Abstract: The cleanliness when a pharmaceutical composition is swallowed is improved. A pharmaceutical composition container 10 is equipped with at least three spaces 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 inside a container body 20. The pharmaceutical composition container 10 is further equipped with a cover 22. The portions 140, 142, 144 and 146 between two adjoining spaces are sealed. The portions 140, 142, 144 and 146 between two adjoining spaces open when force is applied from the outside of the pharmaceutical composition container 10. At least one of the spaces is an apertured space 38, which comprises an aperture 60. A swallowing-aid substance 40 is stored in a swallowing-aid substance chamber 30, which is at least one of the spaces. Pharmaceutical compositions 80 and 82 are stored in pharmaceutical composition chambers 34 and 36, each of which is at least one of the spaces. Of the container body 20, the portion forming the apertured space 38 is covered by a cover 22.

Abstract: A powder filling apparatus that can prevent a screw portion of an auger screw from contacting an inner surface of a metering portion at a funnel lower end portion. The powder filling apparatus includes a funnel that contains powder, and a circular-cylindrical metering portion provided at a lower end portion of the funnel, an auger screw arranged vertically, and a support device that supports the auger screw rotatably. The auger screw has a lower end provided with a screw portion that is arranged within the metering portion. The funnel is suspended from the support device and supported thereto and the metering portion has a center axis made substantially coincident with an axis of rotation of the auger screw.

Abstract: An orally disintegrable tablet, of the present invention, which comprises (i) fine granules having an average particle diameter of 400 ?m or less, which fine granules comprise a composition coated by an enteric coating layer, said composition having 10 weight % or more of an acid-labile physiologically active substance and (ii) an additive, has superior disintegrability or dissolution in the oral cavity so that it can be used for treatment or prevention of various diseases, as an orally disintegrable tablet capable of being administered to the aged or children and easily administered without water. Also, because the tablet of the present invention contains fine granules having the average particle diameter such that it will not impart roughness in mouth, it can be administered easily without discomfort at the administration.

Abstract: A material to be dried is frozen and is efficiently freeze-dried in a short time, thereby increasing production efficiency. A freeze-drying apparatus includes a vertical tube (2) having an inner circumferential surface formed with a frozen surface (2a), a liquid-supply device (5) for supplying a liquid material to be dried (47) onto the frozen surface (2a), a freezing device (10) arranged around the vertical tube (2) and intended for cooling the frozen surface (2a), a pressure-reduction device (12) which puts an interior area of the vertical tube (2) into a state of vacuum, and an internal heating device (41) in the vertical tube (2). The internal heating device (41) is arranged in the vertical tube (2) along a center axis thereof, and has an outer surface formed with a vertically long circular-cylindrical radiation surface (43).

Abstract: An orally disintegrable tablet, of the present invention, which comprises (i) fine granules having an average particle diameter of 400 ?m or less, which fine granules comprise a composition coated by an enteric coating layer, said composition having 10 weight % or more of an acid-labile physiologically active substance and (ii) an additive, has superior disintegrability or dissolution in the oral cavity so that it can be used for treatment or prevention of various diseases, as an orally disintegrable tablet capable of being administered to the aged or children and easily administered without water. Also, because the tablet of the present invention contains fine granules having the average particle diameter such that it will not impart roughness in mouth, it can be administered easily without discomfort at the administration.

Abstract: A freeze-drying apparatus comprises a vertical tube (2) and a spray device (4) for supplying liquid onto an inner surface of the vertical tube (2). Connected to the spray device (4) is a liquid-supply device (5) for supplying liquid material to be dried. The vertical tube (2) has a lower portion, to which a vertical guide cylinder (14) is connected. The guide cylinder (14) has a mid portion at which a roughly crushing device (15) and a first open-close valve (18) are arranged in order from above. The guide cylinder (14) has a portion above the first open-close valve (18), to which portion the liquid-supply device (5) is connected through a liquid-recovery passage (19) so as to recover excessive dried material to the liquid-supply device (5). The liquid-recovery passage (19) is additionally provided with a second open-close valve (20). A heating-freezing device (10) is disposed around the vertical tube (2) so as to control a temperature of the inner surface of the vertical tube (2).

