Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a carrier and an active ingredient, wherein the carrier is fish gelatin and the composition is a fast-dispersing dosage form designed to release the active ingredient rapidly on contact with a fluid. In one embodiment, the composition is designed for oral administration and releases the active ingredient rapidly in the oral cavity on contact with saliva. The fish gelatin can be obtained from cold water fish sources and is preferably the non-gelling, non-hydrolyzed form. A process for preparing such a composition and a method of using fish gelatin in a fast dispersing dosage form are also provided.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a carrier and an active ingredient, wherein the carrier is fish gelatin and the composition is a fast-dispersing dosage form designed to release the active ingredient rapidly on contact with a fluid. In one embodiment, the composition is designed for oral administration and releases the active ingredient rapidly in the oral cavity on contact with saliva. The fish gelatin can be obtained from cold water fish sources and is preferably the non-gelling, non-hydrolyzed form. A process for preparing such a composition and a method of using fish gelatin in a fast dispersing dosage form are also provided.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a rapidly disintegrating dosage form a pharmaceutically active substance which has an unacceptable taste wherein there is formed a solution or a suspension in a solvent of a form of the pharmaceutically active substance which is less soluble in water and more palatable than the form with the unacceptable taste together with a water-soluble or water-dispersible carrier material. Discrete units of the suspension or solution are formed and the solvent is removed from the discrete units under conditions whereby a network of the carrier material carrying a dosage for the less soluble and more palatable form of the pharmaceutically active substance is formed.

Abstract: A method for producing film thickness control of ion beam sputter deposition films. Great improvements in film thickness control is accomplished by keeping the total current supplied to both the beam and suppressor grids of a radio frequency (RF) in beam source constant, rather than just the current supplied to the beam grid. By controlling both currents, using this method, deposition rates are more stable, and this allows the deposition of layers with extremely well controlled thicknesses to about 0.1%. The method is carried out by calculating deposition rates based on the total of the suppressor and beam currents and maintaining the total current constant by adjusting RF power which gives more consistent values.

Abstract: A collimating grid for an ion source located after the exit grid. The collimating grid collimates the ion beamlets and disallows beam spread and limits the beam divergence during transients and steady state operation. The additional exit or collimating grid prevents beam divergence during turn-on and turn-off and prevents ions from hitting the periphery of the target where there is re-deposited material or from missing the target and hitting the wall of the vessel where there is deposited material, thereby preventing defects from being deposited on a substrate to be coated. Thus, the addition of a collimating grid to an ion source ensures that the ion beam will hit and be confined to a specific target area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fast dispersing solid dosage forms that preferably dissolve in the oral cavity within sixty (60), more preferably within thirty (30), most preferably within ten (10) seconds. A novel feature of the solid dosage forms according to the invention reside in the fact that the composition is essentially free or absolutely free of mammalian gelatin. It has been discovered that the use of certain modified starches at concentrations from 20 to 90% by weight of the solid dosage form prepares dosage forms that are mechanically and chemically stable and are able to deliver higher concentrations of an active ingredient than the heretofore utilized gelatin based fast dispersing solid dosage forms. Further, the solid dosage forms according to the invention are obtainable by removing a solvent, such as water, from a mixture comprising an active ingredient, a modified starch and a matrix forming agent via freeze drying.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a rapidly disintegrating dosage form a pharmaceutically active substance which has an unacceptable taste wherein there is formed a solution or a suspension in a solvent of a form of the pharmaceutically active substance which is less soluble in water and more palatable than the form with the unacceptable taste together with a water-soluble or water-dispersible carrier material. Discrete units of the suspension or solution are formed and the solvent is removed from the discrete units under conditions whereby a network of the carrier material carrying a dosage for the less soluble and more palatable form of the pharmaceutically active substance is formed.

Abstract: A multi-well assembly according to one embodiment comprises a multi-well block and a guide plate. The multi-well block defines a plurality of wells, with each well having a fluid-impermeable bottom surface. The guide plate defines a plurality of fluid passageways corresponding to the wells of the multi-well block. The guide plate is configured such that, whenever the guide plate is registered with the multi-well block, fluid communication is established between each well and an associated fluid passageway.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a solid pharmaceutical dosage form comprising a carrier and, as active ingredient, a compound which exists, in solution, in an equilibrium between a free acid or free base form and a salt form, and for which there is a difference in volatility between the free acid or free base form and the salt form. The process includes the steps of solidifying a mixture of the compound and carrier in a solvent, and subsequently removing the solvent from the solidified mixture. A pH modifier is added to the mixture prior to solidification to shift the equilibrium to favor the less volatile form of the active ingredient.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an oral solid, rapidly disintegrating, freeze-dried dosage form containing coarse particles of a pharmaceutically active material which are uncoated or coated with a polymer or lipid material. Preferably, the oral dosage form comprises coarse particles having a size in the range of 50 micron to 400 micron. The oral solid rapidly disintegrating dosage form according to the present invention preferably disintegrates in the oral cavity in less than 10 seconds.

