Patent Grant
7118010
The present invention relates to the dispensing of dry powder substances such as drugs, toners and other chemicals and may be particularly suitable for dose-regulated pharmaceutical products.
In the pharmaceutical industry, fine dry powders, particularly those intended for inhalation products can be packaged or “filled” directly into inhalers or indirectly into packages that can then be accessed by the delivery mechanisms of the inhalers at the point of use. Generally described, known single and multiple dose dry powder inhaler devices (“DPI's”) use (a) individual pre-measured doses, such as capsules or blisters containing the drug, which can be inserted into the device prior to dispensing, or (b) bulk powder reservoirs which are configured to administer successive quantities of the drug to the patient via a dispensing chamber which dispenses the proper dose. See generally Prime et al., Review of Dry Powder Inhalers, 26 Adv. Drug Delivery Rev., pp. 51–58 (1997); and Hickey et al., A new millennium for inhaler technology, 21 Pharm. Tech., n. 6, pp. 116–125 (1997).
Thus, depending on the filling container, the filling may be carried out to generate multi-dose amounts or unit (single) dose amounts. To assure dose uniformity and regulatory compliance, the powders should be filled in a manner that provides precisely meted or metered amounts so that an accurate active dose is delivered to the patient. Presently, dry particle excipients or additives are added to the active dry powder constituent(s) to attempt to allow for ease of filling. Present single or unit dose powder quantities typically range from about 10–30 mg. The lower range of the filling dose amount may be limited by the filling protocols available. That is, dry powders have relatively poor flow properties making precise filling problematic.
Many conventional filling methods use hoppers that have been modified to attempt to aid the flow of powder from the hopper to the target fill device. The metering of the dry powder during filling may be provided generally volumetrically, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,962, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,490. Additional examples of volumetric metering systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,865,012 and 6,267,155; these volumetric metering systems propose using an oscillating filling head and/or vibration to aid powder fluidization of pharmaceutically relevant quantities. Others propose injecting a gaseous medium, such as compressed air, to facilitate the filling process, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,607. However, this filling process uses gravimetric metering that is typically not feasible for pharmaceutical products that generally include reduced amounts (milligram quantities or less) of dry powder. The above-referenced patents are incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.
Many pharmaceutical dry powder formulations employ small particles in the dry powder drug mixture; these small particles can be subject to forces of agglomeration and/or cohesion (i.e., certain types of dry powders are susceptible to agglomeration, which is typically caused by particles of the drug adhering together), which can result in poor flow and non-uniform dispersion, thus inhibiting reliable filling. In addition, many of these dry powder drugs are hygroscopic in nature, a characteristic that may also inhibit reliable filling. Further, fine or low-density dry powders have a tendency to float or spontaneously aerosolize during dispensing, inhibiting a uniform flow and/or making precision meted or metered dispensing problematic. Hence, it is believed that conventional dispensing methods may have about 15–20% variability, dose to dose.
Notwithstanding the above, there remains a need to provide improved and/or accurate or precise dry powder dispensers and/or dispensing systems that can reliably dispense dry powders.
The present invention provides methods, systems, apparatus and computer program products that can promote uniform fluid-like flow of dry powders. Certain embodiments may be particularly suitable for dispensing flowable precision dose amounts of low-density dry powders. Other embodiments are directed to unit density and/or medium density dry powders. Still other embodiments may be directed to other density dry powders.
In certain embodiments, the operations can employ non-linear vibration input energy transmitted to the dry powder during flow. The transmitted energy can be configured or generated so as to flowably dispense accurate measures of dry powder substances in a manner that inhibits or prevents aggregation, even in mass production repeat fill environments. In certain embodiments, the non-linear vibration energy is customized and comprises vibration input signals that correspond to selected frequencies associated a particular formulation or drug to promote uniform dry powder fluid flow (i.e., fluidizing the powder and/or simulating liquid flow characteristics) without aggregation. The energy input may be generated by any suitable means including, but not limited to, electrical means, mechanical means, or combinations of same. The non-linear signal can be determined experimentally using a floor of piezoelectric material such as PVDF (known as KYNAR piezo-film or polyvinylidene fluoride) that applies the non-linear signal to the powder and/or by evaluating flow characteristics such as time between avalanches (measured in a rotating drum).
Certain particular embodiments are directed to dispensing relatively small doses of low-density dry powders. The low-density powders may have densities that are at about or less than 0.8 g/cm3. The dose amounts may be less than about 15 mg, and typically on the order of about 10 μg to 10 mg.
In certain embodiments, the non-linear vibratory input energy comprises a plurality of predetermined frequencies that correspond to selected frequencies associated with microflow of the dry powder. The frequencies can be selected experimentally using a flow evaluation apparatus and/or using a property analysis that characterizes certain flow parameters of that particular dry powder being dispensed. Examples of microflow analysis parameters include those associated with the dynamic angle of repose or time to avalanche, a fractal analysis of mass flow, or other suitable analysis methodology known to those of skill in the art.
In particular embodiments, to establish the powder-specific energy signals, a Fourier Transform power spectrum and/or phase space complexity analysis of data associated with the angle of repose and/or time to avalanche can be employed. During dispensing, the non-linear vibratory energy may be operated so that multiple frequencies are transmitted concurrently via a single superimposed (weighted) combination of selected frequencies. The transmitted energy signal may be generated as a modulated multi-frequency input signal.
In certain embodiments, the energy input signal can comprise non-linear signals such as amplitude modulated signals with carrier frequencies in the range of between about 15 kHz to 50 kHz and a plurality of modulation frequencies in the range of between about 10–500 Hz. The systems may be adjustable to generate customized non-linear signals matched to different ones of respective dry powders targeted for dispensing to thereby be able to serially dispense multiple different types of dry powders using predetermined different energy input signals.
