Liquid-Filled Capsule for Rapid Dissolution Weight-Loss Tablets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing weight-loss drug formulations, particularly orally disintegrating tablets, face challenges such as friability, high production costs, and inability to mask unpleasant tastes, making them unsuitable for children and adolescents, and are not effective for immediate action or pleasant taste experience.

Innovation Solution

Development of orally disintegrating tablets containing phentermine or its salt with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, using bulking agents like mannitol, binders like polyvinylpyrrolidone, disintegrating agents like maize starch, and flavoring agents like mint to create a stable, quickly disintegrating, and taste-masked formulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If freeze-dried sublingual tablet formulations are used, then rapid dissolution is achieved, but the formulations become expensive and require sophisticated technologies and methods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedissolution speedVSAvoidproduction technology complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the active ingredient from solid to liquid by incorporating it into a liquid-filled capsule, which then dissolves rapidly in the mouth without requiring complex freeze-drying technology. This parameter change enables rapid dissolution while simplifying the production process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a liquid-filled capsule as an intermediary carrier that contains the active ingredient. This capsule serves as a mediator between the solid tablet matrix and the active ingredient, enabling rapid dissolution through the liquid component while avoiding the need for complex freeze-dried formulations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If freeze-dried sublingual tablet formulations are used, then rapid dissolution is achieved, but the formulations become difficult to handle due to friability and fragility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedissolution speedVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the active ingredient from solid to liquid by incorporating it into a liquid-filled capsule. This parameter change eliminates the friability and fragility issues associated with freeze-dried solid formulations, making the product easier to handle while maintaining rapid dissolution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If conventional orally disintegrating tablets are used, then easy administration is achieved, but the formulations cannot mask unpleasant tastes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadministration easeVSAvoidunpleasant taste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a liquid-filled capsule as an intermediary carrier that contains the active ingredient. This capsule serves as a mediator that can be filled with taste-masked liquid formulations, allowing the unpleasant taste of the active ingredient to be masked while maintaining easy oral administration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the active ingredient from solid to liquid by incorporating it into a liquid-filled capsule. This parameter change enables the use of taste-masked liquid formulations, effectively hiding the unpleasant taste while maintaining ease of administration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Duration of action of stationary object

If prolonged release orally disintegrating tablets are used, then sustained action is achieved, but the formulations are hardly suitable for active ingredients requiring immediate effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelease durationVSAvoidonset speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the release mechanism into two distinct phases: immediate release of the liquid-filled capsule containing the active ingredient, followed by sustained release from the capsule matrix. This segmentation allows the active ingredient to exert immediate effect while providing sustained action over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the active ingredient from solid to liquid by incorporating it into a liquid-filled capsule. This parameter change enables immediate dissolution and absorption of the active ingredient upon contact with saliva, achieving rapid onset of action while the capsule matrix provides sustained release.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The tablets are stable, easy to administer, provide quick disintegration, and effectively mask the unpleasant taste of the active ingredient, making them suitable for children and adolescents with improved compliance and efficacy in weight control.

Implementation Method 1

Orally disintegrating tablets which dissolve in the mouth for oral or sublingual administration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

binders like polyvinylpyrrolidone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

disintegrating agents like maize starch

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDisintegration:

Data Source

PatentUS9480661B2Solid dosage formulations containing weight-loss drugs
Publication Date: 2016.11.01 ALPEX PHARMA SA

AI summary

An orally disintegrating tablet which can be chewed or disintegrated by contact with saliva and containing weight-loss drugs for weight control in humans, especially in children and adolescents, is disclosed.