CN101171174A - A method of filling a recess with a certain amount of particulate matter - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for filling a cavity (2, 15.1, 15.2) with a quantity (12.1, 12.2) of particulate material, comprising the steps of filling a chamber (4, 10.1, 10.2) with its open side facing upwards with the quantity (12.1, 12.2) of particulate material, positioning the opening of the cavity (2, 15.1, 15.2) opposite the opening of the filled chamber (4, 10.1, 10.2), and thereafter rotating the chamber (4, 10.1, 10.2) and the cavity (2, 15.1, 15.2) so that the cavity (2, 15.1, 15.2) is positioned with its open side facing upwards and the chamber (4, 10.1, 10.2) with its open side facing downwards, whereby the quantity (12.1, 12.2) of particulate material is emptied into the cavity (2, 15.1, 15.2). A corresponding device comprising a chamber (4, 10.1, 10.2), filling means (22, 23, 24) for filling the chamber (4, 10.1, 10.2) with the quantity (12.1, 12.2) of particulate material, operating means (29) for positioning the opening of the cavity (2, 15.1, 15.2) opposite the opening of the chamber (4, 10.1, 10.2), and conveyor belt (20) for rotating the chamber (4, 10.1, 10.2) and the cavity (2, 15.1, 15.2) so that the cavity (2, 15.1, 15.2) is positioned with its open side facing upwards and the chamber (4, 10.1, 10.2) is positioned with its open side facing downwards.

Description

A method of filling a recess with a certain amount of particulate matter

technical field

The invention relates to a method and a device for filling a recess with a quantity of particulate material, said method comprising the step of filling a chamber with an open side at least partially facing upwards with these particulate materials. The method and device of the present invention are suitable for filling packs containing doses of powdered medicament contained in recesses of the pack for use in inhalation devices .

Background technique

Today, the delivery and distribution of medications can be accomplished in many different ways. In health care, people are paying more and more attention to the possibility of taking (to dose) and distributing powdered medicines directly into the lungs of the user by means of dispensing devices such as inhalation devices, so that the user can both Take prescribed medicines effectively and beneficially. In most cases some form of dosing process is used to prepare the dose to be inhaled. Typically, these doses of medicament are provided in packages having several wells for containing a dose of medicament. The recess filled with a certain dose is then sealed with a sealing sheet such as aluminum foil. These packages are loaded into a dispensing device where the foil above the recess is pierced, releasing the dose of drug for inhalation by the user. By means of this seal, the medicament prior to inhalation is well protected. There are other cases where it is suitable to provide multiple doses of medicament in a package having a recess for a dose of medicament, in which cases the recess is sealed by a foil. The packs containing said multiple doses of the medicament may be in the form of blister packs or injection molded discs with blisters or recesses, respectively, to hold the powdered medicament, the packs It can have various shapes, and the recesses can also be distributed in various patterns. Such a method for filling the recess must provide precise and variable dosing into the recess to provide packages containing precise drug doses of different sizes.

EP 1 354 795 A2 discloses a method and apparatus for metering fine powders into a receptacle. The device has a gauge with an opening. The meter is suitable for receiving refined powders. Furthermore, the device comprises an oscillating element oscillating within the powder and a rotatable member provided with a plurality of chambers aligned around its periphery. The rotatable member can be rotated to align the chamber with the opening to transfer powder from the meter into the chamber. The rotatable member is rotated 180° to a dispensing position where the chamber is aligned with the receptacle, allowing the powder to fill the receptacle.

US 5 187 921A discloses a method and apparatus for filling a blind cavity (blind cavity) with a certain amount of powder, the method comprising pushing the cavity with the open side at least partially facing downward into the powder storage container, and returning the inside to contain a certain amount of powder While the open side continues at least partially facing downwards, the recess with the powder inside is then covered with a lid.

WO 03/066437 A1 discloses a method and apparatus for feeding powder into a bag with an open side, the method comprising orienting the bag with the open side at least partially facing upwards, providing the bag with a powder volume greater than the bag volume, compressing the powder volume Up to a predetermined bulk density, excess powder is drained leaving a powder-filled bag with a predetermined bulk density.