In particular embodiments, the measured unit amount of fill can be automatically carried out using a time-controlled based dispensing system as the dry powder can be flowed in a fluid-like manner so as to cause the dry powder to simulate substantially uniform fluid flow. Thus, the flow path associated with a particular dispensing port can repeatedly open and then close in a predetermined time to mete out desired quantities of the dry powder being dispensed.
In other embodiments, the mass of the dry powder can be dispensed by measuring the change in an electrical parameter induced by the flexure in a piezoelectric active material positioned on a receiving member. The flexure is caused by a quantity or weight of dry powder being dispensed onto a tensioned piezoelectric material. The dispensed weight creates a change in a detectable electrical property that can be measured to determine the dispensed mass.
Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to dispensing dry powder drugs with accuracies of +/−10%, and typically about +/−5% or less variability, dose to dose, and may be carried out with requiring vacuums to dispense the dry powder formulation.
Other embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and devices for increasing the bulk density without introducing cohesion or aggregation to provide a more stable fluid flow of (fine) low-density dry powders. Thus, certain embodiments of the dispensing systems contemplated by the present invention are directed at increasing the apparent bulk density of the dry powder by compressing portions of the powder bed in a dispensing path without evacuating the low-density dry powder material during flow dispensing and without aggregating the particles of the dry powder material.
In certain embodiments, apparatus for dispensing dry powders can include: (a) an elongate flow channel having a width, length, and depth, the flow channel having axially spaced apart inlet and outlet ports, wherein the elongate flow channel is configured to extend in an angular orientation of between about 10–75 degrees relative to the axial direction of flow; (b) a flexible piezoelectric layer configured to overlie the flow channel so that, in operation, the piezoelectric layer is able to flex upwardly away from the lowermost portion of the underlying flow channel; and (c) a signal generator operatively associated with the piezoelectric layer, wherein, in operation, the signal generator is configured to output a signal for flexing the piezoelectric layer in the elongate flow channel.
Other embodiments are directed to methods for selecting excitation signals for dispensing dry powders. The methods include: (a) providing an elongate flow channel having a floor of piezoelectric material; (b) selecting an angle of orientation for the flow channel such that the flow channel angularly extends in a non-vertical, non-horizontal orientation in the axial direction; (c) providing a quantity of a target dry powder; (d) outputting a vibration excitation signal having a first carrier frequency from a signal generator to the piezoelectric material; (e) flowing the dry powder out of the flow channel; (f) outputting a vibration excitation signal having a second carrier frequency from the signal generator to the piezoelectric material; and (g) determining the vibration signal for the target dry powder that generates a desired flow output.
Still other embodiments are directed to methods for dispensing a dry powder, comprising: (a) providing an elongate flow channel having a powder support floor formed of a flexible piezoelectric material and inlet and outlet ports; (b) directing a quantity of dry powder into the inlet port of the elongate flow channel; (c) vibrating the piezoelectric material with an electric excitation signal so that the piezoelectric material deflects upwardly; and (d) flowing the piezoelectric material out of the outlet port responsive to the vibrating step.
Certain embodiments are directed to methods of flowably dispensing dry powders from a hopper having a dispensing port and a dry powder flow path. The methods include: (a) generating a first non-linear vibration input signal, the first non-linear input signal comprising a plurality of different selected frequencies that correspond to characteristic flow frequencies of a first dry powder formulation; (b) applying the first non-linear vibration input signal to a dispensing hopper having at least one dispensing port while the first dry powder formulation is flowing therethrough; and (c) dispensing a first meted quantity of the first dry powder through the dispensing port to a receiving member.
In particular embodiments, the computer program code includes a plurality of predetermined different dry powder-specific flow enhancing vibration energy outputs, each associated with a different dry powder that is flowably dispensable. The system can be configured to dispense a plurality of different dry powders separately. The control module can include computer program code that accepts user input to identify the dry powder being dispensed, and computer program code that automatically selectively adjusts the output of the vibration energy generation source based on the identified dry powder being dispensed.
In certain embodiments, the computer program code for the predetermined dry powder-specific flow enhancing vibration energy output for the dry powder being dispensed is based on data experimentally obtained from a flow analysis of the dry powder.
The present invention contemplates providing systems similar to the methods, and certain systems can be described by inserting “means for” in front of the operations noted under any of the methods described above. These and other objects and/or aspects of the present invention are explained in detail in the specification set forth below.
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, certain layers, components or features may be exaggerated for clarity, and broken lines illustrate optional features or operations, unless specified otherwise. The term “meted” is used interchangeably with the term “metered.” In addition, the sequence of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order presented in the claims unless specifically indicated otherwise. Where used, the terms “attached”, “connected”, “contacting”, and the like, can mean either directly or indirectly, unless stated otherwise. Further, the term “hopper” is broadly used for ease of description to designate devices or a transient portion or holding portion of the flow path in a dispensing system and can include, but are not limited to, a dispensing head(s), a portion of the flow path, and/or a reservoir body and the like. The figures are not necessarily shown to scale.
In the description of the present invention that follows, certain terms are employed to refer to the positional relationship of certain structures relative to other structures. As used herein, the terms “front” or “forward” and derivatives thereof refer to the general or primary direction that the dry powder travels as it is dispensed; these terms are intended to be synonymous with the term “downstream,” which is often used in manufacturing or material flow environments to indicate that certain material traveling or being acted upon is farther along in that process than other material. Conversely, the terms “rearward” and “upstream” and derivatives thereof refer to the directions opposite, respectively, the forward and downstream directions.
