Patent ID: 8992981
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: A61K,A61P,B01D,B01J,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for producing microparticles, the method comprising the steps of: introducing a fluid to be processed between a first processing surface and a second processing surface arranged to be opposite to each other and which are able to approach to and separate from each other, at least one of which rotates relative to the other, the fluid to be processed comprising of at least two kinds of fluids; generating a force to move in the direction of separating the second processing surface from the first processing surface by pressure of the fluid to be processed; maintaining a distance between the first processing surface and the second processing surface in a minute space by the force; forming a thin film fluid of the fluid to be processed that is passed between the first processing surface and the second processing surface maintained in a minute space; cooling or heating the thin film fluid to change saturation solubility, thereby separating microparticles, wherein the first fluid processing surface and the second processing surface are circular and one side of the outside and the center of the first processing surface and the second processing surface is an upstream end and the other side is a downstream end, and at least one of the first processing surface and the second processing surface is formed with a groove-like depression extending from upstream to downstream, one kind of the at least two kinds of fluids is introduced into the space between the first processing surface and the second processing surface by micro-pump effect by rotation of the processing surface provided with the depression; providing another introduction path independent of the flow path through which the one kind of the fluids is passed; and providing at least one opening leading to the introduction path and being arranged in at least either the first processing surface or the second processing surface, wherein the opening is positioned downstream at a point where a direction of flow of the one kind of the fluids is changed to a direction of flow of a laminar flow formed between the at least two processing surfaces, and another kind of the at least two kinds of fluids is introduced from the opening between the processing surfaces, whereby each of the above-mentioned fluids is mixed in the thin film fluid, at least either the one kind of the fluids or the another kind of the fluids is a fluid in which at least one kind of microparticle material is dissolved, and the one kind of the fluids and the another kind of the fluids are mixed under the control of the laminar flow in the thin film fluid, thereby separating the microparticles.