US 6 035 905 A discloses a method of feeding multiple doses of each of particulate matter into separate compartments of a container, the method comprising the steps of: inserting a respective protrusion, preferably a catheter, said particulate matter by introducing the keels into the compartments, introducing them into each compartment to reduce their volume, filling each compartment with the particulate matter when inserting the keels into the compartments, removing the keels, Therein, the volume of each dose of substance is smaller than the volume of its corresponding compartment.

However, the solutions mentioned above have some disadvantages. Some of the methods and devices described above are unable to dispense a prescribed dose of powder having less than the volume of the recess containing the dose, or do not dispense with sufficient accuracy. Methods and devices suitable for dispensing powder doses having a smaller volume than the recesses are very complex in construction and can only be used for filling recesses deployed in the form of linear patterns or containing some linear patterns such as matrix patterns, but not Filling of recesses arranged in various patterns, such as those arranged in arbitrary and non-linear patterns. None of the methods or apparatuses mentioned above can fill all the blisters or cavities in the tray or package at the same time, requiring multiple repeated filling operations.

Contents of the invention

purpose of invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device for filling at least one recess with a certain amount of granulate, by means of which method and device can be used to fill packages or trays in arbitrary patterns, for example arranged in arbitrary and non-linear patterns. The concave portion or bubble in the cavity is not complicated and can control the cost of filling the concave portion with particles to a very low level, and can also accurately distribute the powder dose whose volume is smaller than the volume of the concave portion containing the dose. The method and device provided by the present invention are flexible, New patterns of recesses can be easily adapted and all blisters or recesses in a tray or pack can be filled simultaneously, resulting in high throughput.

solution

The above objects are achieved by providing a method as defined in the preamble of claim 1, which method comprises special measures of positioning the opening of the recess opposite to the opening of the chamber to be filled, and then making the The chamber and the recess rotate together such that the recess is positioned with its open side at least partially facing upward and the chamber is positioned with its open side at least partially facing downward, whereby the amount of particulate matter is evacuated into the recess; the above object can also be achieved by means of the kind of device defined in the preamble of claim 8, which device comprises an opening for positioning the recess in relation to the chamber an operating member opposite to the opening of the chamber, and for rotating the chamber together with the recess such that the recess is positioned at least partially upwards on its opening side and the chamber is positioned at least on its opening side A guide member in a partially ground-down position, whereby said amount of particulate matter is evacuated into said recess.

With the aid of the method and device according to the invention, it is possible to fill recesses or blisters arranged in any type of pattern, for example in an arbitrary and non-linear pattern, in a pack or tray. These recesses can be filled with precise doses of powder having a volume smaller than the volume of the recesses containing the doses. All blisters or cavities in a tray or pack can be filled at the same time, thereby providing high throughput. There is no residual component loss, and the invention can provide a device with high operational safety and small physical size. The method and device are not complicated to fill and can control the cost of filling the recess with particles to a very low level. Advantageously, said chambers are interchangeable to suit the size of the dose to be dosed within said recess.

The amount of particulate matter may be evacuated into the recess by means of gravity, and the method of the present invention may evacuate the amount of particulate matter into the recess by tapping or shaking the chamber, or by causing the particulate matter to Evacuation of the substance from the chamber is enhanced by additional forces in the form of pressurized gas or vibrations, for example in the form of vibrations induced by ultrasound. Correspondingly, the device provided by the invention may be equipped with an oscillating member for oscillating the chamber when the amount of particulate matter is evacuated into the recess, or with means for subjecting the particulate matter to the chamber in the form of pressurized gas or vibrations. , other additional components that generate additional forces, for example in the form of vibrations induced by ultrasound.

The method and device of the present invention are suitable for filling quantities above 1 mg. The accuracy of filling increases with the flow capacity and weight of the particles. In addition, the methods and devices of the present invention are applicable to free-flowing or moderately free-flowing particulates, eg, carrier-based components. The filling method was tested on a bench-topset-up in which 8 mg of the carrier-based component was manually scrape filled into 100 chambers. Filling accuracy is specified at 2.4% RSD.