As used herein, the term “non-linear” means that the applied vibratory energy, action or signal has an irregular shape or cycle, typically employing multiple superimposed frequencies, and/or a vibratory frequency line shape that has varying amplitudes (peaks) and peak widths over typical standard intervals (per second, minute, etc.) over time. In contrast to conventional systems, the non-linear vibratory signal input operates without a fixed single or steady state repeating amplitude at a fixed frequency or cycle. This non-linear vibratory input thus transmits through a portion of the flow path (such as the hopper and/or dispensing port) a variable amplitude motion (to transmit either a one, two and/or three-dimensional vibratory motion) to the dry powder.
The devices and methods of the present invention may be particularly suitable to dispense discrete measured or meted quantities of fine dry powders, including those formulated as medicaments, and/or pharmaceutical agents for oral and/or inhalation delivery. The dry powders may be pharmaceutical (diagnostic or therapeutic agents) such as those regulated by a regulatory agency for dispensing as a pharmaceutical product, or may be dry powder used in a drug trial, drug discovery, clinical, or pre-clinical evaluation or be the subject of other commercial or non-commercial use such as an industrial application and/or a scientific, research and/or laboratory evaluation. The dry powders may include one or more active pharmaceutical constituents as well as biocompatible additives that form the desired formulation or blend.
Embodiments of the invention may be particularly suitable for dispensing low-density dry powders. However, other embodiments include processing unit density and/or medium density powders. The term “low-density dry powder” means dry powders having a density of about 0.8 g/cm3 or less. In particular embodiments, the low-density powder may have a density of about 0.5 g/cm3 or less. The term “unit density dry powder” means dry powders having a density of about 1 g/cm3. The term “medium density dry powder” means dry powders having a density greater than 0.8 g/cm3 and less than or equal to about 1.2 g/cm3.
In certain embodiments, during dispensing, the dry powder is formulated as having substantially only one or more active pharmaceutical constituents, substantially without additives, such as excipients. As used herein, “substantially without additives” means that the dry powder is in a substantially pure active formulation with only minimal amounts of other non-biopharmacologically active ingredients. The term “minimal amounts” means that the non-active ingredients may be present, but are present in greatly reduced amounts, relative to the active ingredient(s), such that they comprise less than about 10%, and preferably less than about 5%, of the dispensed dry powder formulation, and, in certain embodiments, the non-active ingredients are present in only trace amounts.
In any event, individually or unit dose dispensable quantities of dry powder formulations can be a single ingredient or a plurality of ingredients, whether active or inactive. The inactive ingredients can include additives added to enhance flowability or to facilitate aeorolization delivery to the desired systemic target. The dry powder drug formulations can include active particulate sizes that vary. The device may be particularly suitable for dry powder formulations having particulates which have particle sizes that on average are less than about 50 μm, and typically in the range of about 0.5–50 μm. In certain embodiments, the dry powder formulations can have particle sizes in the range of about 0.5 μm–20.0 μm, and can be in the range of about 0.5 μm–8.0 μm. In particular embodiments, the dry powder may be a respirable dry powder comprising average particle size diameters that are greater than about 0.5–0.8 μm, particularly if the dry powder is a low-density formulation.
The dry powder formulation can be dispensed alone or also be dispensed to include flow-enhancing ingredients, which typically have particulate sizes that may be larger than the active ingredient particulate sizes. In certain embodiments, the flow-enhancing ingredients can include excipients having particulate sizes on the order of about 50–100 μm. Examples of excipients include lactose and trehalose. Other types of excipients can also be employed, such as, but not limited to, sugars which are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) as cryoprotectants (e.g., mannitol) or as solubility enhancers (e.g., cyclodextrine) or other generally recognized as safe (“GRAS”) excipients.
Examples of diseases, conditions or disorders that may be treated with dry powders dispensed according to embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), influenza, allergies, cystic fibrosis and other respiratory ailments, and diabetes and other related insulin resistance disorders. In addition, dry powder inhalant administration may be used to deliver locally acting agents such as antimicrobials, protease inhibitors, and nucleic acids/oligionucleotides as well as systemic agents such as peptides like leuprolide and proteins such as insulin. For example, inhaler-based delivery of antimicrobial agents such as antitubercular compounds, proteins such as insulin for diabetes therapy or other insulin-resistance related disorders, peptides such as leuprolide acetate for treatment of prostate cancer and/or endometriosis and nucleic acids or ogligonucleotides for cystic fibrosis gene therapy may be performed. See, e.g., Wolff et al., Generation of Aerosolized Drugs, J. Aerosol. Med. pp. 89–106 (1994). See also U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20010053761, entitled Method for Administering ASPB28-Human Insulin and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20010007853, entitled Method for Administering Monomeric Insulin Analogs, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.
Typical unit dose amounts of the dry powder can vary depending on the patient size, the systemic target, and the particular drug. Conventional exemplary dry powder dose amounts of inhalation drugs (with excipients) for an average adult is about 10–30 mg and for an average adolescent pediatric subject is from about 5–10 mg. Exemplary dry powder drugs include, but are not limited to, albuterol, fluticasone, beclamethasone, cromolyn, terbutaline, fenoterol, β-agonists, salmeterol, formoterol, glucocorticoids, and steroids.
In certain embodiments, the administered bolus or dose can be formulated with an increase in concentration (an increased percentage of active constituents) over conventional blends. Further, the dry powder formulations may be configured as a smaller administerable dose compared to the conventional 10–25 or 30 mg doses. For example, each unit dry powder dose may be on the order of less than about 60–70% of that of conventional doses. In certain particular embodiments, the unit dry powder dose, such as those used in inhalers, an adult dose may be reduced to under about 15 mg, and may be between about 10 μg–10 mg, typically between about 50 μg–10 mg. The active constituent(s) concentration may be between about 5–10%. In other embodiments, active constituent concentrations can be in the range of between about 10–20%, 20–50%, or even larger. In particular embodiments, such as for nasal inhalation, target dose amounts may be between about 12–100 μg.
