Patent Description:
Powders and/or granules for the forming of solid dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules or sachets can be produced by dry granulation using a roller compactor. Powders and/or granules are used as an intermediate in the manufacturing of various solid dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, and sachets. The powders and/or granules may be used as is or in combination with other excipients.

Fractionation can be used to improve the properties of the powders and/or granules after roller compaction. Fractionation can be accomplished by several means such as vibrational or centrifugal separation. Fractionation of the powders and/or granules by sieving is used for e.g. obtaining specific sizes and size distributions, densities, flowability, and tabletability of powders and/or granules. Such powders and/or granules may comprise a pharmaceutical active ingredient (API) or they are blended with other powders and/or granules comprising an API before e.g. tableting.

<CIT> relates to fractionation of a granulate for tableting which may comprise an API. The document describes that dry granulation would in many cases appear to be the best way to produce products such as tablets containing APIs, but it has been relatively little used because of the challenges in producing the desired kind of granules as well as managing the granulated material in the manufacturing process. The dry granulation methods known in the prior art produce granules that are seldom usable in a tablet manufacturing process. Conflicting process design parameters often lead to compromises where some qualities of the resulting granule product may be good, but other desirable qualities are lacking or absent. For example, the flowability characteristics of the granules may be insufficient, the non-homogeneity of the granules may cause segregation in the manufacturing process or capping in tablets, or some of the granules may exhibit excessive hardness, all of which can make the tableting process very difficult, slow and sometimes impossible. Furthermore, the bulk granules may be difficult to compress into tablets. Alternatively or additionally, the disintegration characteristics of the resulting tablets may be sub-optimal. Such problems commonly relate to the non-homogeneity and granule structure of the granulate mass produced by the compactor. For instance, the mass may have too high a percentage of fine particles or some granules produced by the compactor may be too dense for effective tableting. It is also well known in the art that in order to get uniform tablets the bulk to be tableted should be homogeneous and should have good flow characteristics. In prior art, dry granulation processes such as roller compaction, the resulting bulk is not generally homogeneously flowing, for example because of the presence of relatively large (<NUM>-<NUM>) and dense granules together with very small (e.g. <NUM>-<NUM> micrometers) particles. This can cause segregation as the large, typically dense and/or hard granules of the prior art flow in a different way compared to the fine particles when the granulate mass is conveyed in the manufacturing process, e.g. during tableting. Because of the segregation, it is often difficult to ensure production of acceptable tablets. For this reason, in the art there are some known devices in which the small particles and sometimes also the biggest particles are separated from the rest of the granules with the help of a fractionating device such as (a set of) vibrating screen(s). According to the prior art, this process is generally complicated and noisy and the result is a relatively homogeneously flowing bulk where the granules are hard and difficult to compress into tablets. Furthermore, the process of separating small particles from granules becomes very difficult if the material is sticky and the screen-size is too small. Generally, in this process the prior art finds that the apertures of the screen must have a minimum dimension of at least <NUM>.

<CIT> further describes a roller compactor in line with a fractionating device for removing fine particles and/or small granules from a granulate mass produced by a compactor. The fine particles and or small granules are carried away from the fractionating device by a carrier gas flowing in the opposite direction of the granulate mass. Accepted granules fall out of the fractioning device through a tube at the bottom of the device by effect of gravity. In another embodiment the separation is enhanced by utilizing a perforated rotating cylinder. A spiral inside the cylinder transport the granulate mass from an inlet towards an outlet of the accepted granules, a carrier gas flows in the opposite direction and ensures that only accepted granules can flow out of the outlet under the effect of gravity.

<CIT> relates to fractionation of granulate mass. The document describes further aspects of a fractionating device using a carrier gas flowing in the opposite direction of a granulate mass.

<CIT> describes a method of dry granulation using a granulator <NUM> and screening using a screening apparatus. A fed material is compressed between two compaction rollers and subsequently dropped into a pre-break mechanism <NUM>. The pre-break mechanism <NUM> breaks the compressed various sized chips into flakes which then fall into an attritor <NUM>. The attritor subsequently further breaks up the flakes into granulate particles which fall through a screen <NUM>. The granulated particles then fall into a screening apparatus <NUM>, which generally contains a plurality of screens which separate out oversized as well as undersized (i.e. fines) particles. The desired sized particles are fed to product bin <NUM>. The over- and undersized particles <NUM> are recycled through a feed mechanism <NUM>.

A vibratory sieve fractionates the granules into specific sizes and size distributions by passing the granules through layers of screens with ever decreasing mesh sizes using vibration to move the granules around and through the screens. Furthermore, the vibratory sieve might require specific rotational movements of the sieve and cleaning by ultrasonication to obtain an efficient fractionation of the granules and prevent so-called blinding of the screen. Outlets exist from the different screens and yield the different fractions of granules whereof some are usable and others are under- or oversized and therefore discarded.

Vibrational sieving is a continuous process with a continuous input of material and requires an equally sized continuous output to prevent accumulation. Therefore, fractionation by vibrational sieving is a continuous process of fractionating granules into specific sizes and size distributions with specific properties as required by the next process step.

<CIT> describes a sieve for removal of oversized particles for dry particulate solids and for liquids and particularly sieves in which an excitation source provides deblinding excitation of the sieve screen.

<CIT> describes and illustrates a screening apparatus provided with a upper casing and with a lower casing each one of which comprises a support structure <NUM> provided with a circular portion <NUM> and with radial portions <NUM> on which an upper net and a lower net rest respectively. Inside the upper casing and the lower casing, is provided a flow deflector <NUM>, each one of which is provided with walls <NUM> having a preset height. Each flow deflector <NUM> is arranged above the net, so that the walls <NUM> protrude from the net, by an amount that is such that during operation the material to be screened is forced to follow a path that is longer than the path that the material to be screened would follow if the flow deflector <NUM> were absent. In this way, the solid particles of material remain on the net for a prolonged period in such a way that the fraction of liquid material is separated completely from the particles before the expulsion of the coarser fraction. Each flow deflector <NUM> comprises a further radial portion <NUM> and a further circular portion <NUM> that extends for an angle that is less than a round angle, in such a way as to define a passage gap <NUM>. The further circular portion <NUM> is shaped in such a way as to couple in a joined manner with the circular portion <NUM>, located immediately below the net. Similarly, the further radial portion <NUM> is shaped in such a way as to couple in a joined manner with one of the radial portions <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <NUM>, the radial portion <NUM> of the support structure <NUM>, which is to be coupled with the radial portion <NUM> of the flow deflector <NUM>, is aligned with a down stream side of an outlet opening <NUM>, whereby the gap <NUM> and the outlet opening <NUM> is provided on opposite sides of the radial portion <NUM>. As appears, this alignment and positioning of the gap <NUM> relative to the outlet <NUM>, is provided in order to force a complete <NUM> degree flow path around the circular portion <NUM>, to obtain the effect of prolonging the period which the material remains on the net.

As appears the apparatus is designed for separating liquid and solid particles by prolonging the time period on the net, which inevitably must result in increased attrition of the granules.

The efficiency of the current fractionating devices comprising a vibrational sieve are very sensitive to the feeding rate, and in some applications, it can be desired to reduce the feeding rate without compromising the quality of the product and the efficiency of the fractionating device, or simply obtaining the desired particle size distribution, flowability, density, and tabletability. Such a situation can arise when the fractionating device is operating in an in-line setup where another in-line unit determines the production rate, i.e. the feeding rate. The situation can also arise in an off-line setup where a relatively small amount is to be fractionated. In the latter case it can be desirable to prolong the production time, by reducing the feeding rate in order to avoid or reduce end effects from start-up and shut-down.

