Abstract: A centrifugal tumbling granulating apparatus 1 comprises a fixed wall 7 having a grain contact portion 7a which is in contact with powder grains 2 and of which a horizontal section is formed in a circular shape, and a rotating disk 5 provided a clearance 12 away from an inner side of the fixed wall 7 and rotating in a horizontal direction by a motor 13, wherein an air supply device 21 for supplying drying air 22 to an upper surface side of the rotating disk 5 is provided above the rotating disk 5. The air supply device 21 has a cylindrical straight tube portion 25, and an air supply port 23 formed in a cone shape, and is disposed in a centrifugal tumbling chamber 6 to be movable in an up-and-down direction. During a granulating step, the air supply device 21 stops to supply the dry air 22 and waits at an upper position H. After the granulation processing, the air supply device is lowered at a lower position L and supplies the dry air 22 onto the rotating disk 5 to dry granulated substances.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for preparing controlled-release preparations which can rapidly release 99% or more of a slightly soluble medicament (which has by itself shows a slow dissolution rate) in the upper part of the small intestine and compositions thereof. The present invention also discloses a process comprising carrying a slightly soluble medicament which has a slow intestinal dissolution rate on aggregates of the spherical microparticles of a multivalent metal alginate, in which each of the secondary particles (i.e., the aggregates) has a specific surface area ranging from 1 to 280 m2/g and compositions thereof.

Abstract: The present inventors have made studies for the purpose of establishing a process for preparing controlled-release preparations which can rapidly release 99% or more of a slightly soluble medicament (which has by itself shows a slow dissolution rate) in the upper part of the small intestine. As a result, the inventors have succeeded in establishing a process comprising carrying a slightly soluble medicament which has a slow intestinal dissolution rate on aggregates of the spherical microparticles of a multivalent metal alginate, in which each of the secondary particles (i.e., the aggregates) has a specific surface area ranging from 1 to 280 m2/g. This success leads to the accomplishment of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a spherical particle comprising an aggregate of particles containing at least 95% of a water-soluble single substance having a viscosity of 10 mPa.

Abstract: The invention relates to spherical granules having a uniform grain size and a uniform density which are suitable for a controlled-release preparation, a process for producing the same, and a spherical granule preparation using the same. Specifically, the invention relates to a process for producing spherical granules comprising the steps of: wetting powder materials comprising one or more kinds of pharmaceutical substances and have a mean particle size of from 1 to 100 &mgr;m; charging the wet powder materials into a centrifugal fluidized granulating apparatus; spraying a liquid to the wet powder materials at a rate of less than 3% based on the plastic limit of the powder materials per min.

Abstract: To provide spherical particles made substantially from lactose and having high surface smoothness with low abrasiveness, and a process for their production.A process for producing spherical particles containing at least 95 wt % lactose, characterized by comprising a step of producing lactose spherical particles by charging crystalline lactose and/or lactose granules onto a rotary disk in the treatment vessel of a centrifugal tumbling apparatus, dispersing powdered lactose to the lactose granules and/or crystalline lactose as the rotary disk is rotated while providing slit air into the vessel, while also spraying water, an aqueous lactose solution or a dilute aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer, and a fixation treatment step of drying the obtained spherical particles in a fluidized bed apparatus while spraying an aqueous lactose solution and/or a dilute solution of a water-soluble polymer.

Abstract: The spherical granules useful as a precipient for medicines and foods, and a production method thereof. A spherical granule comprises 95% by weight or more of lactose, and has a long diameter/short diameter ratio of 1.2 or less, and, when aggregated, a bulk density of 0.7 g/ml or more and an angle of repose of 35.degree. or less. The spherical granule is produced by feeding lactose particles into a granulating and coating apparatus equipped with a horizontal rotary disk having a smooth surface to contact with the granules, and by spraying lactose solution while the above-mentioned rotary disk is rotated.

Abstract: An apparatus for granulation and coating, wherein a rotary disk 2 provided at a bottom portion of a granulating vessel 1 is rotated for particles to centrifugally tumble on the rotary disk 2, while a powder material and a binder liquid are supplied into the granulating vessel 1. A position of a surface of a particle layer M in the granulating vessel 1 is detected by a sensor 18, to automatically adjust a position of a binder liquid supply port of a spray nozzle 13 in accordance with the detection signal informing of a change in the surface of the particle layer M.

Abstract: Coating method and apparatus, in which jet streams of a high-pressure fluid are ejected in the opposed directions into a pulverization zone in a pulverizer to hit a raw material conveyed by one of the jet streams on the other and thereby pulverize the same, the surfaces of particles of the resultant raw material are coated at the same time that the pulverization is done. The raw material to be pulverized is fed into the pulverization zone with a jet stream or by a mechanical means to be then accelerated by a jet stream therein. A coating material is fed in the same direction in which a jet stream flows, or directly into the pulverization zone.