US5683720A — Liquiflash particles and method of making same

Claim 1

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of making discrete particles comprising: a) subjecting a solid, organic feedstock, capable of being transformed to liquiform in the substantial absence of dissolving medium, to liquiflash conditions which transforms said feedstock from a solid to a liquid to a solid under conditions of heat and centrifugal force to provide substantially unimpeded internal flow of said feedstock while liquified and said liquified feedstock having a viscosity such that all impedance to form liquid droplets is eliminated, said transformation occurring in not greater than five (5) seconds, and b) imparting shear force against liquified feedstock which occurs during said transformation set forth in step "a" in an amount sufficient to separate discrete particles by natural mass separation of said flowing feedstock in the presence of said shear force impinging thereon while in said unimpeded-flow condition.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of making discrete particles comprising: a) subjecting a solid, organic feedstock, capable of being transformed to liquiform in the substantial absence of dissolving medium, to liquiflash conditions which transforms said feedstock from a solid to a liquid to a solid under conditions of heat and centrifugal force to provide substantially unimpeded internal flow of said feedstock while liquified and said liquified feedstock having a viscosity such that all impedance to form liquid droplets is eliminated, said transformation occurring in not greater than five (5) seconds, and b) imparting shear force against liquified feedstock which occurs during said transformation set forth in step "a" in an amount sufficient to separate discrete particles by natural mass separation of said flowing feedstock in the presence of said shear force impinging thereon while in said unimpeded-flow condition.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said discrete particles are microspheres.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said liquiflash conditions are provided by spinning said feedstock in a spinning head having a heated peripheral barrier with exit openings for passage of flowing feedstock therethrough in the presence of centrifugal force provided by spinning said head, said peripheral barrier designed to deliver heat and retard flow of said feedstock sufficiently to provide said liquiflash conditions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 3 wherein said shear force is imparted to said flowing feedstock by the resistance of ambient atmosphere against said flowing feedstock as it exits said spinning head.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 which further comprises cooling said discretized separated particles.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 1 wherein at least about 40% by weight of the particles have a largest particle diameter within 60% of the mean particle diameter.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said feedstock comprises a medicament.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 116 words

The method of claim 7 wherein said medicament is selected from the group of active agents consisting of antitussives, antihistamines, decongestants, alkaloids, mineral supplements, laxatives, vitamins, antacids, ion exchange resins, anti-cholesterolemics, anti-lipid agents, antiarrhythmics, antipyretics, analgesics, appetite suppressants, expectorants, anti-anxiety agents, anti-ulcer agents, anti-inflammatory substances, coronary dilators, cerebral dilators, peripheral vasodilators, anti-infectives, psycho-tropics, antimanics, stimulants, gastrointestinal agents, sedatives, antidiarrheal preparations, anti-anginal drugs, vasodialators, anti-hypertensive drugs, vasoconstrictors, migraine treatments, antibiotics, tranquilizers, anti-psychotics, antitumor drugs, anticoagulants, antithromobotic drugs, hypnotics, anti-emetics, anti-nauseants, anti-convulsants, neuromuscular drugs, hyper- and hypoglycemic agents, thyroid and antithyroid preparations, diuretics, antispasmodics, uterine relaxants, mineral and nutritional additives, antiobesity drugs, anabolic drugs, erythropoietic drugs, antiasthmatics, cough suppressants, mucolytics, H 2 -antagonists, anti-uricemic drugs and mixtures thereof.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 147 words

A method of making a coated discrete particle comprising: providing at least one coating to a discrete particle prepared by a) subjecting a solid, organic feedstock, capable of being transformed to liquiform in the substantial absence of dissolving medium, to liquiflash conditions which transforms said feedstock from a solid to a liquid to a solid under conditions of heat and centrifugal force to provide substantially unimpeded internal flow of said feedstock while liquified and said liquified feedstock having a viscosity such that all impedance to form liquid droplets is eliminated, said transformation occurring not greater than five (5) seconds, and b) imparting shear force against liquified feedstock which occurs during said transformation set forth in step "a" in an amount sufficient to separate discrete particles by natural mass separation of said flowing feedstock in the presence of said shear force impinging thereon while in said unimpeded-flow condition.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 147 words