Preferably the size and shape of the opening of the chamber is the same as the size and shape of the opening of the recess, or the opening of the chamber is smaller than the opening of the recess, and when the opening of the chamber and the opening of the recess The openings of the chambers are surrounded by the edges of the openings of the recesses when the openings face each other.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the recess is detachably locked to the chamber prior to the rotating step, and is detached from the chamber when the recess is filled.

According to another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the cavity is filled by scraping and filling, preferably by means of at least one rotating scraper.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the chamber is filled with an amount of particulate matter forming a volume smaller than the volume of the recess. Preferably the method is applied to particulate matter including powdered medicaments.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the device comprises locking means for detachably locking said recess with said chamber prior to said rotation, preferably the device comprises means for locking said recess once filled. A separation member separates the recess from the chamber.

According to another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the filling means comprise scraper means for scraping said cavity, preferably said scraper means comprise at least one rotating scraper.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the volume of the chamber is smaller than the volume of the recess. By means of this embodiment, the recess can be precisely and conveniently filled with an amount of particulate matter having a volume smaller than that of the recess.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, which device comprises at least one filling element arranged at said at least one chamber, the device is adapted to fit at least one recess provided in a disc. Preferably said elements are interchangeable with other elements having chambers of other sizes and arranged in other patterns, for other volumes of dosing and for other patterns of recesses.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, said filling element comprises several chambers, the number of which is the same as the number of recesses, the positions of the chambers corresponding to the positions of the recesses in the tray, whereby, when the filling element is locked When onto the disc, the opening of each chamber faces the opening of a recess. Preferably the device comprises several filling elements.

According to another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, said guiding means comprise a conveyor belt to which said elements are coupled. Preferably the device is suitable for use with particulate matter including powdered medicaments.

Furthermore, the invention provides a method for producing a pack of doses comprising a medicament of the type defined in the preamble of claim 9, wherein said method comprises the to specific measures.

The invention also provides an apparatus for producing packages containing doses of medicament of the type defined in claim 20 , wherein said device comprises the particular features mentioned in any one of claims 8 to 18 .

Description of drawings

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail as exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the attached picture:

Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a circular medication tray provided with recesses arranged in a circular pattern;

Figure 2 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of the filling element of the present invention and an embodiment of the scraper member of the present invention, wherein the filling element corresponds to the medicine tray shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3a-3h are schematic partial side views of the application of the filling element of the present invention to a disc with recesses, illustrating an embodiment of the method of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

Detailed ways

Figure 1 is a top view of a circular medicine disc 1 provided with several recesses 2 for containing powdered medicine. The recesses 2 are distributed in a circular pattern. For example, such a disc 1 can be housed in an inhalation device.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of an embodiment of the invention for a filling element 3 suitable for the disc shown in FIG. 1 . The filling element 3 is provided with several cavities 4, the number of which is the same as the number of recesses in the disc. The position of the chambers 4 corresponds to the position of the recess in the disc, so that the opening of each chamber 4 faces the opening of the recess when the filling element 3 is locked with the disc. Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows a scraper member 5 for scraping the filling chamber 4 , the scraper member 5 comprising four rotating scrapers 6 . A dosing device (not shown) is arranged to dispense powdered medicament on the surface of the filling element 3 . In FIG. 2 four portions 7 of powdered drug are dispensed onto the surface of the filling element 3 . In order to scrape fill all chambers 4 , it is preferred to use an amount of powder which is at least twice the total volume of all chambers 4 . The filling element 3 is provided with a radial discharge slit (emptying slit) 8, in which the excess powder which is not filled into the chamber 4 is collected during the rotation of the rotary scraper 6 and is subsequently cleaned of the chamber. These gaps can be reused during the filling process. Means for disposal of excess powder may pass through the crack or through an opening close to the chamber. In the case of chambers arranged in a circle, as shown, the slits are radial, either on the inner side of the chamber or on the outer side of the chamber. Excess powder may also be disposed of by suction, swabbing, or sticky surface.

