Patent ID: 8240065

Claim:
A freeze-dryer system comprising: a freeze-drying chamber defining a freeze-drying chamber volume; one or more depressurization orifices in fluid communication with the freeze-drying chamber; a gas pressurization circuit having a source of gas coupled to the freeze-dryer to pressurize the freeze-drying chamber to a prescribed pressure; a depressurization circuit coupled to the freeze-drying chamber via the one or more depressurization orifices, the depressurization circuit further including one or more depressurization control valves that together with the one or more depressurization orifices defines a total depressurization orifice area; and a micro-processor based control unit adapted to pressurize the freeze-drying chamber with the source of gas upon receipt of a pressurization command input or actuate the depressurization control valve to rapidly depressurize the freeze-drying chamber upon receipt of a depressurization command input wherein the ratio of total depressurization orifice area to the freeze-drying chamber volume is between about 1×10 −1 and about 1×10 −4 m 2 /m 3 .