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
People |
ORCID iD |
Shoufeng Yang (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Jasion G
(2013)
On the bridging mechanism in vibration controlled dispensing of pharmaceutical powders from a micro hopper
in Powder Technology
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 |