Embodiments of the present invention are particularly suitable for pharmaceutical formulations. As used herein, the term “pharmaceutical formulations” includes drugs, medicaments, vitamins and/or other dry powder therapeutic or diagnostic agents or constituents thereof. The pharmaceutical formulations may be particularly suitable for mammalian (typically human) subjects.
Turning now to
As shown, the signal generator 20 may be operably associated with a control module 21. The signal generator 20 may be configured to transmit the vibratory energy either locally to a limited site (shown as position “A” with lateral arrows representing lateral movement) or distributed along a major portion of the length of the hopper 25 (shown by space “B” with a plurality of distributed arrows along a portion of the wall 25w of the hopper 25).
In particular embodiments the signal generator 20 can include a transducer that is driven by an amplifier to provide the vibratory input. The transducer can be driven to have relatively small amplitude output such as about 100 mm or less, typically less than 10 mm, and in certain embodiments, about 1 mm or less. In other embodiments, the signal generator 20 can be configured to force the hopper or other portion of the flow path (whether wall, outer perimeter of the device itself or other component which transmits the vibratory energy to the dry powder) to move, deflect and/or vibrate with relatively small amplitudes of less than about 1 mm. In certain embodiments of systems that employ at least one transducer, the transducer may be driven with low energy such as less than about 100 mW.
In particular embodiments, the signal can be configured to generate a downwardly oriented force vector on the dry powder during flow that can increase the apparent bulk density of the dry powder to simulate or cause the dry powder to flow in a substantially uniform fluid-like manner.
Again referring to
The powder can be dispensed into suitable receiving members, whether bulk reservoirs, unit dose blister packages or capsules, and the like. The dry powder can be a low-density pharmacologically active dry powder (block 122). The meted quantity can be unit dose amounts of less than about 15 mg, with a dose-to-dose variability of less than about 5–10% (block 124). The amount of dispensed dry powder can be dispensed in a time-controlled manner (block 131) rather than requiring volumetric dispensing as with conventional protocols.
The dispensing head may be held in a static position with respect to an underlying dispensing location. As such, the underlying receiving member may be on a moving surface (such as a conveyor with a controlled conveyor speed) that causes a different receiving member or location to be placed under the dispensing port at each open interval for successive automated filling. In other embodiments, the dispensing port can be placed on a moveable head with the receiving member(s) static, and the head can be translated to overlie different receiving regions at different dispensing times.
The signal generator 20 (
Methods and devices for analyzing rapid powder flow measurement are described in Crowder et al., Signal Processing and Analysis Applied to Powder Behavior in a Rotating Drum, Part. Part. Syst, Charact. 16, 191–196 (1999); Crowder et al, An instrument for rapid powder flow measurement and temporal fractal analysis, Part Syst Charact 16, pp. 32–34, (1999); and Morales-Gamboa, et al., Two dimensional avalanches as stochastic Markov processes, Phys Rev. E, 47 R2229–2232 (1993), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein. See also, Ditto et al., Experimental control of chaos, Phys. Rev. Lett., 65: 3211–3214 (1990); B. H. Kaye, Characterizing the Flow of Metal and Ceramic Powders Using the Concepts of Fractal Geometry and Chaos Theory to Interpret the Avalanching Behaviour of a Powder, in T. P. Battle, H. Henein (eds.), Processing and Handling of Powders and Dusts, The Materials and Metals Society, 1997; B. H. Kaye, J. Gratton-Liimatainen, and N. Faddis. Studying the Avalanching Behaviour of a Powder in a Rotating Disc., Part. Part. Syst. Charact. 12:232–236 (1995), and Ott et al., Controlling Chaos, Phys. Rev. Lett. 64: 1196–1199 (1990), the contents of each of these articles are also incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein. Using the principals and relationships described in one or more of these articles with signals derived from analyses of mass flow and/or microflow, one can determine custom powder specific signals that may be able to achieve uniformly flowing dry powders.
As shown in
Referring again to
For an index, “n” ranging from 0–15,999, used to generate the digital signal:
n=[0:15999] Equation (1)
xf3=sin(2πn/16000) Equation (2)
xf2=af2 sin(2πn(f2)/16000(f3)) Equation (3)
xf4=af4 sin(2πn(f4)/16000(f3)) Equation (4)
This evaluation can be continued for a desired number of frequencies to render a representation of a sufficient number of frequencies/spanning a sufficient portion of the spectrum. The powder-specific, non-linear signal can be generated by summing the selected individual frequency components.
xsignal=xf3+xf4+xf4 Equation (5)
In certain embodiments, the overall power in the signal, xsignal, can be increased by adding a phase shift to one or more of the summed components. For example, for component xf2, the associated signal contribution can be adjusted by the following equation:
xf2=af2 sin(2πn(f2)/16000(f3)+mπ/nf) Equation (6)
Where “m” is the number at this frequency and nf is the total number of frequencies contained in the signal.
An example of a commercially available rotating drum is the TSI Amherst Aero-Flow™ (TSI Inc. Particle Instruments/Amherst, Amherst, Mass.). This device provides powder flow information by detecting the occurrence of and recording the time between avalanches. The Aero-Flow™ has been utilized to demonstrate correlation between powder flow and tableting performance for like materials. The instrument uses a photocell detector for its avalanche detection mechanism. A light shines through the Plexiglas drum and is obscured from the detector to varying degrees by powder contained in the drum. As the drum rotates, the powder heap rises with the rotation and the photocell detector is uncovered. When an avalanche occurs in the powder heap, the light is again blocked by the cascading powder. The change in light intensity striking the photocell is interpreted by the data collection software as the occurrence of an avalanche. In other embodiments, the powder can be evaluated to determine and/or measure avalanches using a sensitive microphone/accelerometer that can be mounted on the rotating drum. Avalanches can be determined acoustically from the sound generated by the avalanching powder. This evaluation technique may allow for reduced amounts of the dry powder that is desired for use during the avalanche evaluation to milligram quantities, such as about 10 mg or less. In any event, statistics of the time between avalanches can be determined and an avalanche time phase space plot can be generated.
