Claims
- 1. An apparatus for filling a long narrow cavity of a device containing such a cavity with a fine particulate material, which cavity having a small opening, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) supply means for containing a quantity of said fine particulate material;
- (b) a source of gas;
- (c) means for providing a moving stream of said gas, said providing means in communication with said supply means;
- (d) means for suspending said fine particulate material in said moving gas stream, said suspending means communicating with a discharge port having an orifice so that a gas stream containing suspended particulate material is discharged through the orifice of said discharge port;
- (e) a housing having an aperture, said aperture defining a means for positioning the orifice of said discharge port, a gap, a means for holding said device containing the cavity to be filled and an overflow means;
- (f) said discharge part having said orifice positioned within said aperture of said housing so as to point to the opening of the cavity to be filled of said device but spaced apart by said gap, said gap in communication with an overflow means, wherein upon discharge of said gas stream containing suspended particulate material through said orifice, said suspended particulate material is propelled across the gap and into the cavity to be filled until the cavity is filled to capacity with said particulate material and said gas is allowed to escape through said gap into said overflow means.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supply means contains a supply of a fine particulate pharmaceutical composition.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for suspending said fine particulate material in said moving gas stream comprises a venturi in which said moving gas stream creates an area of reduced pressure which draws said particulate material and mixes it with said gas.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1 also having a particulate material recovery system comprising a collection vessel pneumatically connected to said overflow means, said collection vessel having an opening which is open to atmosphere via a filter which is impervious to said particulate material.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1 where said providing means comprises a timer means for allowing a pulse of gas for a period of time sufficient to fill the cavity.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said device comprises a medication dispenser.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said orifice has a width or diameter equal to or smaller than the opening of the cavity to be filled.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gap is not more than 2 times the width or diameter of the orifice of the discharge port.
- 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for suspending said particulate material comprises a fluidized bed.
- 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gas comprises air.
- 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gas comprises nitrogen.
- 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gas comprises carbon dioxide.
- 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said particulate material comprises a pharmaceutical composition.
- 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said pharmaceutical composition comprises minocycline.
- 15. An apparatus for filling encapsulated minocycline powder into a small bore diameter medication dispenser having an opening through which said powder is filled comprising:
- (a) supply means for containing a quantity of said encapsulated minocycline powder;
- (b) a source of a pharmaceutically acceptable dry gas;
- (c) means for providing a moving stream of said gas, said providing means in communication with said supply means;
- (d) venturi means for suspending said powder in said moving gas stream, said venturi means communicating with a discharge port having an orifice so that a gas stream containing suspended powder is discharged through said orifice of said discharge port;
- (e) a housing having an aperture, said aperture defining a means for positioning the orifice of the discharge port, a gap, a means for holding said medication dispenser and an overflow means;
- (f) said discharge port having said orifice positioned within said aperture of said housing so as to point to the opening of said dispenser to be filled but spaced apart by said gap, said gap in communication with an overflow means, wherein upon discharge of said gas stream containing suspended powder through said orifice, said powder is propelled across the gap and into the opening of the dispenser to be filled until the dispenser is filled to capacity with powder and said gas in allowed to escape through said gap into said overflow means.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15 also having a particulate material recovery system comprising a collection vessel pneumatically connected to said overflow means, said collection vessel having an opening which is open to atmosphere via a filter which is impervious to said minocycline powder.
- 17. A method of filling a cavity of a medication dispensing device, said cavity having an opening, with a pharmacologically active powder material, which comprises:
- (a) providing a supply of said powder material and a supply of pharmaceutically acceptable gas;
- (b) positioning the opening of the cavity of the device to be filled so as to face an orifice through which a gas stream containing a suspended powder is discharged but spaced apart from said orifice by a gap;
- (c) causing said powder to be continuously suspended in a substantially continuously moving stream of said gas and discharging said gas stream containing suspended powder through said orifice pointed at the opening of the cavity to be filled but spaced apart by said gap, wherein upon discharge of said gas stream through said orifice said powder material is propelled across the gap into the cavity to be filled until the cavity is filled to capacity with said powder and said gas is allowed to escape to the atmosphere via said gap.
- 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said cavity is contained in a device comprising a moveable surface to adjust the volume of said cavity.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 07/632,458 filed on Dec. 21, 1990.
US Referenced Citations (14)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
632458 |
Dec 1990 |
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