Patent ID: 7758778

Claim:
A method for producing microparticles comprising: (A) introducing a composition to a spinning disk apparatus, wherein the composition comprises an active agent, and (B) operating the spinning disk apparatus to produce microparticles comprising the active agent, wherein, the spinning disk apparatus comprises a substantially circular spinning disk comprising: (i) a substantially smooth annular disk surface, wherein, (a) the annular disk surface has an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge, wherein the outer peripheral edge defines a first diameter of the annular disk surface, (b) the annular disk surface has a second diameter defined by the area circumscribed by the inner peripheral edge, wherein the area circumscribed by the inner peripheral edge is disposed substantially in a center portion of the spinning disk, and (c) the annular disk surface between the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge comprises a substantially flat incline; and (ii) a reservoir disposed in the area circumscribed by the inner peripheral edge of the annular disk surface, wherein (a) the reservoir comprises a top portion thereof defined by the inner peripheral edge of the annular disk surface, and (b) the reservoir is partially defined by a third diameter, located between the bottom of the reservoir and the top portion of the reservoir, wherein the third diameter is greater than the second diameter, and wherein, said introducing the composition to the spinning disk apparatus comprises introducing the composition to the reservoir; and (iii) a substantially flat surface beneath the annular disk surface proximate the outer peripheral edge, wherein the substantially flat surface lies in a plane that is substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the spinning disk, and wherein the substantially flat surface is between two surfaces, with each of said two surfaces lying in a plane different than the substantially flat surface.