A useful method of presenting data to discover the dynamics of a system is the Poincaré phase space plot. This phase space approach is one in which variables sufficient to describe a system are contained in a single vector. The state of the n variables at an instant in time is a point in phase space. Plotting the time evolution of the system in phase space can map its dynamics. As an example, a simple harmonic oscillator can be pictured in phase space by plotting the position versus the velocity, variables that completely describe the system. The phase space plot of the harmonic oscillator is a circle reflecting the periodic, but 90-degrees out of phase, exchange of maximum position and velocity. A damped harmonic oscillator would appear as a simple attractor with the trajectory encircling and eventually collapsing to the origin as the position and velocity reach zero. The correlation dimension provides a measure of the space filling properties of the phase space representation. A hypersphere of dimension D and radius r is centered on each data point. The number of data points falling within that sphere as a function of the radius may be displayed in a log-log plot. The slope of the resulting line may be termed the correlation dimension.
To determine an appropriate vibration signal, a suitably sized dry powder sample can be disposed in the drum (such as about 60 ml of powder). The drum can be allowed to rotate through a single revolution before data collection begins so that initial conditions over several powders are similar. The drum can be rotated at 0.5 revolutions per minute for 6 minutes. The photocell voltage signal can be sampled at 25 Hz using a PC based data acquisition board (DI-170, Dataq Instruments, Akron Ohio). Time between avalanches and the voltage change upon avalanching can be acquired from the voltage signal. A video camera can be situated perpendicular to the drum can record the powder as it rotates in the drum. A grid can be placed behind the drum, without obscuring the photocell, to facilitate determination of the angle of the powder relative to the horizontal. Upon viewing the video, the base and height of the powder heap can be recorded and the angle can be determined using the trigonometric relation, θ=arctan(height/base). Determinations of the instantaneous powder angle can be performed at 200 millisecond intervals. This rate corresponds to every sixth frame of the video, determined previously by recording the counting of a stopwatch.
Angle data time series can comprise at least about 500 data points or 100 seconds. Computation of a Fourier power spectrum can be performed using the Welch method with a 128 point Kaiser window and zero padding to 1024 data points for the FFT calculation. Other suitable methods can be employed as is known to those of skill in the art.
The avalanche statistics can be presented in terms of the mean and standard deviation of time between avalanches. A phase space plot can be generated by plotting the nth time to avalanche against the (n−1)th time to avalanche. For the angle of repose, phase space plots consist of the instantaneous deviation from the mean angle versus the first time derivative of the angle. The rate of change of the angle at each data point can be approximated from the preceding and subsequent data points using Newton's method.
The uniformity of flow can be discerned by examining the frequency and the amplitude of the oscillations. Certain dry powder signals may exhibit a higher degree of variability in frequency and in amplitude relative to others. By use of the Fourier transform (FT) power spectrum, energy distributions can be obtained. Energy spectrums that are dispersed over a range of frequencies can indicate more irregular flow. The mean time to avalanche can be subtracted from the instantaneous time to avalanche to deconvolute relevant frequency data in angle phase space plots. Identifying the predominant frequencies and selectively combining and/or using those identified frequencies as the basis of the transmitted vibration energy excitation signal may induce resonance in the dry powder during dispensing.
Other analysis methods and apparatus can be employed. For example, as shown in
Referring back to
In certain embodiments, the signal 20s and/or the vibration of the energy transmitting surfaces in the channel 25 may concurrently or successively rapidly vibrate the dry powder at a plurality of different frequencies (at similar or different amplitudes) in the range of between about 10 Hz–1000 kHz. In certain embodiments, the frequencies are between about 10–200 Hz, such as 10–60 Hz. In other embodiments, they may be in the range of between about 7 kHz–100 kHz, such as 7.5 kHz or more such as frequencies between about 15 kHz to 50 kHz.
The vibration signal 20s can be generated by any suitable vibratory source, including electrical means, mechanical means, and/or electro-mechanical means. That is, at least a portion of the hopper 25 can be (physically) translated by and/or in a predetermined non-linear vibration imparting motion to impart a downwardly oriented force vector Fv using powder specific signals. Examples of vibratory sources include, but are not limited to, one or more of: (a) ultrasound or other acoustic or sound based sources (above, below or at audible wavelengths) that can be used to instantaneously apply non-linear pressure signals onto the dry powder 15; (b) electrical or mechanical deflection of the sidewalls of the hopper or dispensing port 25p; (c) movement of the hopper 25 or portions thereof (such as, but not limited to, physically moving and/or deflecting portions such as solenoids, piezoelectrically active portions and the like) non-linearly about the axis 25a (comprising one or more of selectably controllable amounts of travel in the horizontal, vertical, and/or diagonal directions relative to the flow path axis 25a); and (d) oscillating or pulsed gas (airstreams), which can introduce changes in one or more of volume flow, linear velocity, and/or pressure. Examples of mechanical and/or electromechanical vibratory devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,727,607, 5,909,829 and 5,947,169, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.
