System and method for spray drying a liquid

Abstract

Described herein are devices and techniques for spray drying a fluid to produce a dried powder. Assemblies include a spray drying head attachable to a gas supplier and a liquid sample, such as a standard unit of blood product. The spray drying head can be adapted to provide an aerosolized flow of liquid sample exposed to a drying gas. The assembly also includes a drying chamber adapted to separate the aerosolized flow of liquid sample into a dried powder and humid air. The assembly can be disposable, provided in a sterilized kit and having simplified attachments allowing quick connect and disconnect from the gas and liquid sample. Separation of the powder from the humid air exiting the drying chamber occurs within a filtered collection bag. In some embodiments, one or more of the drying chamber and collection bag are formed form a thin-walled, collapsible material.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to apparatus and techniques for producing and / or using spray-dried products, and more particularly, such apparatus and techniques for producing and / or using spray-dried products for the treatment of humans. Background technique [0002] Plasma is the yellow liquid component of blood in which the blood cells of whole blood are usually suspended. Plasma makes up approximately 55% of the entire blood volume. Plasma is mostly water (eg, about 90% by volume) and contains dissolved proteins, glucose, clotting factors, mineral ions, hormones, and / or carbon dioxide. Plasma is prepared by spinning a sample volume of fresh blood in a centrifuge until the blood cells fall to the bottom of the sample chamber. The plasma is then decanted or withdrawn. The plasma is then often frozen for future use. Although freezing plasma is the current standard practice, there are many problems with these techniques. For example, bags ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The freeze-drying process can only be performed in batch mode; continuous processing is not possible with freeze-drying

Additionally, manufacturing scale-up changes the freeze-drying process and there are protein recovery issues at scale-up

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