Ultrasonic dispersion apparatus, system, and method

{
  "publication_number": "US9446356B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Ultrasonic dispersion apparatus, system, and method",
  "abstract": "An apparatus, system, and method of dispersing solid forms of drugs or medications reliably and consistently may generally employ ultrasonic energy. The disclosed embodiments facilitate preparation of a liquid dose from solid medications for administration to a patient.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An ultrasonic dispersion apparatus for dispersing a solid medication, the apparatus comprising: the solid medication received in a receptacle, the solid medication comprising one of a tablet, a capsule, and a caplet; an ultrasonic transducer coupled to the receptacle; control electronics operably coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, the control electronics configured to execute instructions that cause the control electronics to programmably configure a parameter affecting ultrasonic energy output of the ultrasonic transducer as a function of the solid medication, the parameter comprising an intermittency of the ultrasonic energy duty cycle, and control operation of the ultrasonic transducer to disperse the solid medication within a liquid in the receptacle by providing ultrasonic energy to the immersed solid medication so as to form a liquefied medication.",
    "2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquefied medication comprises a suspension, a solution, or an emulsion.",
    "3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control electronics are configured to execute instructions that cause the control electronics to programmably configure a directionality of the ultrasonic energy, a frequency of the ultrasonic energy, an amplitude of the ultrasonic energy, and a duration of the ultrasonic energy.",
    "4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid medication comprises one or more agglomerates or one or more bulk solid bodies.",
    "5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is coupled to the receptacle via acoustic energy.",
    "6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to expel the liquefied medication from the receptacle by reducing a volume of the receptacle.",
    "7. An ultrasonic dispersion apparatus for dispersing a solid medication, wherein the apparatus comprises the solid medication, a receptacle configured to receive the solid medication, an ultrasonic transducer coupled to the receptacle, and control electronics configured to programmably configure a parameter of the ultrasonic transducer, the apparatus configured to: load the solid medication into the receptacle, wherein the solid medication comprises one of a tablet, a capsule, and a caplet; programmably configure a parameter affecting ultrasonic energy output of the ultrasonic transducer as a function of the solid medication, the parameter comprising an intermittency of the ultrasonic energy duty cycle; and disperse the solid medication within a liquid in the receptacle by providing ultrasonic energy to the immersed solid medication so as to form a liquefied medication.",
    "8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the liquefied medication comprises a suspension, a solution, or an emulsion.",
    "9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is configured to programmably configure a directionality of the ultrasonic energy, a frequency of the ultrasonic energy, an amplitude of the ultrasonic energy, and a duration of the ultrasonic energy.",
    "10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the solid medication comprises one or more agglomerates or one or more bulk solid bodies.",
    "11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus couples the ultrasonic transducer to the receptacle via acoustic energy.",
    "12. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a sensor configured to monitor a volume of the liquid in the receptacle, and wherein the control electronics are further configured to dynamically control delivery of the liquid to the receptacle in accordance with a sensor output indicating the volume of the liquid in the receptacle.",
    "13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control electronics are configured to dynamically control the volume of the liquid in the receptacle as a function of dimensions of the receptacle and a volume occupied by the solid medication loaded in the receptacle.",
    "14. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an input device coupled to the control electronics, wherein the parameter affecting ultrasonic energy output of the ultrasonic transducer is selectively adjusted in real time by operator input in the input device.",
    "15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further configured to, prior to loading the solid medication into the receptacle, select the receptacle from a plurality of receptacles based on the type, volume, or chemical composition of the solid medication.",
