Method and system for dosing a pharmaceutical sample in a packaging machine

• US 7,536,843 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2007
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Astrazeneca AB (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Original Assignee: Astrazeneca AB (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Inventors: Djurle, Alf, Wurst, Reiner
• Primary Examiner(s): Gerrity; Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US11/624,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20070169836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 535/02, 539/00, 141/9, 141/100, 141/103, 141/104, 141/83, 177/56, 177/57, 177/70
• US Class Current: 53/502
• 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 and system for dosing a pharmaceutical product in a packaging machine having at least one volumetric dosing unit with a dosing chamber. The system check-weighs the volumetrically dosed product with appropriate speed and is integrated into a filling or packaging machine. In accordance with the invention, a volume of a first pharmaceutical component is metered and weighed before being introduced into a package. The procedure is repeated with a second pharmaceutical component. The package containing the components is then weighed. Advantageously, accuracy and precision of the amount of the weighed components can be monitored with the present invention to secure the quality of the pharmaceutical product.

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 and at least one on-line check-weighing unit;

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 with the dosing unit;

weighing the metered volume of the first component with the weighing unit;

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

metering a volume of the second component with the dosing unit;

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 into the package.

4. 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.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the weight ratio between the metered volume of the first and the second components is more than 1:

10.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the weight ratio between the metered volume of the first and the second components is more than 1:

100.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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 component.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the feed-back loop regulation is intermittent.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the feed-back loop regulation is continuous.

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.

22. 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.