Abstract: A laminated film in which a metal foil is sandwiched between two polymeric films is cold formed to define one or more blisters, and the base of the blister stamped with indicia, in two discrete stages. The blister is formed in the first stage using a standard technique of advancing a pin in a direction transverse relative to the plane of the film. According to the invention, once the blister forming stage is completed, indicia are stamped into the base of the blister in the second stage by advancing a die from one side thereof to clamp the blister base against a mold held against the other side. The direction of the die and disposition of the die and mold may be selected such that the indicia project inwardly or outwardly from the blister base.

Abstract: Process is provided for preparing an oral solid rapidly disintegrating freeze-dried dosage form of a pharmaceutically active substance having an unacceptable taste, wherein prior to freeze drying, a suspension of uncoated or coated coarse particles of a pharmaceutically active substance in a carrier material is cooled to reduce the viscosity and minimize release of the active substance during processing, as well as beyond the point of disintegration of the form in the mouth, to minimize bad taste from the drug.

Abstract: The invention permits the application of an identifying mark onto a fast-dissolving dosage form without the need for application of pressure or printing directly onto the dosage unit. The invention comprises preparing of a fast-dissolving dosage unit that is embossed with an identifying mark such as a manufacturer's logo, medicinal component strength, or other information relating to the unit. The desired identifying mark is first embossed onto the base of the container such as a blister pocket. Liquid suspension is then filled into the container and solidified, e.g., freeze-dried, therein. The resulting dosage unit in the container is thereby embossed with a substantial copy of the identifying mark that was embossed on the base of the container. The embossed identifying mark on the base of the container remains thereon as well thereby affording the ability to learn the identifying mark on the enclosed unit without opening the packet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of an oral solid rapidly disintegrating dosage form of a pharmaceutically active substance which has an unacceptable taste which process comprises: (i) forming a solution or a suspension in a solvent of a water soluble or water dispersible carrier, a filler and the pharmaceutically active substance with the unacceptable taste in association with a lipid, the weight ratio of the pharmaceutically active substance to the lipid being in the range of from 1:1 to 1:10 and the weight ratio of the carrier to the lipid being in the range of from 5:1 to 1:15; (ii) forming discrete units of the suspension or solution; and (iii) removing the solvent from the discrete units under conditions whereby unit dosages are formed comprising a network of carrier/filler carrying a dosage of the pharmaceutically active substance in association with the lipid; oral solid rapidly disintegrating dosage forms prepared by such a process are also provided.

Abstract: Process is provided for preparing an oral solid rapidly disintegrating freeze-dried dosage form of a pharmaceutically active substance having an unacceptable taste, wherein prior to freeze drying, a suspension of uncoated or coated coarse particles of a pharmaceutically active substance in a carrier material is cooled to reduce the viscosity and minimize release of the active substance during processing, as well as beyond the point of disintegration of the form in the mouth, to minimize bad taste from the drug.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an oral solid rapidly disintegrating dosage form of a pharmaceutically active substance which has an unacceptable taste which process comprises forming a solution or a suspension in a solvent of a form of the pharmaceutically active substance which is less soluble in water and more palatable than the form with the unacceptable taste together with a water-soluble or water-dispersible carrier material, forming discrete units of the suspension or solution and removing the solvent from the discrete units under conditions whereby a network of the carrier material carrying a dosage of the less soluble and more palatable form of the pharmaceutically active substance is formed.

Abstract: Process for preparing an oral rapidly disintegrating dosage form of a hydrophobic pharmaceutically active substance comprising forming a suspension of the hydrophobic pharmaceutically active substance in a solvent containing a pharmaceutically acceptable surfactant together with a water-soluble or water-dispersible carrier material, forming discrete units of the suspension and removing solvent from the discrete units under conditions whereby a network of the carrier material carrying a dosage of the hydrophobic pharmaceutically active substance is formed.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an oral solid rapidly disintegrating dosage form of a pharmaceutically active substance which has an unacceptable taste which process comprises forming a solution or a suspension in a solvent of a form of the pharmaceutically active substance which is less soluble in water and more palatable than the form with the unacceptable taste together with a water-soluble or water-dispersible carrier material, forming discrete units of the suspension or solution and removing the solvent from the discrete units under conditions whereby a network of the carrier material carrying a dosage of the less soluble and more palatable form of the pharmaceutically active substance is formed.

Abstract: An improved method for manufacturing freeze dried pharmaceutical tablets in blister packs is disclosed. Liquid dosages are introduced into a multilayer laminated blister sheet having an impermeable intermediate layer (14) that is positioned between first and second outer layer (16, 18) each of which has substantially the same coefficient of thermal expansion. The properties of the outer layers of the blister sheet are such that there are no inter-layer stresses that will cause curvature of the blister sheet when it is subjected to temperature changes during the freezing and freeze drying steps. Following the introduction of the dosages into the depressions (10) of the blister sheet, the dosages are frozen and freeze dried. A lidding sheet (32) is then attached to the blister sheet to seal the solid dosages into the blister pack.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved technique for preparing a rapidly dispersing pharmaceutic tablet of a granular therapeutic agent which has both relatively low solubility and relatively large particle size. Xanthan gum is added to a liquid admixture of solvent, carrier components, and the granular therapeutic agent. The xanthan gum not only facilitates suspension of the granular therapeutic agent in the liquid admixture, but, more surprisingly, does so without adversely effecting the dispersion qualities and texture of the tablet in the patient's mouth upon administration.