It is an object of the present invention to provide further devices and methods for fractionation of granules for solid dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, or sachets. It is a further object of the invention to provide further devices and methods for fractionation by enabling a change in the feeding rate of unfractionated granules to a fractionating device while obtaining the desired quality of the fractionated product. It is a further object of the invention to provide further devices and methods for fractionation of granules for solid dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, or sachets, providing efficient and uniform exposure of the granules to the sieve screen.

It is a further object of the invention to provide further devices and methods for fractionation of granules comprising a salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid (also referred to as a salt of NAC herein. In one embodiment the salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid is selected from the group consisting of the sodium salt, potassium salt and/or the ammonium salt of NAC. In one embodiment the salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid is the sodium salt or the potassium salt. In one embodiment the salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid is the sodium salt sodium N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylate also named salcaprozate sodium and referred to as SNAC.

Salts of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid may be prepared using the method described in e.g. <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> or <CIT>.

It is a further object of the invention to provide further devices and methods for in-line fractionation of granules for tableting. It is a further object of the invention to provide devices and methods for roller compaction with in-line fractionation of granules for tableting.

In the present invention the inventors have solved the problem of enabling a change in the feeding rate of unfractionated granules to a conventional fractionating device comprising a sieve screen while obtaining a desirable quality of the fractionated product. The conventional fractionating device comprises a drive adapted for, in combination with the sieve screen, inducing a lateral flow of granules, i.e., a flow in the plane wherein a displacement vector comprises a component in the radial direction and in most practical instances also in a rotational or angular direction. The lateral flow is defining lateral streamlines extending in the radial direction. The streamlines also indicate and define the direction of the flow. A downstream direction is in the direction of the arrow and the flow.

The upstream direction is opposite. The fractionating device may also induce an orbital flow wherein a displacement vector comprises a component mainly in the rotational or angular direction. The orbital flow is defining orbital streamlines on the sieve screen with a rotation axis normal to the screen surface and defined at the center of the screen. For such a conventional fractionation device the feeding rate of the sieve is crucial regarding the amount of under-sized granules that will be removed by the fractionation and influences therefore directly the yield and granule properties such as particle size distribution, flowability, density, and tabletability. In addition, changes in the granule properties of the granules will change the obtainable content uniformity, mechanical strength, breaking force, friability, and the processability for the following manufacturing step of tableting, capsule filling, or sachet filling. All parameters will be negatively impacted.

In the present invention the inventors have further solved the problem of ensuring an efficient and controlled uniform exposure of granules to a sieve screen in a fractionating device.

In the disclosure of the present invention, embodiments and aspects will be described which will address one or more of the above objects or problems. Embodiments and aspects will also address objects or problems apparent from the below disclosure as well as from the description of exemplary embodiments.

In accordance with claim <NUM> of he invention is provided, a sieve guide assembly comprising a circular sieve screen and a sieve guide mountable in a fractionating device for fractionating granules for tableting;.

When the sieve guide is mounted in the fractionating device, the sieve guide assembly provides a uniform travel distance from the loading area to the outlet at the periphery, and minimizes or prevents a peripheral orbital flow. The guide assembly is adapted to provide a uniform and effective exposure of the granules to the sieve screen. Furthermore attrition of the granules is reduced, as a consequence of reducing or preventing the peripheral orbital flow, and by ensuring that the lateral flow is guided directly from the loading area towards the outlet. This is only possible, as the sieve guide assembly is adapted to be mounted in the fractionating device in a specific angular position with the first lateral guide member aligned with a first side of the outlet of the fractionating device.

In a further aspect, the first lateral guide member is curved. The curvature of the lateral guide member is defined by a circle positioned on the downstream side of the lateral guide member, as defined by the orbital direction, whereby the guide member is adapted to guide a curved lateral flow, i.e., a flow with both a radial and angular displacement.

In a further aspect, the sieve guide assembly further comprises a second lateral guide member extending in the lateral direction from the second side of the first radial opening, whereby the granules can be guided between the first and the second lateral guide member.

In a further aspect, the second lateral guide member is curved.

In a further aspect, the sieve guide assembly comprises a key or a key-hole adapted to ensure the assembly is mounted in the specific angular position.

In a further aspect, the sieve guide assembly is adapted to be angularly adjustable, and the sieve guide is further is adapted to be fixed or clamped at the specific angular position.

In sccordance with claim <NUM> of the invention is provided a sieve guide assembly for a fractionating device for fractionating granules, wherein the sieve guide assembly comprises:.

wherein the sieve guide is fixedly attached to the sieve screen, wherein the sieve guide comprises:.

whereby the lateral guided flow of granules can be guided along the first and second lateral guide members and directly towards an outlet, when the sieve guide assembly is mounted in a fractionating device, and when the fractionating device induces an orbital and a lateral flow.

In another aspect of the invention is provided a sieve guide assembly comprising a circular sieve screen and a sieve guide mountable in a fractionating device for fractionating granules for solid dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules or sachets, wherein the fractionating device comprises a drive adapted for: (i) in combination with a sieve screen without a sieve guide, inducing a lateral flow of granules defining lateral streamlines and an orbital flow defining orbital streamlines on the sieve screen, and (ii) in combination with the sieve guide assembly, inducing a guided lateral flow of granules defining guided lateral streamlines and a central guided orbital flow defining central orbital streamlines on the sieve screen;.

Hereby is provided a sieve guide which eliminates excessive attrition of the granules.

In a further aspect, the first and the second lateral guide members are curved, and wherein the shape of the curved guide members are adapted to the guided lateral streamlines to provide a uniform thickness of a layer of the guided lateral flow of granules.

In a further aspect, the sieve guide circumference's an area of the sieve screen defining a primary sieving area comprising the central loading area and the lateral flow path, wherein the remaining area of the sieve screen defines a secondary sieving area, and whereby less than <NUM> % of the granules will be exposed to the sieve screen at the secondary sieving area.

In a further aspect, the central orbital flow defines a direction of motion, wherein the first lateral guide member is positioned in the direction of motion relative to the second lateral guide member, wherein the second lateral guide member comprises an opening at the periphery of the sieve screen adapted to allow granules escaping the sieve guide and following a peripheral orbital flow defining a peripheral orbital streamline to enter the lateral flow path through the opening in the second guide member.

In a further aspect, the central orbital flow defines a direction of motion, wherein the first radial opening is positioned at a first angular position and the second radial opening is positioned at a second angular position, wherein the second angular position is in the direction of motion relative to the first angular position, whereby the lateral flow path from the central loading area is curved.

In a further aspect, an arch length defined by the second radial opening and a center of the sieve screen defines a circular sector with an angle smaller than <NUM> degrees, wherein granules can flow from the first radial opening to the second radial opening to define one or more guided lateral streamlines of the guided lateral streamlines, completely within the area defined by the circular sector.

In a further aspect, an arch length defined by the second radial opening and a center of the sieve screen defines a circular sector with an angle between <NUM> and <NUM> degrees, wherein granules can flow from the first radial opening to the second radial opening to define one or more guided lateral streamlines of the guided lateral streamlines, completely within the area defined by the circular sector.

