Systems, methods and apparatuses for manufacturing dosage forms

• US 6,982,094 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: McNeil-PPC Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Sowden, Harry S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Page, Thurman K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, SUSAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/966,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20030124183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 424/400, 424/464, 424/469, 424/470, 424/489, 425/345, 425/449, 425/259
• US Class Current: 424/489
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/04 Sugar-cookers
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/368 containing vitamins, antibiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/005 Coating of tablets or the like coating of sweetmeats or confectionery A23G3/20; coating of granules in general B01J2/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/06 into the form of pills, lozenges or dragees
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/10 into the form of compressed tablets tablet presses B30B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2853 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, poloxamers, poly(lactide-co-glycolide)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2873 Proteins, e.g. gelatin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2893 Tablet coating processes mechanical aspects A61J3/06
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 11/005 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 15/0082 Dust eliminating means; Mould or press ram cleaning means

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatuses for manufacturing dosage forms, and to dosage forms made using such systems, methods and apparatuses are provided. Novel compression, thermal cycle molding, and thermal setting molding modules are disclosed. One or more of such modules may be linked, preferably via novel transfer device, into an overall system for making dosage forms.

Claims

1. An apparatus for molding substrates from a starting material in flowable form, comprising a plurality of molding chambers and a plurality of nozzles aligned with said molding chambers for introducing the starting material into said molding chambers, said molding chambers and said nozzles mounted on a common rotor capable of rotation about a central axis, said nozzles being displaceable in a direction parallel to said central axis, such that as said rotor rotates, said nozzles engage and disengage said molding chambers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a heated reservoir for supplying said starling material to said nozzles, and wherein said molding chambers are at a temperature below that of the reservoir.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of valves each comprising a valve seat with a gasket therein, said valves being disposed in flow paths connecting the reservoir and the nozzles, said valve seat having the geometry of a gradually tapering hole, such that as said gasket closes starting material is sucked back from said nozzles.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the each of the plurality of nozzles injects the starting material into a corresponding molding chamber while rotating about a common rotor in alignment with the molding chamber.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the starting material sets, gels, or solidifies in the molding chamber that is moving along a rotary path defined by the rotor and rotation about the central axis.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the starting material is a thermal setting material.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the thermal setting material is at a temperature above its melting point prior to injection into the molding.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the starting material contains a medicant and is a thermal setting material at a temperature above its melting point and below the decomposition temperature of the medicant.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the starting material is a polymeric material in the form of solid particles in suspension, a molten mass, paste or solution.