Figures 3a to 3h show a disc with a recess and a filling element suitable for the disc, which illustrate an embodiment of the method according to the invention. Only two recesses and two chambers are shown in these figures. Figure 3a shows two chambers 10.1, 10.2 provided in the filling element 11, the open side of each chamber 10.1, 10.2 generally facing upwards. In this case, the volume of each chamber is approximately 75-100% of the volume of the recess to be filled, although of course the filling element 11 can be replaced by a filling element having a chamber of a different volume to accommodate the desired volume in the recess. dose volume. In Fig. 3b, a quantity of powdered medicament 12.1, 12.2 is scraped into the entire volume of each chamber 10.1, 10.2 by rotating the scraper 13. In Fig. 3c, all chambers 10.1, 10.2 are filled with an amount of powdered drug 12.1, 12.2, while any excess powder is removed. In Fig. 3d, the disk 14 has several recesses 15.1, 15.2, the number of which is the same as the number of cavities 10.1, 10.2 in said filling element 11, and corresponding to the positions of the cavities 10.1, 10.2 in the filling element 11 is positioned on top of the filling element 11 such that the opening of each recess 15.1, 15.2 is positioned opposite to and immediately adjacent to the opening of the respective chamber 10.1, 10.2. The disc 14 is detachably locked to the filling element 11 . In Fig. 3e, the interlocking filling element 11 and disc 14 are rotated approximately 180°, whereby each chamber 10.1, 10.2 is rotated together with the corresponding recess 15.1, 15.2 so that each recess 15.1, 15.2 is positioned with its open side generally facing upwards, while each chamber 10.1, 10.2 is positioned with its open side generally facing downwards. In Fig. 3f, an amount of powdered medicament 12.1, 12.2 is evacuated into each recess 15.1, 15.2, whereby each chamber 10.1, 10.2 is cleared of powder. In Fig. 3g, the filling element 11 is detached from the disc 14, and the volume of each recess 15.1, 15.2 is filled by 75-100% with powdered drug. In FIG. 3 h , each recess 15 . 1 , 15 . 2 filled with a quantity of powdered medicament 12 . 1 , 12 . 2 is sealed with an aluminum sealing foil 16 .

Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the device for filling a recess with a certain amount of particulate matter of the present invention. The device comprises a conveyor belt 20 to which several filling elements 21 are coupled. The filling element 21 may have the same design as the filling element shown in FIG. 2 , which is suitable for filling a recess provided in a disc having the same design as the disc shown in FIG. 1 . The device comprises a filling member comprising a dosing device 22, a first scraper member 23, and a second scraper member 24, each scraper member 23, 24 comprising a plurality of scrapers 25 rotating about an axis 27, 28 , 26. The dosing device 22 is arranged to dispense portions of powdered medicament onto the surface of the filling element 21 . The first scraper member 23 is arranged to provide a first scrape fill for all chambers by rotating the scraper member 25 when the opening of each chamber is generally facing upwards, while the second scraper member 24 is arranged A second scrape filling is provided for the chamber and also excess powder is discharged into the emptying gap of the filling element 21 (see FIG. 2 ). The relief gap is closed during the filling of the chamber and is only opened during the activation of the second scraper member 24 when excess powder needs to be discharged. The device comprises operating members 29 for positioning the disk 30 on top of the filling element 21 such that the opening of each recess is positioned opposite and in close proximity to the corresponding opening of the chamber. Each filling element 21 is provided with locking means 37 for detachably locking the disc 30 to the filling element 21, whereby the opening of each chamber is locked in a position facing the opening of the recess. The conveyor belt 20 on which the filling elements 21 are coupled is arranged to guide each filling element 21 between the different processing steps and to rotate the interlocking filling elements 21 and disc 30 by about 180°, thereby making the cavity being filled The chambers are rotated with the corresponding recesses, thereby positioning the recesses with their open sides generally facing upwards and the chambers with their openings generally facing downwards, whereby a certain amount of particulate matter is removed from the chambers of the filling element 21 Empty into the corresponding recess of the disc 30 . Furthermore, the device comprises separating means 31 for separating the disc from the filling element 21 as soon as each recess is filled. The device also comprises first and second cleaning units 32, 33 arranged to clean the filling element 21 by pressurized air and suction after removal of powdered medicament from its chamber. In addition, the device is provided with a first and a second detection unit 34 , 35 . The first detection unit 34 is arranged to scan the chamber behind the filling member 22, 23, 24 to determine that filling is complete, while the second detection unit 35 is arranged to scan the filling element behind the first and second cleaning units 32, 33 21, to confirm that the cleaning of the filling element 21 is completed. The device may optionally be provided with a third detection unit 36 arranged to determine the completion of filling of the disc 30 .

