Abstract: The invention relates to an extruder (1) for processing relatively small quantities of pharmaceutical and/or biomedical materials, which extruder (1) comprises an extruder frame (7), a barrel (9, 10), a pair of extruder screws (3), and a drive for rotating the extruder screws (3), wherein the barrel (9, 10) is formed by a pair of separable housing blocks that are positioned in a closed position against each other during processing, each housing block having a barrel liner (13, 15), wherein in the closed position of the pair of separable housing blocks the barrel liners define an interior volume, a feed opening (30), a discharge opening (45) and an opening (31a, 33a) for receiving the pair of extruder screws (3) in the interior volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a calibration device for use in a process of making a tubular article comprising a housing and a calibration sleeve providing a vertical pass-way for an extruded tubular extrudate, the housing comprising a bore, an upper opening with an upper seal and a lower opening with a lower seal; a vacuum channel connecting the bore to a vacuum source; a liquid channel for receiving a flow of liquid and connecting to a reservoir on top of the housing; and an adjustment device for controlling the liquid level in the reservoir; and the calibration sleeve comprising a body with multiple apertures and an inlet flange; the calibration sleeve removably positioned in the bore and contacting the housing via the upper and lower seals. This calibration device enables making a tubular article in a very flexible way, specifically on small scale in the laboratory; and can be operated in free or contact calibration mode, both with either dry or wet operation.