Referring again to
In addition, to increase the piezoelectric active surface area, at least one interior component 225a that comprises piezoelectric material can be disposed in the flow path. The interior component 225a may have a planar, spherical, cylindrical, or any other desired configuration. It may be fixed in the cavity of the hopper so that it is held in a static vertically position or may be dynamically mounted in the cavity. The entire perimeter of the interior component 225a may be active and able to flex, or selective portions or sides may be configured to flex. The interior component 225a may be rotatable or translatable (up, down, angularly, and the like) while also being able to flex in response to applied voltage or current. The interior component 225a and the walls 225w may be controlled by a single signal generator. Different signals, including signal line shapes, amplitudes of voltages, and the like may be applied at different locations so that the non-linear vibratory energy is cumulatively effectively transferred to the dry powder to facilitate fluid flow. In other embodiments, reciprocating voltage signal patterns or signals may be used (on opposing wall segments or between the intermediate component and a facing wall) to amplify the vibratory signal.
The signal 20s can be influenced by the amount of active surface and the excitation voltage pulses applied thereto as well as the channel geometry. During dispensing, the hopper channel can be vibrated by providing a voltage across the piezoelectric layer. In certain embodiments, the voltage provided may be at about 100–200 volts peak-to-peak. In other embodiments, the voltage can be applied at a different level and at other various frequencies, such as at a higher frequency of between about 25 kHz to about 2 MHz.
In certain embodiments, the piezoelectric material, shown generally as element 225w in
Non-vibratory insulating material (such as neoprene) can be disposed to hold the polymer and/or copolymer which can increase the interchange between the dry powder and the piezoelectric material; this may increase the amount of energy transferred to the dry powder from the oscillating or vibrating active piezoelectric polymer film so as to cause the dry powder to vibrate at a frequency that is at or near a resonant frequency thereof. In certain embodiments, laminates of one or more layers of PVDF and other material layers can be used. Suitable laminates include, but are not limited to, thin film layers of PVDF united to thin layers of one or more of aluminum, PVC and nylon films. The aluminum may help the channel hold its desired shape. The PVDF may form the bottom, top or intermediate layer of the laminate structure. For intermediate layer configurations, vias and/or edge connections can be used to apply the electric excitation signal.
In other embodiments, the piezoelectrically active material can be a ceramic. Examples of piezo-ceramic materials and elements are available from EDO Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah. Generally described, piezoceramic materials can produce motion by receiving electric potential across their polarized surfaces. See Mostafa Hedayatnia, Smart Materials for Silent Alarms, Mechanical Engineering, at www. Memagazine.org/contents/current/features/alarms.html (© 1998 ASME). Other piezo-electric materials can also be employed as long as they have sufficient structural rigidity or strength (alone or applied to another substrate) to provide the desired vibratory motion for the dry powder.
In certain embodiments, the hopper 25 can be shaped and/or sized to define a resonant chamber or cavity to generate a desired frequency of oscillation of the piezoelectric material and/or a particular dry powder formulation. That is, each blend or formulation of dry powder may exhibit different flow characteristics that can be accounted for in the geometry design of the hopper 25 and/or the applied signal. The height, depth, length, or width of the hopper flow path channel may be adjusted based on the particular drug or dry powder being administered.
Metal trace patterns, where used, can be provided by applying a conductive pattern onto one or more of the outer faces of the piezoelectric substrate layer. For depositing or forming the metal, any metal depositing or layering technique can be employed such as electron beam evaporation, thermal evaporation, painting, spraying, dipping, or sputtering a conductive material or metallic paint and the like or material over the selected surfaces of the piezoelectric substrate (preferably a PVDF layer as noted above). Of course, alternative metallic circuits, foils, surfaces, or techniques can also be employed, such as attaching a conductive mylar layer or flex circuit over the desired portion of the outer surface of the piezoelectric substrate layer.
Generally described, for piezoelectric polymer materials, inner and outer surface metal trace patterns can be formed on opposing sides of the piezoelectric polymer material in a manner that provides separation (the opposing traces do not connect or contact each other). For example, conductive paint or ink (such as silver or gold) can be applied onto the major surfaces of the package about the elongated channels and associated metal traces such that it does not extend over the perimeter edge portions of the piezoelectric substrate layer, thereby keeping the metal trace patterns on the top and bottom surfaces separated with the piezoelectric substrate layer therebetween. This configuration forms the electrical excitation path when connected to a control system to provide the input/excitation signal for creating the electrical field that activates the deformation of the piezoelectric substrate layer during operation. The excitation circuit configuration can be such that the upper trace operates with a positive polarity while the lower trace has a negative polarity or ground, or vice versa (thereby providing the electric field/voltage differential to excite the piezoelectric substrate). Of course, the polarities can also be rapidly reversed during application of the excitation signal (such as + to −, or + to −) depending on the type of excitation signal used, thereby flexing the piezoelectric material in the region of the receptacle portion. For a more complete discussion of the active excitation path or configuration as used in forming blister packages, see U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/188,543 to Hickey et al., and corresponding International PCT publication WO 01/68169, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. In addition, the piezoelectric polymer material may be configured as two sandwiched piezoelectric polymer film layers separated by an intermediately positioned pliable core, all of which are concurrently deformable by the application of voltage thereacross.
The permeable member 325 can define a portion of the wall 325w of the flow path to provide a substantially continuous contour inner wall. The inlet region 325i and outlet region 325e may be horizontally symmetrically disposed about the axis of the flow path 25a (as shown) or may be vertically offset (not shown), such as with the egress portion below the inlet portion. In any event, the permeable member 325 is configured to generate a predominantly cross-flow forced air pattern. The desired entry pressure and pressure drop can be selected as a function of particle size, size distribution, porosity, and apparent density. In certain embodiments, the pressure can be provided at between about 1.10–5 atm and the pressure drop across the flow path (measured at the exit or egress region) can be less than 10–20%. In certain embodiments, the bulk density may be increased by about 10–100%.