Claims (24)

1. method that is used for a certain amount of particulate matter filling recess, comprise that particulate matter filling with described amount has open side at least in part towards the step of last chamber, it is characterized in that, the described opening of described recess is positioned at and the described relative position of described opening that is filled with chamber, described chamber is rotated with described recess, cause described recess to be positioned in its open side at least in part towards last position and described chamber is positioned in the prone at least in part position of its open side, the particulate matter with described amount is emptied in the described recess whereby.

2. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, described recess is locked with described chamber separably.

3. method as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that, when described recess one is filled with, described recess is separated with described chamber.

4. as each described method in the claim 1 to 3, it is characterized in that, described chamber is carried out knife filling.

5. method as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that, finishes described knife filling by means of at least one rotation scraping.

6. as each described method in the claim 1 to 5, it is characterized in that the volume that forms with the described chamber of a certain amount of particulate matter filling is less than the volume of described recess.

7. as each described method in the claim 1 to 6, it is characterized in that described particulate matter comprises powdery medicine.

8. device that is used for a certain amount of at least one recess of particulate matter filling, comprise at least one chamber, be used for particulate matter filling with described amount and have open side at least in part towards the filling body of last chamber, it is characterized in that, described device comprises and is used for described recess is positioned at the control member relative with the opening of described chamber, with the guide member that is used to described chamber is rotated with described recess, make described recess be positioned in its open side at least in part towards last position, and described chamber is positioned in the prone at least in part position of its open side, whereby, the particulate matter of described amount can be emptied in the described recess.

9. device as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, this device be included in make before the described rotation described recess separably with the locking component of described chamber locking.

10. device as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that, this device comprises be used to separating member that described recess is separated with described chamber after described recess is filled with.

11., it is characterized in that described filling member comprises the scraper means that is used for the described chamber of knife filling as each described device in the claim 8 to 10.

12. device as claimed in claim 11 is characterized in that, described scraper means comprises at least one rotation scraping.

13. device as claimed in claim 11 is characterized in that, described scraper means comprises a plurality of rotation scrapings.

14. device as claimed in claim 13 is characterized in that, described rotation scraping is designed to have different shapes and style each other.

15. device as claimed in claim 13 is characterized in that, the scraping of each described rotation is designed to be of similar shape each other and style.

16., it is characterized in that the volume of described chamber is less than the volume of described recess as each described device in the claim 8 to 15.

17. as each described device in the claim 8 to 15, it is characterized in that, described device comprise filling element that at least one is provided with described at least one chamber and described at least one be arranged on recess in the dish.

18. device as claimed in claim 17, it is characterized in that, described filling element comprises several chambers, the quantity of described chamber is identical with the quantity of described recess, and the position of the described recess in the position of described chamber and the described dish is corresponding, whereby, when described filling element locked with dish, the described opening surface of each chamber was to the opening of a recess.

19., it is characterized in that described device comprises several filling elements as claim 17 or 18 described devices.

20. as each described device in the claim 17 to 19, it is characterized in that, be connected with the belt conveyor of described element above described guide member comprises.

21., it is characterized in that described device is applicable to the particulate matter that comprises powdery medicine as each described device in the claim 8 to 20.

22., it is characterized in that described device is positioned to a plurality of recesses of filling as each described device in the claim 8 to 21, described recess is arranged to nonlinear recess structure.

23. a production comprises the method for the package of drug dose, this package comprises that at least one is used for the recess of splendid attire drug dose, described method comprises the measure with the described recess of a certain amount of particulate matter filling, seal described recess with sealing sheet, it is characterized in that described method comprises each described certain measures of mentioning in the claim 1 to 7.

24. equipment that is used to produce the package that comprises drug dose, described package comprises that at least one is used for the recess of splendid attire drug dose, described equipment comprises at least one device with a certain amount of particulate matter filling recess, and the containment member that seals described recess with sealing sheet, it is characterized in that described device comprises each special characteristic of mentioning in the claim 8 to 22.

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