公开(公告)号：US20180274986A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-27

申请号：US15544592

申请日：2016-01-27

Applicant: IMA LIFE NORTH AMERICA INC. ,  PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Inventor： ARNAB GANGULY ,  ERNESTO RENZI ,  FRANCIS W. DEMARCO ,  NITHIN RAGHUNATHAN ,  DIMITRIOS PEROULIS

IPC: G01K7/02 ,  B65D1/09 ,  G01K1/02

CPC classification number: G01K7/028 ,  B65D1/09 ,  F26B5/06 ,  G01K1/024 ,  G01K1/026 ,  G01K2213/00

Abstract: An arrangement for monitoring a freeze drying process includes product condition sensors for product condition measurement within product vials. The product condition sensors are bimetal junctions deposited on a substrate using an ink jet printing process. The substrate may be a flexible film applied to an interior surface of the product vial, or may be the vial surface itself. The bimetal junction may be printed using a roll-roll inkjet printing process with metallic nanoparticle inks. Multiple closely-spaced bi-metal junctions are provided in each measurement vial. Data from the sensors is transmitted to a data collection point via short range wireless digital communications. The location of a sublimation front may be calculated for each measured vial, and the freeze drying process may be controlled using the data.

公开(公告)号：US20180120027A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-03

申请号：US15573718

申请日：2016-05-25

Applicant: IMA LIFE NORTH AMERICA INC.

Inventor： ARNAB GANGULY ,  FRANCIS W. DEMARCO ,  ERNESTO RENZI ,  DAVID DEBO

IPC: F26B5/06

Abstract: A freeze dryer processes aseptic bulk powder products. The freeze dryer freezes the product by mixing an atomized spray of product with sterile liquid nitrogen to produce a frozen powder. The frozen powder is freeze dried in a vessel by dielectrically heating the frozen powder using electromagnetic radiation such as microwave radiation or infrared radiation, and the frozen powder is continuously agitated using a sterilizable apparatus such as a series of vibrating shelves to maintain even heating and to prevent agglomeration.

公开(公告)号：US20210381766A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-09

申请号：US17283077

申请日：2018-10-11

Applicant: IMA LIFE NORTH AMERICA INC.

Inventor： ARNAB GANGULY ,  FRANCIS W. DEMARCO ,  ERNESTO RENZI

IPC: F26B5/06 ,  F26B17/12

Abstract: A freeze drying system (200) having a nozzle (30) operated at a setpoint pressure to generate fluid product drops (242) for freezing in a freezing chamber (244) of a freezing vessel (228). The freezing chamber includes an inner wall (250) that defines a cavity (254) and an outer wall (252) having an inlet (260) that extends from a location on the outer wall that is lower than an outlet (262). A cooling fluid flows through the inlet, cavity and outlet to form a freezing zone (280). A drying chamber (304) having sloped shelves (352) receives frozen particles (282) from the freezing chamber. A heating element (418) is associated with each shelf that heats the frozen particles to promote sublimation. Vibration elements (396, 398, 400, 402) located outside the drying chamber vibrate the shelves causing the frozen particles to move from shelf to shelf to form freeze dried product (284).

公开(公告)号：US20230176598A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-08

申请号：US18162057

申请日：2023-01-31

Applicant: IMA LIFE NORTH AMERICA INC.

Inventor： JOSEPH BROWER ,  ARNAB GANGULY ,  ERNESTO RENZI ,  FRANCIS W. DEMARCO ,  MICHELE ARDUINI

IPC: G05D23/19 ,  F26B5/06 ,  G01K1/14 ,  G01K1/024 ,  G01K7/34 ,  H04W4/70 ,  G05D22/02 ,  G05D27/02 ,  G06Q10/0639

CPC classification number: G05D23/1917 ,  F26B5/06 ,  G01K1/14 ,  G01K1/024 ,  G01K7/34 ,  H04W4/70 ,  G05D22/02 ,  G05D23/1904 ,  G05D23/1919 ,  G05D23/1932 ,  G05D27/02 ,  G06Q10/06395 ,  G01K2215/00

Abstract: An arrangement for monitoring an aseptic manufacturing process includes product condition sensors capable of making closely spaced measurements of a product condition such as temperature or humidity. The measurements are made using closely spaced sensors arranged in a linear array on a single probe, which may be used to take measurements at multiple levels within the product. Data from the sensors is transmitted to a data collection point via short range wireless digital communications. The sensors may be used to measure temperature and humidity at a single point. For example, when the sensors are used in pharmaceutical freeze drying, the location of a sublimation front may be calculated for each vial, and the freeze drying process may be controlled using the data.

公开(公告)号：US20210190425A1

公开(公告)日：2021-06-24

申请号：US16762596

申请日：2017-11-22

Applicant: IMA LIFE NORTH AMERICA INC.

Inventor： ARNAB GANGULY ,  FRANCIS W. DEMARCO ,  ERNESTO RENZI

IPC: F26B5/06 ,  F26B17/02 ,  F26B25/00 ,  F26B5/04

Abstract: A freeze dryer processes a bulk material including a liquid, and produces a product including the freeze dried material borne on a substrate. The material is introduced in a freezing chamber as a droplet stream that impinges on the substrate. The liquid in the material is frozen after it contacts the substrate. The substrate bearing the material is transferred through a vacuum lock into a vacuum drying chamber where the frozen liquid sublimates under vacuum and applied heat.

公开(公告)号：US20210348844A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-11

申请号：US17282585

申请日：2019-10-01

Applicant: IMA LIFE NORTH AMERICA INC.

Inventor： ARNAB GANGULY ,  FRANCIS W. DEMARCO ,  ERNESTO RENZI

IPC: F26B17/00 ,  F26B5/06

Abstract: A freeze drying vessel (302) having a freeze drying chamber (304) that includes sloped horizontal shelves (352) that receive frozen particles (282). Each shelf is sloped relative to a horizontal axis (390) and arranged such that a downward slope between successive shelves alternates between first (392) and second (394) directions. At least one connecting member (374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384, 386, 386, 388) is attached between pairs of shelves. At least one connecting member is attached to an associated vibration element (396, 398, 400, 402) located outside the drying chamber. Each vibration element vibrates a pair of shelves to cause the frozen particles to advance relative to an associated shelf and drop downward from shelf to shelf wherein the shelves heat the frozen particles to promote sublimation to form freeze dried product (284).

公开(公告)号：US20210018264A1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-21

申请号：US17043263

申请日：2019-04-09

Applicant: IMA LIFE NORTH AMERICA INC.

Inventor： ARNAB GANGULY ,  ERNESTO RENZI ,  FRANCIS W. DEMARCO ,  IVAN H. LANAWAY ,  VAIBHAV KSHIRSAGAR

IPC: F26B5/06 ,  F26B21/10 ,  F26B25/22

Abstract: In a system and method for controlling a freeze drying process, a diagnostics server (718) is connected for receiving time series data from a freeze drying system (710, 711). The diagnostics server uses a tuned freeze drying system mathematical model to analyze the time series data to predict a system event, and alter the freeze drying process. An analytics server (730) is connected for secure communication with the diagnostics server, and creates and tunes the freeze drying system mathematical model. An equipment provider service and diagnostic cloud (735) may apply learning algorithms to the time series data to enhance diagnostic tools and provide predictive maintenance and diagnostic services to the operator of the first production sites using the diagnostic tools.