A method of making a coated discrete particle comprising: providing at least one coating to a discrete particle prepared by a) subjecting a solid, organic feedstock, capable of being transformed to liquiform in the substantial absence of dissolving medium, to liquiflash conditions which transforms said feedstock from a solid to a liquid to a solid under conditions of heat and centrifugal force to provide substantially unimpeded internal flow of said feedstock while liquified and said liquified feedstock having a viscosity such that all impedance to form liquid droplets is eliminated, said transformation occurring not greater than five (5) seconds, and b) imparting shear force against liquified feedstock which occurs during said transformation set forth in step "a" in an amount sufficient to separate discrete particles by natural mass separation of said flowing feedstock in the presence of said shear force impinging thereon while in said unimpeded-flow condition.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 9 wherein said feedstock comprises a saccharide-based material.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 10 wherein said saccharide-based feedstock comprises a sugar.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 9 wherein said at least one coating is selected from the group consisting of a medicament, an antidote, a controlled-release substance, a taste-altering substance, and combinations thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said at least one coating comprises at least one of fats, emulsifiers, and combinations thereof.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 9 wherein said feedstock comprises a medicament.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 116 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said medicament is selected from the group of active agents consisting of antitussives, antihistamines, decongestants, alkaloids, mineral supplements, laxatives, vitamins, antacids, ion exchange resins, anti-cholesterolemics, anti-lipid agents, antiarrhythmics, antipyretics, analgesics, appetite suppressants, expectorants, anti-anxiety agents, anti-ulcer agents, anti-inflammatory substances, coronary dilators, cerebral dilators, peripheral vasodilators, anti-infectives, psycho-tropics, antimanics, stimulants, gastrointestinal agents, sedatives, antidiarrheal preparations, anti-anginal drugs, vasodialators, anti-hypertensive drugs, vasoconstrictors, migraine treatments, antibiotics, tranquilizers, anti-psychotics, antitumor drugs, anticoagulants, antithromobotic drugs, hypnotics, anti-emetics, anti-nauseants, anti-convulsants, neuromuscular drugs, hyper- and hypoglycemic agents, thyroid and antithyroid preparations, diuretics, antispasmodics, uterine relaxants, mineral and nutritional additives, antiobesity drugs, anabolic drugs, erythropoietic drugs, antiasthmatics, cough suppressants, mucolytics, H 2 -antagonists, anti-uricemic drugs and mixtures thereof.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said at least one coating is selected from the group consisting of a medicament, an antidote, a controlled-release substance, a taste-altering substance, and combinations thereof.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said at least one coating is selected from the group consisting of fats, emulsifiers, and combinations thereof.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 141 words

A method of improving flow property of a solid, organic feedstock comprising: a) subjecting a solid, organic feedstock, capable of being transformed to liquiform in the substantial absence of dissolving medium, to liquiflash conditions which transforms said feedstock from a solid to a liquid to a solid under conditions of heat and centrifugal force to provide substantially unimpeded internal flow of said feedstock while liquified and said liquified feedstock having a viscosity such that all impedance to form liquid droplets is eliminated, and said transformation occurring in not greater than five (5) seconds, and b) imparting shear force against liquified feedstock which occurs during said transformation set forth in step "a" in an amount sufficient to separate discrete particles by natural mass separation of said flowing feedstock in the presence of said shear force impinging thereon while in said unimpeded-flow condition.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 141 words

A method of improving flow property of a solid, organic feedstock comprising: a) subjecting a solid, organic feedstock, capable of being transformed to liquiform in the substantial absence of dissolving medium, to liquiflash conditions which transforms said feedstock from a solid to a liquid to a solid under conditions of heat and centrifugal force to provide substantially unimpeded internal flow of said feedstock while liquified and said liquified feedstock having a viscosity such that all impedance to form liquid droplets is eliminated, and said transformation occurring in not greater than five (5) seconds, and b) imparting shear force against liquified feedstock which occurs during said transformation set forth in step "a" in an amount sufficient to separate discrete particles by natural mass separation of said flowing feedstock in the presence of said shear force impinging thereon while in said unimpeded-flow condition.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 151 words

A method of improving flow property of a coated solid, organic feedstock comprising: providing at least one coating to a particle prepared by a) subjecting a solid, organic feedstock, capable of being transformed to liquiform in the substantial absence of dissolving medium, to liquiform conditions which transforms said feedstock from a solid to a liquid to a solid under conditions of heat and centrifugal force to provide substantially unimpeded internal flow of said feedstock while liquified and said liquified feedstock having a viscosity such that all impedance to form liquid droplets is eliminated, said transformation occurring in not greater than five (5) seconds, and b) imparting shear force against liquified feedstock which occurs during said transformation set forth in step "a" in an amount sufficient to separate discrete particles by natural mass separation of said flowing feedstock in the presence of said shear force impinging thereon while in said unimpeded-flow condition.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 151 words

A method of improving flow property of a coated solid, organic feedstock comprising: providing at least one coating to a particle prepared by a) subjecting a solid, organic feedstock, capable of being transformed to liquiform in the substantial absence of dissolving medium, to liquiform conditions which transforms said feedstock from a solid to a liquid to a solid under conditions of heat and centrifugal force to provide substantially unimpeded internal flow of said feedstock while liquified and said liquified feedstock having a viscosity such that all impedance to form liquid droplets is eliminated, said transformation occurring in not greater than five (5) seconds, and b) imparting shear force against liquified feedstock which occurs during said transformation set forth in step "a" in an amount sufficient to separate discrete particles by natural mass separation of said flowing feedstock in the presence of said shear force impinging thereon while in said unimpeded-flow condition.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-11-03	2001-05-05	2001-11-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-11-03	2005-05-05	2005-11-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-11-03	2009-05-05	2009-11-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Liquiflash particles and method of making same

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