Patents by Inventor Frank J. Bunick

Frank J. Bunick has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9610224
    Abstract: The present invention features the present invention features a process for making a tablet by compacting a powder blend in a die platen to form a tablet shape, wherein the powder blend includes a pharmaceutically active agent and a water-containing material, and applying energy to the tablet shape for a sufficient period of time to heat the water-containing material within the tablet shape above its dehydration temperature to form the tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. Bunick, Harry S. Sowden, Joseph R. Luber, Leo B. Kriksunov, Christopher E. Szymczak
  • Publication number: 20170035656
    Abstract: The present invention features a tablet containing a first layer and a second layer, wherein: (i) the first layer includes a pharmaceutically active agent and the composition of the first layer is different from the composition of the second layer; (ii) the tablet has a density less than about 0.8 g/cc; and (iii) the tablet disintegrates in the mouth when placed on the tongue in less than about 30 seconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph R. Luber, Frank J. Bunick, Harry S. Sowden, Leo B. Kriksunov, Christopher E. Szymczak
  • Publication number: 20150359739
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an edible film that contains two or more segmented portions and comprises an active ingredient that is distributed on a segmented portion or portions which comprise less than 50% of the cross sectional surface area of a major face of said film. The present invention also relates to methods of treatment for the treatment of various conditions and for taste-masking of pharmaceutical ingredients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Frank J. Bunick, David W. Wynn, Der-Yang Lee
  • Patent number: 9107807
    Abstract: The present invention features the present invention features a machine for the production of a solid dosage form including: (a) a die platen having one or more forming cavities each having an inner wall, a first opening at the surface of one side of the die platen, and a second opening at the surface on the opposite side of the die platen; (b) one or more first forming tools each adapted to move into one of the forming cavities through the first opening of the forming cavity; (c) one or more second forming tools each adapted to move adjacent to one of the second openings or into one of the forming cavities through the second opening of the forming cavity; (d) at least one first RF electrode operably associated with the one or more first forming tools, the one or more second forming tools, or the inner wall of the one or more forming cavities; and (e) at least one second RF electrode operably associated with the one or more first forming tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry S. Sowden, Frank J. Bunick, Joseph R. Luber, Leo B. Kriksunov, Christopher E. Szymczak
  • Publication number: 20150224057
    Abstract: The present invention features a tablet including one or more pharmaceutically active agent(s), one or more thickeners, and one or more binder(s), wherein the tablet includes at least 200 mg of the pharmaceutically active agent(s) and the tablet has been fused with the binder(s) such that the tablet (i) has a water permeation time of less than 60 seconds and (ii) has an in vitro disintegration time of greater than 60 seconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: MCNEIL-PPC, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Luber, Harry S. Sowden, Frank J. Bunick, Leo B. Kriksunov, David W. Wynn, Christopher E. Szymczak
  • Publication number: 20150001767
    Abstract: The present invention features the present invention features a machine for the production of a solid dosage form including: (a) a die platen having one or more forming cavities each having an inner wall, a first opening at the surface of one side of the die platen, and a second opening at the surface on the opposite side of the die platen; (b) one or more first forming tools each adapted to move into one of the forming cavities through the first opening of the forming cavity; (c) one or more second forming tools each adapted to move adjacent to one of the second openings or into one of the forming cavities through the second opening of the forming cavity; (d) at least one first RF electrode operably associated with the one or more first forming tools, the one or more second forming tools, or the inner wall of the one or more forming cavities; and (e) at least one second RF electrode operably associated with the one or more first forming tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: McNeil-PPC, INC.
    Inventors: Harry S. Sowden, Frank J. Bunick, Joseph R. Luber, Leo B. Kriksunov, Christopher E. Szymczak
  • Patent number: 8871263
    Abstract: The present invention features a process for making a tablet by (i) compacting a powder blend in a die to form a tablet shape, wherein the powder blend contains a pharmaceutically active agent and a meltable binder and (ii) applying radiofrequency energy to the tablet shape for a sufficient period of time to soften or melt the binder within said tablet shape to form the tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. Bunick, Harry S. Sowden, Joseph R. Luber, Leo B. Kriksunov, Christopher E. Szymczak
  • Patent number: 8865204
    Abstract: The present invention features a process for making a lozenge product including the steps of forming a powder blend containing an amorphous carbohydrate polymer into the desired shape of the lozenge product and applying radiofrequency energy to the shape for a sufficient period of time to soften or melt said amorphous carbohydrate polymer to fuse the shape into said lozenge product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Jen-Chi Chen, Harry S. Sowden, Joseph R. Luber, Leo B. Kriksunov, Frank J. Bunick, Christopher E. Szymczak, Gregory E. Koll
  • Patent number: 8858210
    Abstract: The present invention features the present invention features a tablet including at least one pharmaceutically active ingredient, wherein the shape of said tablet includes at least one major face wherein: (i) the peak penetration resistance at the perimeter of said major face of the tablet is at least about 10% greater than the peak penetration resistance at the center of said major face; and (ii) the tablet disintegrates in the mouth when placed on the tongue in less than about 30 seconds, and a machine and method for manufacture of such tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Szymczak, Frank J. Bunick, Harry S. Sowden, Joseph R. Luber, Leo B. Kriksunov
  • Patent number: 8807979