In a further aspect, the central loading area and the lateral flow path define a primary sieving area, which is the fraction of the total possible area of the sieve screen, and wherein the fraction is in the range of <NUM>-<NUM> %.

In accordance with claim <NUM> of the invention is provided, a fractionating device for fractionating granules for solid dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, or sachets, wherein the fractionating device comprises a sieve guide assembly as described herein,
wherein the fractionating device comprises a tubular rim portion for receiving the sieve guide assembly, wherein the rim portion comprises an outlet, wherein the outlet (<NUM>) of the fractionating device is provided as an opening in the tubular rim portion extending in the upstream orbital direction from a first to a second side.

In accordance with claim <NUM> of the invention is provided a fractionating device for fractionating granules, wherein the fractionating device comprises:.

Hereby are the granules guided directly to the outlet from the loading area, and attrition of the granules can be reduced.

In a further aspect, the first lateral guide member is curved.

In a further aspect, the fractionating device further comprises a second lateral guide member extending in the lateral direction from the second side of the first radial opening.

In another aspect is provided a fractionating device for fractionating granules for tableting, wherein the fractionating device comprises a sieve guide assembly as described above, and a drive adapted for, in combination with the sieve guide assembly, inducing a guided lateral flow of granules defining guided lateral streamlines and a central guided orbital flow defining central orbital streamlines on the sieve screen.

In a further aspect, the fractionating device further comprises a sieve deck, wherein the sieve deck comprises a tubular deck portion comprising a rim, wherein the tubular portion comprises a first end defining an inlet and a second end adapted for assembly with the sieve screen, wherein the rim comprises an opening defining an outlet, and wherein the inlet enables loading of granules onto the central loading area of the sieve screen. The outlet is aligned with the second radial opening and thereby enables fractionated granules to exit.

In a further aspect, the rim supports a peripheral orbital flow for granules escaping the sieve guide defining a peripheral orbital streamline and a direction of motion, wherein the first lateral guide member is positioned in the direction of motion relative to the second lateral guide member, wherein the second lateral guide member comprises an opening at the periphery of the sieve screen adapted to allow granules escaping the sieve guide and following the peripheral orbital flow to enter the lateral flow path through the opening in the second guide member.

In a further aspect, the fractionating device comprises a sieve guide assembly as described above, and a drive adapted for: (i) in combination with a sieve screen without a sieve guide, inducing a lateral flow of granules defining lateral streamlines and an orbital flow defining orbital streamlines on the sieve screen, and (ii) in combination with the sieve guide assembly, inducing a guided lateral flow of granules defining guided lateral streamlines and a central guided orbital flow defining central orbital streamlines on the sieve screen.

In a further aspect, the fractionating device further comprises a vibrator arranged to vibrate and deblind the sieve screen.

In accordance with claim <NUM> of the invention is provided, a method of fractionating granules for solid dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, or sachets comprising fractionating granules using a fractionation device as described herein.

In a further aspect the method of fractionating granules for solid dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, or sachets, using the fractionating device as described herein, the method comprises fractionating the granules, uniformly exposing the granules to the sieve screen and guiding them directly to the outlet (<NUM>) from the central loading area.

In another aspect is provided, a method of fractionating granules for solid dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, or sachets comprising.

In another aspect is provided a method of fractionating granules for tableting using the fractionating described herein, wherein the method comprises fractionating the granules and uniformly exposing the granules to the sieve screen.

In another aspect is provided a method of fractionating granules comprising SNAC using the fractionating as described herein, wherein the method comprises fractionating the granules comprising SNAC and uniformly exposing the granules to the sieve screen.

In a further aspect the method further comprises guiding the granules along the lateral flow path in a layer of uniform thickness.

In a further aspect the method further comprises continuously fractionation of granules.

In a further aspect the method further comprises fractionating granules in an in-line-setup.

In a further aspect the method further comprises providing a roller compactor in-line with the fractionating device, whereby the roller compactor is feeding unfractionated granules into the fractionating device.

In a further aspect the roller compactor feeds directly into the fractionating device, whereby there is no accumulation and a steady state feed rate to the fractionating device.

In a further aspect the method further comprises exposing a major portion of the granules to the sieve screen at a primary sieving area comprising the central loading area and the lateral flow path, wherein the major portion of the granules comprises more than <NUM> % of the total amount of unfractionated granules.

In a further aspect the method further comprises exposing a minor portion of the granules to the sieve screen at a secondary sieving area comprising the area of the sieve screen not being the central loading area and not being the area of lateral flow path, wherein the minor portion comprises less than <NUM> % of the total amount of unfractionated granules.

In another aspect is provided a sieve deck assembly comprising a sieve deck comprising a tubular deck portion comprising a rim, wherein the tubular portion comprises a first end defining an inlet and a second end adapted for assembly with the sieve screen and the sieve screen frame, wherein the rim comprises an opening defining an outlet; a sieve guide assembly as described above.

In another aspect is provided a sieve guide for a sieve deck assembly mountable in a fractionating device for fractionating granules for tableting,.

In a further aspect the invention provides compositions comprising granules of a salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid (NAC), such as SNAC.

The size distribution of the granules of the salt of NAC in the composition may vary. In one embodiment the composition comprising granules has been fractionated using sieves providing a cut of <NUM> to remove smaller particles. It is noticed that a composition so obtained may still include granules smaller than <NUM>, although the amount (% w/w) of such is decreased by the fractionation.

In one embodiment the composition has more than <NUM> % w/w of granules smaller than (<) <NUM>. In one embodiment the composition has <NUM>-<NUM> % w/w of granules smaller than (<) <NUM> or such as <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> or such as <NUM>-<NUM> % w/w smaller than (<) <NUM>.

In one embodiment the composition comprising granules of a salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid has more than <NUM> % w/w of granules smaller than (<) <NUM>. In one embodiment the composition comprising granules of a salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid has <NUM>-<NUM> % w/w of granules smaller than (<) <NUM> or such as <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> or such as <NUM>-<NUM> % w/w smaller than (<) <NUM>.

The processability of a composition of granules may further vary depending on the characteristics of the composition. Such a characteristic may be flowability, and more specifically funnel flowability, which may be measured as described in Example <NUM> herein.

In one embodiment the composition has a funnel flowability below <NUM>/s, such as <NUM>-<NUM>/s, such as <NUM>-<NUM>/s, such as <NUM>-<NUM>/s or such as <NUM>-<NUM>/s.

In one embodiment the composition comprising granules of a salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid has a funnel flowability below (<) <NUM>/s, such as a funnel flowability of <NUM>-<NUM>/s.

The processability of a composition of granules may further vary depending on the principal component <NUM> which may be measured as described in Example <NUM> herein.

In one embodiment the composition comprising granules has a score for principal component <NUM> (PC1) below <NUM>.

In one embodiment the composition comprising granules has a score for principal component <NUM> (PC1) of -<NUM> to <NUM>, such as -<NUM> to -<NUM>, such a -<NUM> to -<NUM>.

In one embodiment the composition comprising granules a salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid has a score for principal component <NUM> (PC1) below <NUM>.

In one embodiment the composition comprising granules a salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid has a score for principal component <NUM> (PC1) of -<NUM> to <NUM>, such as -<NUM> to -<NUM>, such a -<NUM> to -<NUM>.

In one embodiment the composition comprising granules has a bulk density of more than (>) <NUM>/mL.