In certain embodiments, the permeable member 325 can be a filter or stainless steel frit that is sized and configured to allow gas or air flow thereacross with a pore size that inhibits dry powder from exiting from same when exposed to the pressurized gas cross-flow. Other suitably configured materials and structures may also be used. Preferably, the permeable member 325 and the components defining the dry powder contact surfaces in the flow path of the dispensing system 10 are configured to dispense in vivo biocompatible formulations and to withstand periodic sterilization cleaning procedures. In other embodiments, portions of the flow path may be disposable after dispensing a suitable number of doses to promote anti-aggregation improved flow and/or reduced-maintenance systems.
In certain embodiments, multiple vibratory inputs can be employed concurrently, alone, or in combination with the non-linear sources. Thus, for example, the hopper and dispensing port have an associated axis extending along the gas flow path and the system can include a translation mechanism that moves at least a portion of the hopper in a desired motion, such as an eccentric motion, so that at least a portion of the hopper oscillates relative to the axis and, in operation, generates a force with a downward force component or vector that is transmitted to the dry powder during dispensing. In other examples, a portion of the hopper 25 (and/or each individual dispensing head 425h, see
In any event, the insert 31, 31′ can be translated and/or oscillated with a selected motion that has an associated non-constant period or periods, or may have a cyclical constant period or periods. The insert 31, 31′ may be oscillated relative to the axis 25a to generate a force with a downward component or vector Fv that is transmitted to the dry powder 15 during dispensing. The insert 31, 31′ may also comprise portions formed of piezoelectrically active material that can be excited to generate vibration energy.
An alteration in a selected monitored electrical parameter that is induced by the weight residing on a dose region can be detected and a meted mass calculated by the amount of shift. The shift may be measured in a relative (pre and post change) or absolute amount (defining a pre-amount by a calibration number).
A detection system 510 can be configured to serially engage the dose regions on the sheet 500 or to simultaneously engage all of the dose regions and selectively activate the detection to measure the desired location. The detection system 510 can be in communication with the dispensing system control system to provide dynamic real-time feedback data regarding the meted quantity that can be used to control the operation of the dispensing system. The data may be used to control the open time of gated flow paths that can be controlled to mete the desired amount. Over or under amounts, or departures from predetermined variability levels, may be indicated when detected.
The detection system 510 may be configured to detect a change in capacitance or to obtain a plurality of voltage values (which may be transient) over time, during dispensing. Alternatively, the detection system 510 may be configured to detect after the dispensing. The induced change in the selected parameter or parameters is generated by the flexure or strain associated with the downwardly generated force associated with the weight of the dry powder on the stretched (tensioned) piezoelectrically active foil region 500d. Thus, the capacitance change and the like correspond to the deposited weight. The signal may be used to weigh or measure masses in the range of under about 30 mg, and preferably under about 15 mg, and still more preferably in the range of between about 10 μg–10 mg. Other electrical parameters may also be used such as, but not limited to, resonant frequency, and the like. Using the resonant frequency and/or capacitance parameter may provide increased sensitivity or resolution.
As shown in
The application programs 454 are illustrative of the programs that implement the various features of the data processing system 405 and preferably include at least one application that supports operations according to embodiments of the present invention. Finally, the data 456 represents the static and dynamic data used by the application programs 454, the operating system 452, the I/O device drivers 458, and other software programs that may reside in the memory 414.
While the present invention is illustrated, for example, with reference to the powder-specific signal generator module 450 being an application program in
In certain embodiments, the powder-specific signal generator module 450 includes computer program code for automatically determining the type of vibratory input desired to generate a non-linear vibratory energy signal directing the selective operation of the vibratory energy in and/or along the flow path according to the dry powder being dispensed.
The I/O data port can be used to transfer information between the data processing system 405 and the dispensing system 420 or another computer system or a network (e.g., an intranet and/or the Internet) or to other devices controlled by the processor. These components may be conventional components such as those used in many conventional data processing systems which may be configured in accordance with the present invention to operate as described herein.
While the present invention is illustrated, for example, with reference to particular divisions of programs, functions and memories, the present invention should not be construed as limited to such logical divisions. Thus, the present invention should not be construed as limited to the configuration of
The flowcharts and block diagrams of certain of the figures herein illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of dry powder-specific dispensing and/or vibratory energy excitation means according to the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flow charts or block diagrams represents a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved.
In certain embodiments, the system 10 can accept user input regarding the type of dry powder being dispensed. The system 10 can be configured to accept manual or electronic input and production batches (with the desired drug to be dispensed) can be identified over a selected period of time and saved for automatic interrogation by the control module upon each new batch, shift, or other desired time interval.
In certain embodiments, the present invention can provide computer program products for operating a flowing dry powder dispensing system having an associated dry powder flow path with a dispensing port and a vibration energy source associated therewith to facilitate fluidic flow. The computer program product can include a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium. The computer-readable program code including: (a) computer readable program code that identifies a plurality of different powder-specific flow enhancing vibration energy signals, a respective one for each of the plurality of different dry powders, each of the flow enhancing vibration energy signals corresponding to individually predetermined flow property data of the plurality of dry powders; and (b) computer readable program code that directs the dispensing system to operate using the powder-specific vibration energy signal associated with the dry powder being dispensed selected from the pre-identified selectable versions of the plurality of different vibration energy signals.
In certain embodiments, the powder specific vibration energy signals are non-linear. The computer program code can accept user input to identify the dry powder being dispensed, and computer program code that automatically selectively adjusts the output of the vibration energy signal based on the identified dry powder being dispensed. The vibration energy output signals for the dry powders being dispensed are based on data obtained from a fractal mass flow analysis or other suitable analysis of the different dry powders. The dispensing system and computer controller may be particularly suited to dispense low-density dry powder.
