Apparatus and method for cryogranulating a pharmaceutical composition

US12453702B2 · US · B2

Patent metadata
FieldValue
Publication numberUS-12453702-B2
Application numberUS-202318500199-A
CountryUS
Kind codeB2
Filing dateNov 2, 2023
Priority dateNov 2, 2009
Publication dateOct 28, 2025
Grant dateOct 28, 2025

How to read this patent

A practical reading order for non-experts. Skip the full description unless you need deep technical detail.

  1. Title

    What the patent document calls the invention.

  2. Abstract

    A short plain-language summary of the technical disclosure.

  3. Assignees and inventors

    Who owns or filed the patent and who is credited as inventor.

  4. Key dates

    Filing, priority, publication, and grant dates set the timeline.

  5. First independent claim

    The legal scope of protection — read this for what is actually claimed.

  6. CPC / IPC classifications

    Technology tags used to group this patent with similar filings.

  7. Citations and related patents

    Prior art links and similar publications in this corpus.

Abstract

Official abstract text for this publication.

Cryogranulation systems with improved dispenser assemblies are provided for use in manufacturing frozen pellets of pharmaceutical substances in a fluid medium. Methods of cryogranulating the pharmaceutical substance in the fluid medium are also provided. In particular embodiments, the dispenser assembly is used with suspensions or slurries of pharmaceutical compositions including biodegradable substances, such as proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical substance can be adsorbed to any pharmaceutically acceptable carrier particles suitable for making pharmaceutical powders. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical carrier can be, for example, diketopiperazine-based microparticles. The dispenser assembly improves the physical characteristics of the cryopellets formed and minimizes product loss during processing.

First claim

Opening claim text (preview).

The invention claimed is: 1 . A dispenser assembly for supplying a fluid into a cooling agent in a cryogranulation system, comprising: a housing and a dispenser subassembly, the housing configured to mount the dispenser subassembly above the cooling agent, the dispenser subassembly including an enclosure defining an interior chamber, at least one inlet port coupled to the interior chamber and a plurality of dispenser ports, wherein the dispenser ports of the dispenser subassembly include first and second rows of dispenser ports, the first and second rows of dispenser ports being angled with respect to vertical, and wherein the dispenser ports of the first row are disposed at opposite angles with respect to the dispenser ports of the second row. 2 . The dispenser assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the dispenser ports each include an upper conduit of a first inner diameter and a lower conduit of a second inner diameter. 3 . The dispenser assembly as defined in claim 2 , wherein the first inner diameter is smaller than the second inner diameter. 4 . The dispenser assembly as defined in claim 2 , wherein each upper conduit has a diameter of about one millimeter and each lower conduit has a diameter of about three millimeters. 5 . The dispenser assembly as defined in claim 2 , wherein at least the lower conduits of the dispenser ports are angled with respect to vertical. 6 . The dispenser assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the dispenser ports of the first row are offset in a direction of the first and second rows with respect to the dispenser ports of the second row. 7 . The dispenser assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to mount the dispenser subassembly with the first and second rows of dispenser ports disposed perpendicularly with respect to a flow of the cooling agent. 8 . The dispenser assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the dispenser ports are configured to dispense a pharmaceutical composition including diketopiperazine-based microparticles in a fluid medium. 9 . A method for supplying a fluid into a cooling agent in a cryogranulation system, comprising: providing a dispenser assembly including an enclosure defining an interior chamber and a plurality of dispenser ports; supplying the fluid to the interior chamber of the dispenser assembly; and dispensing the fluid from the interior chamber through the dispenser ports into the cooling agent, wherein the dispenser ports of the dispenser assembly include first and second rows of dispenser ports, the first and second rows of dispenser ports being angled with respect to vertical, and wherein the dispenser ports of the first row are disposed at opposite angles with respect to the dispenser ports of the second row. 10 . The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein dispensing the fluid comprises dispensing a pharmaceutical composition including diketopiperazine-based microparticles in a fluid medium.

Assignees

Inventors

Classifications

  • Insulins · CPC title

  • Organic compounds, e.g. phospholipids, fats · CPC title

  • A61J3/00Primary

    Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms · CPC title

  • Agglomerates; Granulates; Microbeadlets {; Microspheres; Pellets; Solid products obtained by spray drying, spray freeze drying, spray congealing,(multiple) emulsion solvent evaporation or extraction (A61K9/20 takes precedence if the final form is a tablet; microspheres with drug-free outer coating, microcapsules A61K9/50; mixture of different granules, microcapsules, (coated) microparticles A61K9/5084; nanoparticles A61K9/51)} · CPC title

  • B01J2/06Primary

    in a liquid medium · CPC title

Patent family

Related publications grouped by family.

External sources

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the same data shown on this page.

What does patent US12453702B2 cover?
Cryogranulation systems with improved dispenser assemblies are provided for use in manufacturing frozen pellets of pharmaceutical substances in a fluid medium. Methods of cryogranulating the pharmaceutical substance in the fluid medium are also provided. In particular embodiments, the dispenser assembly is used with suspensions or slurries of pharmaceutical compositions including biodegradable …
Who is the assignee on this patent?
Mannkind Corp
What technology area does this patent fall under?
Primary CPC classification A61J3/00. Mapped technology areas include Human Necessities.
When was this patent published?
Publication date Tue Oct 28 2025 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
What related patents are in patentsdb?
We list 9 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).