The processability of a composition of granules may further vary depending on the compressibility which may be measured as described in Example <NUM> herein.

In one embodiment the composition comprising granules has a compressibility of more than (>) <NUM> %.

In one embodiment the composition comprising granules of a salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid has a compressibility of more than (>) <NUM> %.

In one embodiment the composition comprising granules of a salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid has a bulk density of more than (>) <NUM>/mL.

In further embodiments the composition has.

Such composition may according to the invention comprise further pharmaceutical excipients.

In one embodiment the granules of a salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid further comprise a lubricant, such as magnesium stearate. In one embodiment the granules comprising a salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)-amino)caprylic acid further comprise a filler, such as microcrystalline cellulose. In one embodiment the granules comprises a salt of N-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylic acid, a lubricant such as magnesium stearate and a filler such as microcrystalline cellulose (MCC).

Such granule composition may according to the invention comprise a pharmaceutical active ingredient. Alternatively, a pharmaceutical active ingredient may be included in the solid dosage form at any time in the production of a solid dosage form comprising such granule composition.

In another aspect is provided a method of producing a solid dosage form, such as tablets, capsules, or sachets comprising:.

In a further aspect the fractionated granules are a composition comprising granules as described above.

In another aspect the method of producing a solid dosage form, such as tablets, capsules, or sachets, the solid dosage form comprises one or more pharmaceutical active ingredient(s) and optionally one or more further pharmaceutically acceptable excipient(s).

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings:.

In the figures like structures are mainly identified by like reference numerals. Numbers e.g. <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are used to denote features on the drawing. Numbers combined with letters e.g. 212a, 212b are used to denote features with a similar function, and these features can be referred to individually as 212a and 212b or in common as <NUM>. Further details of a feature can be denoted by a number followed by a dot and a running number of <NUM> or <NUM> digits.

When in the following terms such as "upper" and "lower", "right" and "left", "horizontal" and "vertical" or similar relative expressions are used, these only refer to the appended figures and not necessarily to an actual situation of use. The shown figures are schematic representations for which reason the configuration of the different structures as well as their relative dimensions are intended to serve illustrative purposes only. When the term member is used for a given component it can be used to define a unitary component or a portion of a component, having one or more functions.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details.

For example, a first subject could be termed a second subject, and, similarly, a second subject could be termed a first subject, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The first subject and the second subject are both subjects, but they are not the same subject. Furthermore, the terms "subject," "user," and "patient" are used interchangeably herein.

As used herein, the term "if" may be construed to mean "when" or "upon" or "in response to determining" or "in response to detecting," depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase "if it is determined" or "if [a stated condition or event] is detected" may be construed to mean "upon determining" or "in response to determining" or "upon detecting [the stated condition or event]" or "in response to detecting [the stated condition or event]," depending on the context.

As used herein, the term "continuous period" is used to describe a period without interruption or uninterrupted extension. A "continuous method" is used to describe a method which can be continued without interruption due to external conditions determined by the nature of the process, e.g., the process is stopped due to required cleaning of the equipment or the process is stopped due to excessive accumulation which blocks the process or prevents the functioning of the equipment.

As used herein, the term "granules" refers broadly to pharmaceutical ingredients in any form, such as powders, particles, granules and aggregates which are used in the preparation of solid dose formulations. The set-up described herein fractionates granules obtained by dry granulation but is apparent that fractionations may be applied to pharmaceutical ingredients in any form where a fractionation is required prior to the preparation of a solid dose formulation.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an in-line setup of the fractionating device <NUM>. A roller compactor <NUM> with granulator e.g. roller compacted unfractionated granules for tableting is arranged above the fractionating device <NUM>, whereby the granules can flow by gravity to the fractionating device. Valve means can be used to regulate the rate of feeding granules into the fractionating device <NUM>. In a continuous in-line process, the maximum feeding rate will be the production rate of unfractionated granules by the roller compactor.

<FIG> illustrates the conventional sieve deck <NUM> seen in a profile cross-section seen from above. Unfractionated granules are loaded through an inlet <NUM> to a central portion of the sieve deck and exits through an outlet <NUM> from the sieve deck. The loading can be centralized using a funnel shaped inlet chute or a lid with an integral inlet chute (not shown on figure). On the figure is also shown an ultra-sonic probe <NUM> to deblind a sieve screen (not shown) during fractionation, as granules otherwise tend to blind or block the apertures. A sieve frame <NUM> is adapted to span over the width of the sieve deck <NUM> and is adapted to support a sieve screen. The sieve frame comprises beams <NUM> connecting a central portion <NUM> and a rim portion <NUM>. The central portion of the sieve frame <NUM> can be connected to the ultra-sonic probe <NUM> to transfer vibrations through the frame and a supported sieve screen. The sieve deck <NUM> comprises a rim <NUM> which circumference's granules on a sieve screen. The rim forms a tubular portion resembling a cylindar. Flow of unfractionated granules is indicated with block arrow <NUM>, flow of fines to the bottom deck (bottom deck not shown) with block arrow <NUM>, and flow of fractionated product with block arrow <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the conventional sieve deck <NUM> of <FIG> in a bird perspective, i.e., seen from above. The frame <NUM> is illustrated as beams <NUM> extending from the central support portion <NUM> towards the rim portion <NUM>. Even though the figure only illustrates two beams <NUM>, in some embodiments a frame may comprise more than two beams distributed symmetrically around the central portion <NUM>, e.g., four beams symmetrically distributed. The sieve screen is not shown on the figure. The ultrasonic probe <NUM> includes a cable <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the current disclosure, a conventional fractionating device as described in <FIG> and <FIG> was used in combination with a conventional sieve screen. The apertures in the sieve screen is usually specified in micrometer (µm).

In some embodiments the measure of the aperture is the smallest dimension of the aperture, and in other embodiments the measure is the diameter of an inscribed circle of the diameter. In one embodiment a sieve screen in the range <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> can be used, and in other embodiments a sieve screen in the range <NUM>-<NUM> can be used. In an experiment according to the present disclosure with a conventional <NUM> sieve screen in an in-line setup as illustrated in <FIG>, it was found that, at the production rate given by the roller compactor, the vibrational sieve removed an unacceptably high amount of undersized granules and particles by the fractionation and re-suited thus in an unacceptably low yield of <NUM> % fractionated product as <NUM> % was lost to undersized granules (Table <NUM>).

The high loss to undersized granules from the <NUM> sieve screen, is a consequence of an overly efficient exposure to the sieve mesh and thus a too efficient fractionation at the given production rate as dictated by the roller compactor. In addition, the too efficient exposure introduces or increases attrition of the granules, which amplifies the negative consequences and thus the low yield.

In addition, the high amounts removed of undersized granules and particles also resulted in a low amount of small granules and particles in the fractionated product causing the flowability to be overly high and the compressibility too small (Table <NUM>, Table <NUM>, Table <NUM> and Table <NUM>). The relevant properties of the granules for the purpose of tableting comprise especially content uniformity, mechanical strength, breaking force, friability, and the processability, which can be negatively impacted by changes in the particle size, flowability, and compressibility of the fractionated granules (Table <NUM>). Furthermore, if a continuous flow through the vibrational sieve is prevented then these negative impacts will be even higher as unacceptably high amounts of under-sized granules and particles will exit through the outlet of the sieve deck <NUM> for larger sized particles. Consequently, the properties of the final tablet will be affected by the production rate of the roller compactor when placing the conventional fractionating device in-line with the roller compactor.

<FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> shows an exemplary embodiment of a sieve guide <NUM> according to the present disclosure. The sieve guide <NUM> for a vibrational sieve ensures efficient exposure to the sieve mesh and simultaneously an efficient transport of the granules across the sieving mesh directly towards the outlet <NUM> from the sieve. The illustrated sieve guide comprises a circular portion <NUM> defining the loading portion of a supported sieve, i.e., the sieve screen is to be supported between the support beams <NUM> and the sieve guide <NUM>. The circular portion is adapted to guide an orbital flow during fractionation. Furthermore, the circular portion comprises an opening towards an outlet of the sieve deck, and thereby guides the flow in a lateral direction. The illustrated sieve guide further comprises a lateral portion <NUM>, <NUM> for further guiding the lateral flow. The lateral portion comprises a first lateral member <NUM> and a second lateral member <NUM>. The first lateral member <NUM> extends from the circular portion <NUM> to the rim <NUM> of the sieve frame <NUM>, or to the periphery of a supported sieve screen <NUM> (see <FIG>). The first lateral member <NUM> is curved to follow streamlines of the lateral flow. The second lateral member <NUM> extends from the circular portion towards the rim <NUM>. However, a small gap <NUM> is provided between the end and the rim <NUM>. When the frame <NUM> and the sieve guide <NUM> are mounted in a sieve deck <NUM>, the first lateral guide member <NUM> extends to the rim <NUM>, at a position adjacent to the outlet to allow a guided lateral flow of granules entering through the first radial opening and flowing continuously along the first lateral guide member <NUM>, to exit through the outlet and thereby minimizing a peripheral orbital flow at the periphery of the sieve screen <NUM>. For the second lateral guide member <NUM>, a small gap <NUM> is provided between the end of the second lateral guide member <NUM> and the rim <NUM>, or periphery of the sieve screen <NUM>, to allow granules escaping the sieve guide, and starting to orbit at the periphery, to enter through the gap <NUM> and exit through the outlet <NUM>. The sieve guide <NUM> comprises a flange <NUM> to be attached to the screen. The attachment can be provided by welding and/or bolts and nuts. As illustrated in <FIG>, the sieve guide <NUM> defines a primary sieving area <NUM> and a secondary sieving area <NUM>. If granules escape the primary sieving area <NUM>, they will re-enter through the gap <NUM> due to induction of a clockwise orbital flow as illustrated in <FIG>, and described later in the description. If an induced orbital flow is counter clockwise the design of the sieve guide should be inverted accordingly.

As seen in the Examples (Table <NUM>), the yield of the fractionated product increased markedly to an acceptable <NUM> % of fractionated product as only <NUM> % was lost to undersized granules with the use of the sieve guide. The improved yield of fractionated product is due to the asymmetrical placement of the sieve guide that guides the granules directly from the loading area defined by the circular portion directly towards the outlet <NUM> along the first lateral guide member <NUM>. Hereby is provided an efficient and controlled uniform transport as opposed to the sieve without the sieve guide where granules are scattered all over the sieve, and wherein a major portion may orbit at the periphery of the sieve screen. The sieve guide provides a direct flow from the loading area to the periphery <NUM> and thereby the outlet <NUM>, when the sieve guide is mounted in the fractionating device. Hence, the reduction of the effective sieving area and the short uniform travel distance to the outlet for all the granules makes the sieve with the sieve guide superior.

In addition, the particle size distribution only shifts slightly when using the sieve guide as it only results in slightly more fine particles (< <NUM>) and slightly fewer large particles (> <NUM>) (Table <NUM>, table <NUM>) despite the markedly increase in yield. Hence, this shows that the guiding of the granules directly towards the outlet from the sieve by the sieve guide prevents excessive attrition of the granules during sieving and thus increases the yield. Furthermore, the use of the sieve guide increases the bulk and tap densities and the compressibility (table <NUM>) enabling a more efficient storage, transport, and tabletability due to the reduced volume of the bulk. The flowability is also improved using the sieve guide as it reduced the flowability to around <NUM>/s (Table <NUM>) and thus preventing poor content uniformity in tablets due to the flowability no longer being overly free flowing and prone to segregation as for the sieving without guide. These differences in the physical properties of the fractionated product when using a sieve guide is further shown based on the significantly different near infra-red spectra (Table <NUM>). Finally, the properties of the fractionated product also have beneficial effects on the mechanical strength of tablets (Table <NUM>).

Consequently, the highest yields are obtained using the sieve guide <NUM> (Table <NUM>), while it is ensured that the fractionated granules comprise improved properties with respect to flowability, density, particle sizes and size distributions, and processability. The implementation of a continuous manufacturing of granules with in-line fractionation has therefore a tremendous impact on the capacity of the manufacturing facilities as it almost halves the time and resource requirements for manufacturing granules. The sieve guide according to the present disclosure is therefore of paramount importance for the success of this achievement.

<FIG> and <FIG> schematically shows the working principles of the sieve guide <NUM> fixedly attached to the sieve screen <NUM>. The central circular portion <NUM> of the sieve guide <NUM> defines an area for loading unfractionated granules the loaded granules are laterally dispersed, which is indicated by lateral streamlines <NUM>. The central portion is adapted to support a central guided orbital flow, indicated with a streamline <NUM>. As the central portion comprises a first radial opening <NUM>, i.e., an opening in the radial direction, the granules following the central orbital flow are guided onto the lateral flow path, guided by the lateral guiding portion of the sieve guide <NUM>, and out through the second radial opening <NUM> (opening in the radial direction). The area of the sieve screen comprising the central loading area and the lateral flow path is defined as the primary sieving area <NUM>, wherein the majority of the unfractionated granules are exposed only to this area. Some granules may escape the primary area defined by the sieve guide and enters a secondary sieving area <NUM> defined between an outer surface of the sieve guide and the periphery <NUM> of the sieve screen. The rim <NUM> of the sieve deck <NUM> is adapted to support a peripheral orbital flow, which is indicated by streamline <NUM>. Granules escaping the sieve guide will enter the secondary sieving area and move laterally towards the periphery (not indicated on figure), at the periphery they will start to orbit and enter into the primary sieving area <NUM>, through a peripherally positioned opening <NUM> in the lateral guide portion, more particularly between the end of the second lateral guide member <NUM> and the rim of the fractionating device.

<FIG> illustrates a circular sector <NUM> defined by the radial outlet opening <NUM> and the center <NUM> of the circular sieve screen <NUM>. The circular sector <NUM> is a measure of the degree of asymmetric arrangement of the lateral flow path and defines an angular portion of the periphery of the screen which is to be aligned with the outlet <NUM> of the sieve deck <NUM>. The flow path does not rotate or spiral around the center, and the entire lateral flow path is positioned at one side of the center. The granules can travel from the central loading portion to the outlet <NUM> through the second opening <NUM> within the area defined by the circular sector, and the granules cannot reach the outlet <NUM> without entering the area of the circular sector. Granules flowing from first radial opening <NUM> guided by the first lateral guide member <NUM> to the second radial opening <NUM> define one or more guided lateral streamlines <NUM>, completely within the area defined by the circular sector <NUM>, and none of the guided lateral streamlines are completely outside the area.

