Disintegrating agent for tablets

• US 3,951,821 A
• Filed: 09/20/1974
• Issued: 04/20/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Davidson, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Padgett, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lloyd, Josephine
• Application Number:
  US05/508,025
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 424/15, 424/361, 424/362, 252/1
• US Class Current: 252/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2054 Cellulose; Cellulose derivatives, e.g. hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2072 characterised by shape, structure or size; Tablets with holes, special break lines or identification marks; Partially coated tablets; Disintegrating flat shaped forms A61K9/0004, A61K9/0056, A61K9/0065 take precedence

Abstract

Disintegration of tablets is improved by the incorporation therein of a plurality of small tubules. The tubules can be prepared by subdivision of hollow fibers such as cellulose or cellulose acetate hollow fibers having inside diameters on the order of 50-300 microns into segments 100-1000 microns in length. Tablets and methods for their preparation are disclosed.

Claims

1. In a compressed tablet comprising an active ingredient and an effective amount of a disintegrating agent to facilitate disintegration of the tablet in contact with a liquid, the improvement wherein the disintegrating agent comprises a tubule, said tubule having an internal cross-sectional area corresponding to an inside diameter of from about 5 microns to about 2,000 microns, and a length corresponding to an axial length of from about 0.5 micron to about 3 millimeters, said tubule being wettable by the liquid.

2. The tablet of claim 1 wherein the tablet contains a plurality of said tubules.

3. The tablet of claim 2 wherein the tubules are of a liquid permeable material.

4. The tablet of claim 2 wherein the tubules are of a material adapted to swell on contact with the liquid.

5. The tablet of claim 2 wherein the tubules are of a material selected from the group consisting of ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, gelatin, cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose.