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

• US 8,414,356 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Boyden, Edward S., Cook, Daniel B., Hyde, Roderick A., Leuthardt, Eric C., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG V
• Application Number:
  US12/590,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 451 38- 40, 451/7, 451/53, 604/503, 62/66, 62/70, 62/75, 624/41, 624/42
• US Class Current: 451/40
• 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 compartment configured to hold at least one fluid, the body portion 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;

inlet means for facilitating introduction of at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement into the body portion; and

expansion means for inducing a volume expansion of the at least one fluid in the at least one compartment to propel the at least one frozen particle composition or at least one frozen piercing implement through the at least one port to the external environment;

wherein the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement includes at least one explosive material located in at least one cavity or channel of the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment includes at least one of a heat sink, cryostat, refrigeration mechanism, or freezing mechanism.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the volume expansion of the at least one fluid includes at least one of a rapid phase-change in the at least one fluid from a liquid to a gas state;

a decrease in density of the at least one fluid;

a rapid volumetric expansion of the at least one fluid;

flash boiling the at least one fluid;

boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion of the at least one fluid;

or rapid expansion of at least one portion of the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein inducing a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion includes at least one of altering the pressure of the fluid, or altering the temperature of the fluid.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the volume of the compartment is constant.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising pressure-increasing means for increasing the pressure within the compartment.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising volume-reducing means for reducing the volume of the compartment.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the volume-reducing means for reducing the volume of the compartment includes at least one piston, valve, or gate.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising at least one crankshaft operably connected to the at least one piston.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment is expandable.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment is substantially rigid.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one explosive material includes at least one of carbonate, carbon dioxide, nitroglycerine, acid, base, epoxy, acrylic polymer or copolymer, acrylamide polymer or copolymer, urethane, hypoxyapatite, or reactive metal.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one explosive material includes at least one of carbon dioxide gas, and inducing expansion includes inducing a volume expansion of at least one portion of the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement by contacting with infrared radiation.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the volume expansion includes rapid expansion of the at least one explosive material of the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the volume-expanded fluid is less than or approximately equal to the freezing temperature of the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid has a triple point lower than or approximately equal to the triple point of the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the expansion means for inducing a volume expansion includes at least one article configured to transfer energy.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one article configured to transfer energy includes one or more of a piezoelectric, thermal, electrical, electromagnetic, or manual pressure article.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein inducing the volume expansion includes exposing the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement to at least one of electric energy, magnetic energy, electromagnetic energy, thermal energy, ultrasound, altered pressure, or altered temperature.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the electromagnetic energy includes at least one of visible light, microwaves, infrared light, ultraviolet light, gamma rays, or x-rays.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the electromagnetic energy is provided by at least one source including at least one of a laser or x-ray device.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the heat associated with propulsion of the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement is less than the heat required to liquefy the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement.

23. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a valve, gate, channel, injector, or pump.

24. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one detection material.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment is configured to maintain at least a partial vacuum.

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

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the at least one administration means includes at least one of a hose, sprayer, nozzle, or spigot.

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, wherein the body portion further comprises at least one first channel configured to hold at least one fluid, the at least one first channel having a distal end terminating at the at least one compartment.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the body portion further comprises at least one second channel configured to hold at least one agent, the at least one second channel having a distal end terminating at the at least one compartment.

31. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further includes communication means configured for electronic communication with at least one computing system.

32. A device, comprising:

a body portion including at least one compartment configured to hold at least one fluid, the body portion 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;

inlet means for facilitating introduction of at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement into the body portion; and

expansion means for inducing a volume expansion of the at least one fluid in the at least one compartment to propel the at least one frozen particle composition or at least one frozen piercing implement through the at least one port to the external environment;

wherein inducing the volume expansion includes exposing the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement to at least one of electric energy, magnetic energy, electromagnetic energy, thermal energy, ultrasound, altered pressure, or altered temperature; and

wherein the electromagnetic energy includes at least one of visible light, microwaves, infrared light, ultraviolet light, gamma rays, or x-rays.

33. A device, comprising:

a body portion including at least one compartment configured to hold at least one fluid, the body portion 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;

inlet means for facilitating introduction of at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement into the body portion; and

expansion means for inducing a volume expansion of the at least one fluid in the at least one compartment to propel the at least one frozen particle composition or at least one frozen piercing implement through the at least one port to the external environment;

wherein inducing the volume expansion includes exposing the at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement to at least one of electric energy, magnetic energy, electromagnetic energy, thermal energy, ultrasound, altered pressure, or altered temperature; and

wherein the electromagnetic energy is provided by at least one source including at least one of a laser or x-ray device.

34. A device, comprising:

a body portion including at least one compartment configured to hold at least one fluid, the body portion 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;

inlet means for facilitating introduction of at least one frozen particle composition or frozen piercing implement into the body portion; and

expansion means for inducing a volume expansion of the at least one fluid in the at least one compartment to propel the at least one frozen particle composition or at least one frozen piercing implement through the at least one port to the external environment;

further including at least one detection material.