<FIG> illustrates different flow patterns depending on the eccentricity of an eccentric drive inducing the vibrations in a vibrational sieve with a normal sieve screen. The eccentricity is increased from the flow pattern shown in 4A to the flow pattern shown in 4D. The preferred flow pattern for the fractionation process according to the present disclosure is the flow pattern shown in <FIG> and most preferably the flow pattern in <FIG>. The flow pattern in <FIG> shows lateral and almost straight radial lateral streamlines 31a. <NUM>, and an orbital flow with orbital streamlines 31a. The flow pattern in <FIG> shows curved lateral streamlines 31b. <NUM>, and an orbital flow with orbital streamlines 31b. The flow pattern in <FIG> shows curved lateral streamlines 31c. <NUM>, and an orbital flow with orbital streamlines 31c. The curvature of the lateral streamlines 31c. <NUM> for the flow pattern in 4C is larger than the curvature of the lateral streamlines 31b. <NUM> for the flow pattern in 4B. The flow pattern in <FIG> shows curved lateral streamlines 31d. <NUM>, and a first orbital flow with orbital streamlines 31d. <NUM>, and a second orbital flow with orbital streamlines 31d.

Fractionation with a sieve guide <NUM> according to the present disclosure can be done by applying an eccentricity corresponding to a flow pattern as shown in <FIG>, and load granules onto the central portion of the sieve deck <NUM> defined by the circular portion <NUM> of the sieve guide <NUM>. If the orbital flow is induced in the clockwise direction, as illustrated, an orbital flow will be induced along a guide wall of the circular portion. In the described example the orbital flow is clockwise. The circular portion comprises a radial opening arranged to guide the granules towards the outlet of the sieve deck. At the opening the granules will flow in the lateral direction, and the streamlines will be curved due to the eccentricity of the drive. The sieve guide <NUM> further comprise at least one radially extending lateral guide member adapted to follow the streamlines and thereby further supports the lateral flow an prevent granules to start orbiting on the sieve screen. A first lateral guide member <NUM> extends all the way from the circular portion to an outlet defined in the rim <NUM>. A second lateral guide member <NUM> arranged counterclockwise to the first lateral guide member <NUM>, extends from the circular portion towards the rim <NUM>. However, a small gap <NUM> is defined by an end of the second lateral guide member and the rim <NUM> to allow granules, which has escaped the sieve guide <NUM> to enter or re-enter the guide and access the outlet in the rim <NUM>.

In an exemplary embodiment is provided a sieve guide assembly comprising a circular sieve screen <NUM> and a sieve guide <NUM> mountable in a fractionating device for fractionating granules for tableting. The fractionating device comprises a drive adapted for: (i) in combination with a sieve screen without a sieve guide, inducing a lateral flow of granules defining lateral streamlines 31a. <NUM>, 31c. <NUM>, 31d. <NUM> and an orbital flow defining orbital streamlines 31a. <NUM>, 31c. <NUM>, 31d. <NUM>, 31d. <NUM> on the sieve screen <NUM>, and (ii) in combination with the sieve guide assembly, inducing a guided lateral flow of granules defining guided lateral streamlines <NUM> and a central guided orbital flow defining central orbital streamlines <NUM> on the sieve screen <NUM>.

The sieve guide <NUM> is fixedly attached to the sieve screen <NUM>, wherein the sieve guide <NUM> comprises a circular guide portion <NUM> adapted to guide the central guided orbital flow. The circular portion <NUM> is positioned centrally on the sieve screen <NUM> and thereby define a central loading area of the sieve screen for granules to be fractionated. The circular guide portion <NUM> comprises a first radial opening <NUM>.

The sieve guide <NUM> further comprises a lateral guide portion adapted to guide the lateral flow of granules from the central loading area. The lateral guide portion comprises a first <NUM> and a second lateral guide member <NUM> extending from each side of the first radial opening <NUM> and to a periphery <NUM> of the sieve screen. The lateral guide members define a second radial opening <NUM> at the periphery, whereby the lateral guide members define a lateral flow path with an inlet at the first radial opening <NUM> and an outlet at the second radial opening <NUM>. Thereby the sieve guide ensures a uniform travel distance from the loading area to the outlet at the second radial opening <NUM>. Furthermore, the guide assembly is adapted to provide a uniform and effective exposure of the granules to the sieve screen.

The sieve guide is adapted to be mounted at a specific angular position by aligning the first lateral guide member with the outlet <NUM>.

The specific angular position can be achieved, by adapting the sieve guide to be angularly adjustable during insertion and mounting, and wherein the sieve guide further is adapted to be fixed or clamped at the specific angular position.

Alternatively, the specific angular position can be achieved, by providing the sieve guide assembly with a key or a key-hole adapted to ensure the assembly is mounted in the specific angular position.

Additionally, in a further development of the embodiment of the sieve guide assembly, the first and the second lateral guide members are curved, and the shape of the curved guide members <NUM>, <NUM> are adapted to the guided lateral streamlines <NUM> to provide a uniform thickness of a layer of the guided lateral flow of granules.

Additionally, in a further development of any of the previously described sieve guide assemblies, the sieve guide <NUM> circumference's an area of the sieve screen <NUM> defining a primary sieving <NUM> area comprising the central loading area and the lateral flow path, wherein the remaining area of the sieve screen <NUM> defines a secondary sieving area <NUM>, and whereby less than <NUM> % of the granules will be exposed to the sieve screen at the secondary sieving area.

Additionally, in a further development of any of the previously described sieve guide assemblies, the central orbital flow defines a direction of motion, wherein the first lateral guide member <NUM> is positioned in the direction of motion relative to the second lateral guide member <NUM>, wherein the second lateral guide member <NUM> comprises an opening at the periphery <NUM> of the sieve screen adapted to allow granules escaping the sieve guide and following a peripheral orbital flow defining a peripheral orbital streamline <NUM> to enter the lateral flow path through the opening <NUM> in the second guide member.

Additionally, in a further development of any of the previously described sieve guide assemblies, the central orbital flow defines a direction of motion, wherein the first radial opening <NUM> is positioned at a first angular position and the second radial opening <NUM> is positioned at a second angular position, wherein the second angular position is in the direction of motion relative to the first angular position, whereby the lateral flow path from the central loading area is curved.

Additionally, in a further development of any of the previously described sieve guide assemblies, an arch length defined by the second radial opening <NUM> and a center <NUM> of the sieve screen <NUM> defines a circular sector <NUM> with an angle smaller than <NUM> degrees, wherein granules can flow from first radial opening <NUM> to the second radial opening <NUM> to define one or more guided lateral streamlines of the guided lateral streamlines <NUM>, completely within the area defined by the circular sector <NUM>.

Alternatively, in a further development of any of the previously described sieve guide assemblies, an arch length defined by the second radial opening <NUM> and a center <NUM> of the sieve screen <NUM> defines a circular sector <NUM> with an angle between <NUM> and <NUM> degrees, wherein granules can flow from first radial opening <NUM> to the second radial opening <NUM> to define one or more guided lateral streamlines of the guided lateral streamlines <NUM>, completely within the area defined by the circular sector <NUM>.

Additionally, in a further development of any of the previously described sieve guide assemblies, the central loading area and the lateral flow path define a primary sieving area, which is a fraction of the total area of the sieve screen, and wherein the fraction is in the range of <NUM>-<NUM> %.

In an exemplary embodiment is provided a fractionating device for fractionating granules for tableting, wherein the fractionating device comprises a sieve guide assembly according to any of previously described embodiments, and a drive adapted for, in combination with the sieve guide assembly, inducing a guided lateral flow of granules defining guided lateral streamlines <NUM> and a central guided orbital flow defining central orbital streamlines <NUM> on the sieve screen <NUM>.