    Abstract: The present invention features the present invention features a machine for the production of a solid dosage form including: (a) a die platen having one or more forming cavities each having an inner wall, a first opening at the surface of one side of the die platen, and a second opening at the surface on the opposite side of the die platen; (b) one or more first forming tools each adapted to move into one of the forming cavities through the first opening of the forming cavity; (c) one or more second forming tools each adapted to move adjacent to one of the second openings or into one of the forming cavities through the second opening of the forming cavity; (d) at least one first RF electrode operably associated with the one or more first forming tools, the one or more second forming tools, or the inner wall of the one or more forming cavities; and (e) at least one second RF electrode operably associated with the one or more first forming tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry S. Sowden, Frank J. Bunick, Joseph R. Luber, Leo B. Kriksunov, Christopher E. Szymczak
  • Patent number: 8784781
    Abstract: The present invention features a process for making a chewing gum product including the steps of forming a powder blend containing a gum base into the desired shape of the chewing gum product and applying radiofrequency energy to the shape for a sufficient period of time to soften the gum base to fuse the shape into the chewing gum product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory E. Koll, Harry S. Sowden, Joseph R. Luber, Leo B. Kriksunov, Frank J. Bunick, Jen-Chi Chen, Roland Olsson, Christopher E. Szymczak
  • Patent number: 8383159
    Abstract: The present invention provides an edible dosage form that incorporates optical elements (e.g., printed patterns, microrelief gratings, and/or macrorelief gratings), capable of producing unique optical effects and images in order to enable a user to better identify and differentiate the dosage forms, as well as to improve the detection of counterfeit production thereof, wherein the edible dosage forms may be made in a variety of ways to incorporate the optical elements therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. Bunick, Jen-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 8367104
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for oral administration comprising a core and a film coating on the core that exhibits enhanced disintegration characteristics is disclosed. The film coating comprises a film forming polymer, an organic solvent, a super-disintegrant and, optionally, an acid labile material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Jen-Chi Chen, Frank J. Bunick, Gerard McNally
  • Patent number: 8357395
    Abstract: The present invention features a method of manufacturing a tablet containing a pharmaceutically active agent by the steps of: (a) adding a powder containing a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier to a die cavity; (b) injecting a liquid drug composition containing the pharmaceutically active agent into the die cavity such that the liquid drug composition contacts the powder; (c) compressing the combination of the powder and the liquid drug composition within the die cavity to form the tablet; and (d) removing the tablet from the die cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. Bunick, Joseph Luber, Stephen A. Ulrich, David W. Wynn
  • Patent number: 8343533
    Abstract: The present invention features a process for making a lozenge product including the steps of forming a powder blend containing an amorphous carbohydrate polymer into the desired shape of the lozenge product and applying radiofrequency energy to the shape for a sufficient period of time to soften or melt said amorphous carbohydrate polymer to fuse the shape into said lozenge product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Jen-Chi Chen, Harry S. Sowden, Joseph R. Luber, Leo B. Kriksunov, Frank J. Bunick, Christopher E. Szymczak, Gregory E. Koll
  • Patent number: 8313768
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention features a process for making a tablet including a pharmaceutically active agent wherein the tablet has both an immediate release region and a modified release region. The method includes the steps of: (a) forming a tablet shape including a powder blend containing a pharmaceutically active agent and a thermally-sensitive material; and (b) applying energy in different amounts to different regions of the tablet shape to form the tablet in a manner such that: (i) a first region of the tablet shape is exposed to said energy for a sufficient period of time to melt the thermally-sensitive material within the first region to form said modified release region of said tablet; and (ii) a second region of said tablet shape is not so exposed to the energy such that said second region forms the immediate release region of said tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo B. Kriksunov, Harry S. Sowden, Joseph R. Luber, Frank J. Bunick
  • Patent number: 8173161
    Abstract: A method for reducing the friability of soft substrates by applying an effective amount of a water soluble, polymeric dispersion to at least a portion of a treatment surface of the substrate, such that less than about 90% of the exterior surface has the dispersion applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. Bunick, Feng Lin
  • Publication number: 20120022170
    Abstract: The present invention features the present invention features a process for making a tablet by compacting a powder blend in a die platen to form a tablet shape, wherein the powder blend includes a pharmaceutically active agent and a water-containing material, and applying energy to the tablet shape for a sufficient period of time to heat the water-containing material within the tablet shape above its dehydration temperature to form the tablet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Frank J. Bunick, Harry S. Sowden, Joseph R. Luber, Leo B. Kriksunov, Christopher E. Szymczak
  • Publication number: 20110319492
    Abstract: The present invention features a process for making tablets containing one or more pharmaceutically active agent(s) and one or more binder(s), the method including the steps of (i) applying energy to a powder blend comprising the pharmaceutically active agent(s) and the binder(s) for a sufficient period of time to activate the binder(s) within the powder blend and (ii) forming a predetermined amount of the energy-applied powder blend into the tablets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph R. Luber, Christopher E. Szymczak, Frank J. Bunick, Harry S. Sowden, Leo B. Kriksunov
  • Publication number: 20110318411
    Abstract: The present invention features a tablet containing a first layer and a second layer, wherein: (i) the first layer includes a pharmaceutically active agent and the composition of the first layer is different from the composition of the second layer; (ii) the tablet has a density less than about 0.8 g/cc; and (iii) the tablet disintegrates in the mouth when placed on the tongue in less than about 30 seconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph R. Luber, Frank J. Bunick, Harry S. Sowden, Leo B. Kriksunov, Christopher E. Szymczak