    "16. A system for dispersing a solid medication, the system comprising: an ultrasonic dispersion apparatus comprising a receptacle, the solid medication received in the receptacle, the solid medication comprising one of a tablet, a capsule, and a caplet, a dispenser selectively engaged with the receptacle to form a leak-proof seal, wherein the leak-proof seal between the dispenser and the receptacle is automatically formed when the dispenser is selectively engaged with the receptacle, one or more apertures configured to deliver a solvent to the receptacle and allow expulsion of contents from the receptacle; an ultrasonic transducer coupled to the receptacle; and control electronics operably coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, the control electronics configured to execute instructions that cause the control electronics to programmably configure a parameter affecting ultrasonic energy output of the ultrasonic transducer as a function of the solid medication, the parameter comprising at least one of an intermittency of the ultrasonic energy duty cycle, a directionality of the ultrasonic energy, a frequency of the ultrasonic energy, an amplitude of the ultrasonic energy, and a duration of the ultrasonic energy, and control operation of the ultrasonic transducer to disperse the solid medication within the solvent in the receptacle by providing ultrasonic energy to the immersed solid medication so as to form a liquefied medication, wherein the ultrasonic dispersion apparatus is configured to expel the liquefied medication through the one or more apertures by reducing a volume of the receptacle, without unsealing the leak-proof seal between the dispenser and the receptacle.",
    "17. The system of claim 16, wherein the control electronics are operably coupled to a solvent reservoir, wherein the control electronics are configured to execute instructions that cause the control electronics to automatically control delivery of the solvent from the solvent reservoir through the one or more apertures to the receptacle without unsealing the leak-proof seal between the dispenser and the receptacle.",
    "18. The system of claim 17, wherein the control electronics automatically control delivery of the solvent to the receptacle as a function of the solid medication received in the receptacle.",
    "19. The system of claim 16, wherein the receptacle comprises a collapsible container configured to expel the liquefied medication through the one or more apertures upon application of a force to the liquefied medication in the receptacle.",
    "20. The system of claim 16, wherein the ultrasonic dispersion apparatus is configured to expel the liquefied medication through the one or more apertures without introducing any device into the receptacle."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention was made with Government support under Grant Number 2R44GM066436-02A1 awarded by the U.S. Public Health Service. The Government has certain rights in the invention.\n\nAspects of the present invention relate generally to reducing drugs or medications in solid form to liquid form, and more particularly to an apparatus, system, and method of dispersing solid form medications utilizing ultrasonic energy.\n\nIt has long been recognized that one of the preferred ways of administering medication is orally in solid form; solid form medications are usually embodied in tablets, capsules, or a hybrid thereof typically known as “caplets.” Providing medications in solid form generally allows utilization of the least expensive manufacturing and packaging processes for drugs or medications. Additionally, solid form oral medication administration is non-invasive, and the solid form facilitates tamper resistance. Accordingly, distribution in solid form is generally preferred for drugs of numerous descriptions.\n\nRecently, however, several problems associated with administering medication in solid form have been identified. For example, tablets, capsules, or caplets containing therapeutic amounts of drugs in solid form are often large, and can induce a gag reflex or the unwanted aspiration of drug material. In particular, some individuals are unable to ingest solid medication. By way of example, some or all of the following groups may experience difficulties in swallowing solid drugs: invalids and mentally ill patients; patients dependent upon feeding tubes; geriatric patients or children; and bedridden patients.",
  "cpc": [
    "B01F 1/0005",
    "B01F 11/0283",
    "B01F 21/02",
    "B01F 2101/22",
    "B01F 2215/0032",
    "B01F 31/87",
    "B01J 19/10",
    "B01J 2219/089"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B01F 15/00",
    "B01F 1/00",
    "B01F 11/02",
    "B01J 19/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "DISPERSE SYSTEMS Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Henry Milner"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-11-02",
  "publication_date": "2016-09-20",
  "grant_date": "2016-09-20",
  "priority_date": "2003-01-09",
  "application_number": "US-201514929679-A",
  "family_id": "32994158",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
  "citations": [
    "US3542345A",
    "US3774317A",
    "US3809977A",
    "US3828770A",
    "US3924335A",
    "USRE28752E",
    "US3793723A",
    "US3980906A",
    "US4012647A",
    "US3990512A",
    "US4043084A",
    "US4071385A",
    "US4193196A",
    "US4193197A",
    "US4126547A",
    "US4222868A",
    "US4192035A",
    "US4333197A",
    "US4528159A",
    "US4974214A",
    "US5538503A",
    "US6079508A",
    "WO1997007891A1",
    "US5833891A",
    "US6147108A",
    "US6047246A",
    "US6136859A",
    "US6534087B2",
    "US9174176B2"
  ]
}