Additionally, in a further development of the fractionating device, the fractionating device comprises a sieve deck <NUM>, wherein the sieve deck comprises a tubular deck portion comprising a rim <NUM>, wherein the tubular portion comprises a first end defining an inlet <NUM> and a second end adapted for assembly with the sieve screen (<NUM>), wherein the rim <NUM> comprises an opening defining an outlet <NUM>. The inlet <NUM> is adapted to enable loading of granules onto the central loading area of the sieve screen <NUM>, and the outlet <NUM> is aligned with the second radial opening <NUM> and thereby adapted to enable fractionated granules to exit from the sieve screen.

Additionally, in a further development of any of the previously described fractionating devices, the rim <NUM> supports a peripheral orbital flow for granules escaping the sieve guide defining a peripheral orbital streamline <NUM> and a direction of motion, wherein the first lateral guide member <NUM> is positioned in the direction of motion relative to the second lateral guide member <NUM>. The second lateral guide member <NUM> comprises an opening at the periphery <NUM> of the sieve screen adapted to allow granules escaping the sieve guide and following the peripheral orbital flow to enter the lateral flow path through the opening <NUM> in the second guide member.

Additionally, in a further development of any of the previously described fractionating devices, the fractionating device comprises a sieve guide assembly according to any the previously described embodiments, and a drive adapted for: (i) in combination with a sieve screen without a sieve guide, inducing a lateral flow of granules defining lateral streamlines 31a. <NUM>, 31c. <NUM>, 31d. <NUM> and an orbital flow defining orbital streamlines 31a. <NUM>, 31c. <NUM>, 31d. <NUM>, 31d. <NUM> on the sieve screen <NUM>, and (ii) in combination with the sieve guide assembly, inducing a guided lateral flow of granules defining guided lateral streamlines <NUM> and a central guided orbital flow defining central orbital streamlines <NUM> on the sieve screen <NUM>.

Additionally, in a further development of any of the previously described fractionating devices, the fractionating device further comprises a vibrator arranged to vibrate and deblind the sieve screen <NUM>. The vibrator may be an ultrasonic vibrator.

In an exemplary embodiment is provided a method of fractionating granules comprising SNAC using the fractionating device according to any previously described fractionating devices wherein the method comprises fractionating the granules and uniformly exposing the granules to the sieve screen.

Additionally, in a further development of the described method, the method further comprising guiding the granules along the lateral flow path in a layer of uniform thickness.

Additionally, in a further development of any of the previously described methods, the method, further comprising continuously fractionating granules.

Additionally, in a further development of any of the previously described methods, the method further comprises providing a roller compactor in-line with the fractionating device, whereby the roller compactor is feeding unfractionated granules into the fractionating device.

Additionally, in a further development of the previously described method, the roller compactor feeds directly into the fractionating device, whereby there is no accumulation and a steady state feed rate to the fractionating device, i.e., there is no accumulating tank or buffer between the roller compactor and the fractionating device.

Additionally, in a further development of any of the previously described methods, the method further comprises exposing a major portion of the granules to the sieve screen at a primary sieving area comprising the central loading area and the lateral flow path, wherein the major portion of the granules comprises more than <NUM> % of the total amount of unfractionated granules.

Additionally, in a further development of any of the previously described methods, the method further comprises exposing a minor portion of the granules to the sieve screen at a secondary sieving area comprising the area of the sieve screen not being the central loading area and not being the area of lateral flow path, wherein the minor portion comprises less than <NUM> % of the total amount of unfractionated granules.

In an exemplary embodiment is provided a sieve deck assembly comprising a sieve deck <NUM> comprising a tubular deck portion comprising a rim <NUM>, wherein the tubular portion comprises a first end defining an inlet <NUM> and a second end adapted for assembly with the sieve screen <NUM> and the sieve screen frame <NUM>, wherein the rim <NUM> comprises an opening defining an outlet <NUM>. The sieve deck assembly further comprises a sieve guide assembly according to any of the previously described embodiments.

In an exemplary embodiment is provided a sieve guide <NUM> for a sieve deck assembly mountable in a fractionating device for fractionating granules for tableting. The fractionating device comprises a sieve screen <NUM>, and a drive adapted for: (i) in combination with the sieve screen without a sieve guide, inducing a lateral flow of granules defining lateral streamlines 31a. <NUM>, 31c. <NUM>, 31d. <NUM> and an orbital flow defining orbital streamlines 31a. <NUM>, 31c. <NUM>, 31d. <NUM>, 31d. <NUM> on the sieve screen <NUM>, and (ii) in combination with the sieve guide <NUM> and the sieve screen <NUM>, inducing a guided lateral flow of granules defining guided lateral streamlines <NUM> and a central guided orbital flow defining central orbital streamlines <NUM> on the sieve screen <NUM>.

The sieve deck assembly further comprises a sieve screen frame <NUM> supporting the sieve screen <NUM>. The sieve deck <NUM> comprises a tubular deck portion comprising a rim <NUM>. The tubular portion comprises a first end defining an inlet <NUM> and a second end adapted for assembly with the sieve screen <NUM> and the sieve screen frame <NUM>. The rim <NUM> comprises an opening defining an outlet <NUM>.

For the sieve deck assembly in an assembled state, the sieve deck <NUM> is assembled with the sieve screen frame <NUM> and the sieve screen <NUM>, whereby the inlet <NUM> is adapted to enable loading of granules onto a central loading area of the sieve screen <NUM>. Furthermore, the outlet <NUM> is adapted to enable a fraction of the loaded granules to flow out of the sieve deck assembly.

The sieve guide <NUM> comprises a circular portion <NUM>, wherein the sieve guide is adapted to be fixedly attached to the sieve screen <NUM> and whereby the circular portion defines the central loading area.

The circular portion <NUM> is adapted to guide the central guided orbital flow, and the circular portion further comprises an opening <NUM> for guiding granules from the central orbital flow to the lateral guided flow.

The sieve guide <NUM> further comprises a lateral portion extending from the opening <NUM> of the circular portion to the outlet <NUM>, wherein the lateral portion is adapted for guiding the granules along the guided lateral flow.

The lateral portion is adapted to follow the streamlines of the guided lateral flow, whereby it is ensured that the granules can flow in a layer with a uniform thickness from the central portion and to the outlet.

Salcaprozate sodium (SNAC) and magnesium stearate were blended in a diffusion mixer at <NUM> rpm for <NUM> and then microcrystalline cellulose was added and all components blended for another <NUM> prior to granulation. Granulation was carried out by roller compaction on a Gerteis roller compactor using knurled rolls, a <NUM> wire mesh screen, and a granulator speed of no less than <NUM> rpm. The speed was set at <NUM> rpm and a compaction force of <NUM> kN/cm were applied at a gap of <NUM>. Subsequent to dry granulation, comminution was performed of the moldings into granules before the granules entered the vibrational sieve as described in method <NUM>.

Fractionation of granules containing salcaprozate sodium (SNAC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and magnesium stearate was performed by vibrational sieving on a Russell Finex <NUM>" placed in-line with the roller compactor. The vibrational sieve was set at a horizontal movement of <NUM>°, a vertical movement of E, and a constant ultrasonication level for the lower sieve deck. The lower deck was installed with a <NUM> sieve mesh with or without the sieve guide. The "granule fraction" obtained from above the lower deck is the desired granules composition and called granule product. The "granule fraction" obtained from below the lower deck is not desirable and called the undersized granules.

