A Dry Powder Jet Printer for Dispensing Pharmaceutical Powders.

Lead Research Organisation: Queen Mary University of London
Department Name: Materials

Abstract

The specific aim of this project is to develop the QMUL technology to a bench-top powder dispensing system. The commercial product will be market ready within 2 years, providing a lower cost, more accurate system compared to competitors, such as Symyx Powdernium, FlexiWeigh and BIODOT DisPoTM. The bench-top system will act as a first step in validating the technology for scale-up to high-value applications, such as production-line filing of capsules and blisters with pharmaceutical drugs and combinatorial research. The bench-top system will be developed in partnership with Huxley Bertram Ltd, an established engineering company with expertise in designing and developing equipment for the pharmaceutical industry
 
Description Further development of this novel dry powder micro dispensing device on various pharmaceutical powders have been conducted using this grant. A large number of pharmaceutical companies were contacted and a spin off companies called VaryDose were established. There were some sales. However due to the difficulties of the management team to secure enough investment, the development is slow.
Exploitation Route Similar ideas have been adopted and commercialized by a German company who has marketed it as a new benchmark of pharmaceutical powder handling, due to lack of money for patent protection. Further development on 3D printing application has lead to more research and academic and commercial interests.
Sectors Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Construction,Creative Economy,Education,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Security and Diplomacy,Transport
URL http://varydose.com/
 
Description The funding has been used to further develop the micro dry powder dispensing technology for pharmaceutical powder applications. A spin off company has been established.
First Year Of Impact 2010
Sector Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Construction,Creative Economy,Electronics,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
Impact Types Societal,Economic
 
Description GSK 
Organisation GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
Country Global 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution pharmaceutical powder dispensing trial and 3D printing of PEEK
Collaborator Contribution provide powders and meetings and cash
Impact More collaboration is on going
Start Year 2010
 
Description GSK 
Organisation Invibio
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution pharmaceutical powder dispensing trial and 3D printing of PEEK
Collaborator Contribution provide powders and meetings and cash
Impact More collaboration is on going
Start Year 2010
 
Title APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING POWDERS 
Description Apparatus for dispensing a powder, comprises a dispensing nozzle having an upper portion for containing a quantity of the powder, having a minimum internal horizontal dimension of 5mm, and a dispensing orifice below the upper portion, with a maximum internal horizontal dimension of from 200µm to 3mm. An internal passage leading from the said upper portion to the dispensing orifice tapers in a linear manner from its upper end to its lower end. The apparatus includes a transducer for applying vibrational pulses to the dispensing nozzle, to dispense doses of powder from the orifice. Vibrational pulses are controlled to control flow of powder through the nozzle. 
IP Reference WO2011020862 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2011
Licensed Yes
Impact sales generated
 
Title APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING POWDERS 
Description Apparatus for dispensing a powder, comprises a dispensing nozzle having an upper portion for containing a quantity of the powder, having a minimum internal horizontal dimension of 5mm, and a dispensing orifice below the upper portion, with a maximum internal horizontal dimension of from 200µm to 3mm. An internal passage leading from the said upper portion to the dispensing orifice tapers in a linear manner from its upper end to its lower end. The apparatus includes a transducer for applying vibr 
IP Reference EP2467681 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2012
Licensed Yes
Impact sales generated
 
Title Apparatus and method for dispensing powders US 20120145806 A1 
Description Apparatus for dispensing a powder, comprises a dispensing nozzle having an upper portion for containing a quantity of the powder, having a minimum internal horizontal dimension of 5 mm, and a dispensing orifice below the upper portion, with a maximum internal horizontal dimension of from 200 µm to 3 mm. An internal passage leading from the said upper portion to the dispensing orifice tapers in a linear manner from its upper end to its lower end. The apparatus includes a transducer for applying vibrational pulses to the dispensing nozzle, to dispense doses of powder from the orifice. Vibrational pulses are controlled to control flow of powder through the nozzle. 
IP Reference US20120145806 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted
Licensed Yes
Impact sales generated
 
Title Powder dispenser with permanently-open linear-taper nozzle operated by vibration 
Description A powder dispenser comprises a dispensing nozzle (shown) having an upper column portion 31 for containing a quantity of powder having a minimum horizontal dimension of 5mm, a permanently-open dispensing opening 34 having a maximum internal diameter of 200micrometers (0.2mm) to 3mm, a transition region 32 leading from the upper portion to the dispensing orifice 34 tapering in a linear fashion, the dispenser also comprising a transducer for applying vibrational pulses to the nozzle so as to control the depositing of powder particles. Preferably the dispensing opening of the open-ended funnel has a maximum internal diameter of 1mm, while the dispensing orifice tapers at an angle from between 5 to 45 degrees to the vertical. The powder depositor may be suited for powders having a particle size of no more than 50 micrometres, a bulk density of 1000kg per cubic meter, and possibly powders with high repose angle. The dispenser may be used to fill capsules with pharmaceutical products. 
IP Reference GB2472817 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2011
Licensed Yes
Impact sales generated
 
Company Name VaryDose Ltd 
Description The company was spin out to commercialization the dry powder micro dispensing technology on pharmaceutical application. 
Year Established 2010 
Impact Application of the dry powder micro dispensing technology on pharmaceutical powders have been demonstrated. Great interests from pharmaceutical companies have been seen.
Website http://www.varydose.com