The output signals may be include a plurality, typically at least three, superpositioned modulating frequencies and a selected carrier frequency. The modulating frequencies can be in the range noted herein (typically between about 10–500 Hz), and, in certain embodiments may include at least three, and typically about four superpositioned modulating frequencies in the range of between about 10–100 Hz, and more typically, four superpositioned modulating frequencies in the range of between about 10–15 Hz.
The computer program code can controllably dispenses meted quantities of dry powder independent of volumetric evaluations by considering flow rate of the dry powder out of the dispensing port and controlling the amount of time the dispensing port is open during dispensing.
As shown in
A dry powder of interest is introduced into the elongate flow channel (block 614). The dry powder can be a low-density dry powder (block 616). The flow channel can be vibrated to thereby vibrate the dry powder to cause the dry powder to fluidly flow out of the channel via an exit port (block 615). The flow channel can include a flexible piezoelectric polymer over which the dry powder flows; the piezoelectric polymer can be electrically stimulated to flex upwardly to cause it to vibrate the powder as the powder travels along and through the flow channel. As described above, the vibration can carried out using a non-linear excitation signal having a carrier frequency and a modulation frequency (block 617). In certain embodiments, the carrier frequency can be between about 2.5 kHz–50 kHz and modulation frequency may be between about 10–500 Hz. In any event, flow characteristics can be evaluated, typically over several different input signals at different frequencies, and at least one frequency (and/or angular orientation of the flow path) selected for its ability to generate reproducible fluidic flow of dry powder based on the flow characteristics exhibited during the vibrating step (block 620).
To generate sufficient flow in the flow channel to allow evaluation and/or reliable dispensing, a dry powder mass input of between about 2–50 mg or greater may be used to provide fluid flow through the dispensing port. The apparatus can be configured to generate a reproducible flow rate (less than about +/−10% variation, and typically less than about +/−2% variation) for dispensing reliable amounts of dry powders.
The average flow rate generated for certain low-density dry powders may be in the range of between about 0.001–5 mg/sec. In certain embodiments, the flow rate may be about 0.028 mg/sec. In other embodiments, typically for unit and/or medium density (or greater density) powders, the flow rate may be greater, such as above 5 mg/sec to about 50 mg/sec or greater, and typically between about 10–30 mg/sec. In particular embodiments, the apparatus can be configured to dispense or process different dry powders, with typical flow rates between about 0.001–50 mg/sec, and more typical flow rates between about 0.001–30 mg/sec, the larger flow rates typically for the more dense dry powders (such as unit and/or medium or greater density powders).
Several parameters can influence the dispensing flow rate, such as, but not limited to, the amount (mass) of dry powder input into the flow channel, the angle of the flow channel, the size of certain components, such as the surface area of the piezoelectric material that contacts the dry powder, the channel and/or orifice volumetric size (particularly the depth and width of the channel), the dry powder itself, as well as the vibratory signal input to excite the powder to move it through the flow channel can influence.
Referring back to
The channel member 710 may be configured with an open top portion 710t and opposing side edge portions 710s1, 710s2.
In particular embodiments, the channel 710f can have a depth D1 that is about 17 mm at the inlet portion 710i of the member 710 and terminates at a depth D2 that is about the same at the exit portion 710e. The channel 710f may have a length that is less than about 20 cm. In certain embodiments, the channel has a length of about 13.1 cm. The width may be less than about 5 cm, and typically about 2 cm.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In operation, the piezoelectric layer 730 flexes upwardly in response to the input excitation signal(s) to vibrate the powder positioned above the piezoelectric layer 730. When non-conductive cover members are employed (such as those formed of DELRIN polymer), aluminum foil can be positioned over the tip portion 720t of the cover member 720 to inhibit static build up in the dry powder. In other embodiments, the cover member 720 may be formed of a pharmaceutically compatible conductive material, such as stainless steel, and/or the appropriate surfaces can be coated with a desired metallic coating, such as gold. In certain embodiments, an ionizer bar can be placed at one or more positions in the flow channel to decrease the static charge, suitable ionizer bars are available from NRD, LLC, located in Grand Island, N.Y.
As shown in
Referring again to
Valves or other “on-off” configurations can be used to dispense discrete amounts of the dry powder. In certain embodiments, the flow-dispensing can be controlled by terminating and/or electrically decoupling the input signal from to the piezoelectric layer 730 that may be controlled via a timer 20t (
As shown in
The frequency of the signal generated to cause the selected vibration to obtain the desired fluidic flow is typically influenced by the voltage amount per frequency per given capacitance. As the polymer layer defines the capacitance, the size of the layer or sheet will influence this parameter. In addition, the amplifier selected may also limit the operational frequency of the wave signal generator employed. Off the shelf units (such as a 200V amplifier) may limit the amplitude modulated (carrier) frequency output to between about 2500–7800 Hz, while customized signal processors may not be so limited (capable of generating increased carrier frequencies in the range of between about 15 kHz–50 kHz, or more as described above). An example of a suitable waveform generator is Part No. 33120A from Agilent, located in Palo Alto, Calif., and an amplifier is Part No. EPA-104 from Piezo Systems, located in Cambridge, Mass.
The apparatus 700 can include a stationary mounting frame 790 that holds the angle adjustment mechanism 780, the hinge bracket member 745, and the flow channel and cover members 710, 720, respectively.
As shown in
Although particularly suitable for pharmaceutical dry powders, the methods, systems and devices contemplated by the present invention may be used to dispense any desired dry powder, such as toners and the like.
The invention will now be described in more detail in the following non-limiting examples.
The data in Tables 2 and 3 were obtained using the apparatus illustrated in
The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses, where used, are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/434,009, filed May 8, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,690, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/379,521, filed May 10, 2002, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/392,671, filed Jun. 27, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/440,513, filed Jan. 16, 2003, the contents of the above-referenced applications are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.
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| Child | 10607389 | US |