The particle size, i.e. the amount distribution, was determined by analytical sieving (Retsch AS200) using a sample size of around <NUM>, a sieving time of <NUM>, an amplitude of <NUM>, a continuous sieving mode, and an analytical sieve tower consisting of a bottom and sieve mesh sizes of <NUM> (optional), <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The amounts on each sieve and bottom were determined and the relative amount distribution for the particle size was calculated.

The yield of granule product (> <NUM>) was measured after fractionation according to method <NUM>. The yields were calculated as percentages of the amount being roller compacted and the results are presented in Table <NUM>.

The results show that the yields of under-sized granules (< <NUM>) and of granule product (> <NUM>) were impacted by the sieve guide. The results demonstrate that the yield of granule product (> <NUM>) increases when the fractionation is performed with the sieve guide.

Granules were fractionated according to method <NUM> and the resulting granule products (> <NUM>) were subjected to particle size analyses by sieve analysis (Method <NUM>). The analysis was performed on granule products from two tests (test <NUM> and test <NUM>) with two (table <NUM>) and three (table <NUM>) replicates, respectively. Results are included in table <NUM> and table <NUM> below.

The results show that the granule product contains larger amounts of particles < <NUM> when obtained using the sieve guide compared to the granule product obtained using the sieve without guide. Likewise, the results show that the granule product contains smaller amounts of particles > <NUM> when obtained using the sieve guide compared to the product obtained using a sieve without guide. Analysis of granule product (> <NUM>) from further two tests (test <NUM> and test <NUM>) gave similar results.

Granules were fractionated according to method <NUM> and the resulting granule products (> <NUM>) from test <NUM> were subjected to density analyses using <NUM> replicates. The bulk density was determined in a <NUM> graduated cylinder using a sample size of around <NUM>. The volume of the sample was determined, and the bulk density calculated. The tap density was determined using the settling volume of the same sample after <NUM> taps and the compressibility was calculated as the difference between the tap density and the bulk density divided by the tap density and given as a percentage. Results, including average values, are shown in table <NUM> below.

The results show that the granule product obtained by fractionation using a sieve with guide has higher bulk and tap densities than the granule product obtained using a sieve without guide. Furthermore, the results show that the granule product obtained by fractionation using a sieve with guide has a higher compressibility (><NUM> %) than the granule product obtained using a sieve without guide (<<NUM> %). Analysis of granule product (> <NUM>) from further two tests (test <NUM> and test <NUM>) gave similar results.

Granules were fractionated according to method <NUM> and the resulting granule products (> <NUM>) from test <NUM>, test <NUM>, and test <NUM> were subjected to flowability analyses. The funnel flowability was determined using a funnel with a bottom orifice of <NUM> in diameter and using a sample size of <NUM>-<NUM>. The time while emptying sample through the funnel orifice and the amount emptied in that time span were determined and the funnel flowability calculated. Results are included in table <NUM>.

The results show that the granule product obtained by fractionation performed using a sieve with guide has a lower funnel flowability (<<NUM>/s) than a granule product obtained using a sieve without guide (><NUM>/s).

Granules were fractionated according to method <NUM> and the resulting granule products (> <NUM>) from test <NUM>, test <NUM>, and test <NUM> were subjected to near infra-red (NIR) spectroscopy using a Bruker MPA. The NIR spectra were subjected to a principal component analysis and a model was established with mean centering as pre-processing of the spectra and with the score from Principle Component <NUM> explaining more than (>) <NUM> % of the variance. The scores are presented in table <NUM>.

The results show that the NIR spectra for the granule product obtained using the sieve with guide are significantly different from the NIR spectra for the granule product obtained without use of the sieve guide. The difference determined by NIR spectra is caused by physical properties of the granules resulting in a scattering effect of the NIR spectra. The difference is very clear as the PC1 scores are either around -<NUM> or around <NUM>, and thus demonstrating a clear separation.

To evaluate the impact on tablet mechanical strength of granules obtained with the use of the sieve guide and without the use of the sieve guide, a series of tablets were produced using the granule products from test <NUM>, test <NUM>, and test <NUM> described above. The tablets were prepared as composition type E in Exp. X, described in <CIT> using the "Granule products" obtained from test <NUM>, test <NUM>, and test <NUM> as the first granules and with the exception that only <NUM> MCC were included in the second granules. The tablets were compressed at a main compression force of around <NUM> to <NUM> kN and at a rotation speed of <NUM> rpm using a Fette 102i tablet press. The composition is specified here below.

Tablet friability was determined according to section <NUM>. <NUM> in the European Pharmacopoeia <NUM>, 7th edition <NUM> using tablets prepared at a main compression force of around <NUM> kN with granule product from test <NUM>, test <NUM>, and test <NUM> and the results are presented in table <NUM>.

The results show that the tablets prepared using the granule product obtained with the sieve guide have a significantly lower friability than tablets prepared using the granule product obtained without the sieve guide. Tablets prepared with granule products using a sieve with guide results therefore in tablets with a higher mechanical strength.

To further analyze the mechanical strength of the tablets prepared, the tablet resistance to crushing was evaluated. Resistance to crushing of tablets was determined according to section <NUM>. <NUM> in the European Pharmacopoeia <NUM>, 7th edition <NUM> using <NUM> tablets as sample size and a jaw speed of <NUM>/s and oriented so that the tablet failure occurred along the major axis of the tablet. The results are included in table <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A sieve guide assembly comprising a circular sieve screen (<NUM>) and a sieve guide (<NUM>) mountable in a fractionating device for fractionating granules for tableting;
wherein the fractionating device comprises a tubular rim portion for receiving the sieve guide assembly, wherein the rim portion comprises an outlet (<NUM>),
wherein the sieve guide (<NUM>) is fixedly attached to the sieve screen (<NUM>), wherein the sieve guide (<NUM>) comprises:
- a circular guide portion (<NUM>) adapted to guide a central guided orbital flow, wherein the central guided orbital flow defines an orbital downstream direction, wherein the circular portion (<NUM>) is positioned centrally on the sieve screen (<NUM>) and thereby defining a central loading area of the sieve screen for granules to be fractionated, and wherein the circular guide portion (<NUM>) comprises a first radial opening (<NUM>) extending in an upstream orbital direction from a first to a second side, wherein the upstream orbital direction is opposite the downstream orbital direction,
- a lateral guide portion adapted to guide a lateral guided flow of granules from the central loading area, wherein the lateral guide portion comprises a first lateral guide member (<NUM>) extending in the lateral direction from the first side of the first radial opening (<NUM>) and to a periphery (<NUM>) of the sieve screen (<NUM>),
wherein the outlet (<NUM>) of a fractionating device comprises an opening in the tubular rim portion, and wherein the opening of the outlet (<NUM>) is extending in the upstream orbital direction from a first to a second side; and
wherein the sieve guide assembly is adapted to be mounted in a fractionating device in a specific angular position with the first lateral guide member (<NUM>) aligned with the first side of the outlet (<NUM>) of a fractionating device; and
whereby the lateral guided flow of granules can be guided along the first lateral guide member to the outlet (<NUM>), when the sieve guide assembly is mounted in the specific angular position in a fractionating device, and when the fractionating device induces an orbital and a lateral flow.