jet.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein the at least one reducing means for reducing particle size is located in at least one of the at least one port, or the at least one nonlinear channel.

35. The device of claim 1, further comprising sorting means for sorting a plurality of frozen particle compositions or frozen piercing implements.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the sorting a plurality of frozen particle compositions or frozen piercing implements is based at least in part on at least one characteristic of the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

37. The device of claim 35, wherein the sorting a plurality of frozen particle compositions or frozen piercing implements is based at least in part on at least one parameter of the making or administering the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

38. The device of claim 1, further comprising administration means including at least one component for administering the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement from the at least one port to at least one substrate in the external environment.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein the administration means includes at least one deflector.

40. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one magnet.

41. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrode means.

42. The device of claim 1, further comprising electrical means for applying oscillatory potential difference between the electrode means.

64. The device of claim 1, wherein the time and conditions sufficient to form at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement includes at least a partial vacuum.

67. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor.

69. The device of claim 67, further comprising at least one controller configured to regulate the at least one sensor.

70. The device of claim 69, wherein the controller is in electronic communication with the at least one sensor.

71. The device of claim 69, wherein the controller provides at least one response if the conditions are unsatisfactory for administering the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

72. The device of claim 67, wherein the at least one sensor includes one or more of a pressure sensitive sensor, velocity sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, feedback sensor, or particle sensor.

73. The device of claim 72, wherein the at least one particle sensor includes one or more power sources.

75. The device of claim 72, wherein the at least one particle sensor includes at least one particle counter.

76. The device of claim 72, wherein the at least one temperature sensor monitors the temperature of at least one of at least one of a port or nonlinear channel.

77. The device of claim 72, wherein the at least one feedback sensor detects at least one parameter for making or administering the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement to at least one substrate.

80. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is in electronic communication with at least one computing system.

2-3. -3. (canceled)

22-23. -23. (canceled)

25-27. -27. (canceled)

43-63. -63. (canceled)

65-66. -66. (canceled)

68. (canceled)

74. (canceled)

78-79. -79. (canceled)

81. A method for making at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement, comprising:

contacting at least one fluid composition with at least one nonlinear channel of a body portion of a device, the at least one nonlinear channel including at least one hydrophobic surface and including at least one port,

wherein the at least one port provides fluid communication between the at least one compartment and an environment external to the body portion; and

providing conditions for a time sufficient in the at least one nonlinear channel to solidify the at least one fluid composition into at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement; and

translocating the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement through the at least one port to the external environment.

109. The method of claim 81, further comprising administering the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement with at least one force from the at least one port toward at least one substrate in the external environment.

135. The method of claim 81, further comprising controlling at least one parameter for making or administering the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

149. The method of claim 81, further comprising measuring, detecting, sizing, or analyzing the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

150. The method of claim 81, further comprising reducing the particle size of the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

151. The method of claim 81, further comprising sorting a plurality of frozen particle compositions or frozen piercing implements.

153. The method of claim 81, further comprising positioning the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement on at least one support structure.

154. The method of claim 153, wherein the at least one support structure includes at least part of a frozen piercing implement device.

82-108. -108. (canceled)

110-134. -134. (canceled)

136-148. -148. (canceled)

152. (canceled)

155-157. -157. (canceled)