Abstract: The present invention provides a powder filling apparatus which can prevent a screw portion of an auger screw from contacting an inner surface of a metering portion at a funnel lower end portion and besides facilitate the assembling work as well as can be made compact and put into practice at a low cost. The powder filling apparatus comprises a funnel (2) which contains powder, and a circular-cylindrical metering portion (3) provided at a lower end portion of the funnel (2), an auger screw arranged vertically, and a support device (5) which supports the auger screw (4) rotatably. The auger screw (4) has a lower end provided with a screw portion (18) which is arranged within the metering portion (3). The funnel (2) is suspended from the support device (5) and supported thereto and the metering portion (3) has a center axis (3a) made substantially coincident with an axis of rotation (4a) of the auger screw (4).

Abstract: An orally disintegrable tablet, of the present invention, which comprises (i) fine granules having an average particle diameter of 400 ?m or less, which fine granules comprise a composition coated by an enteric coating layer, said composition having 10 weight % or more of an acid-labile physiologically active substance and (ii) an additive, has superior disintegrability or dissolution in the oral cavity so that it can be used for treatment or prevention of various diseases, as an orally disintegrable tablet capable of being administered to the aged or children and easily administered without water. Also, because the tablet of the present invention contains fine granules having the average particle diameter such that it will not impart roughness in mouth, it can be administered easily without discomfort at the administration.

Abstract: An orally disintegrable tablet of the present invention, which comprises (i) fine granules having an average particle diameter of 400 ?m or less, which fine granules comprise a composition coated by an enteric coating layer, said composition having 10 weight % or more of an acid-labile physiologically active substance and (ii) an additive, has superior disintegrability or dissolution in the oral cavity so that it can be used for treatment or prevention of various diseases, as an orally disintegrable tablet capable of being administered to the aged or children and easily administered without water. Also, because the tablet of the present invention contains fine granules having the average particle diameter such that it will not impart roughness in mouth, it can be administered easily without discomfort at the administration.

Abstract: An object (7) to be packed is sandwiched between sheet-like package materials (2,2). A weakly-sealed portion (4) is formed so as to surround the packed object (7) while leaving a grip flap (3) for each of the package materials (2,2), thereby forming a bag portion (5) which accommodates the packed object (7) within the weakly-sealed portion (4). The grip flap (3) has a length (L) set to about 20 mm for easy handling. The weakly-sealed portion (4) can be peeled by grasping and pulling the grip flap (3) to take out the packed object (7) within the bag portion (5).

Abstract: An orally disintegrable tablet, of the present invention, which comprises (i) fine granules having an average particle diameter of 400 &mgr;m or less, which fine granules comprise a composition coated by an enteric coating layer, said composition having 10 weight % or more of an acid-labile physiologically active substance and (ii) an additive, has superior disintegrability or dissolution in the oral cavity so that it can be used for treatment or prevention of various diseases, as an orally disintegrable tablet capable of being administered to the aged or children and easily administered without water. Also, because the tablet of the present invention contains fine granules having the average particle diameter such that it will not impart roughness in mouth, it can be administered easily without discomfort at the administration.

Abstract: An orally disintegrable tablet, of the present invention, which comprises (i) fine granules having an average particle diameter of 400 &mgr;m or less, which fine granules comprise a composition coated by an enteric coating layer, said composition having 10 weight % or more of an acid-labile physiologically active substance and (ii) an additive, has superior disintegrability or dissolution in the oral cavity so that it can be used for treatment or prevention of various diseases, as an orally disintegrable tablet capable of being administered to the aged or children and easily administered without water. Also, because the tablet of the present invention contains fine granules having the average particle diameter such that it will not impart roughness in mouth, it can be administered easily without discomfort at the administration.

Abstract: A needle connecting portion of a syringe which includes a drug accommodating chamber accommodating a first component is arranged opposite to a takeout port of a hermetically closed container which includes a container chamber accommodating a second component. The syringe is connected to the container through a connector so as to be movable in mutual proximity and adapted to be separable from the connector. There is provided a communication passage capable of communicating the drug accommodating chamber with the container chamber. The communication passage is cut off by a closure member arranged between both of the chambers. The syringe and the container chamber are moved in proximity to each other, thereby displacing the closure member so as to open the communication passage. An injector of the present invention is compact in shape but can surely retain sterility while being stored and surely mix both of the components accommodated therein through a simple operation just before administration.

Abstract: A transfer device for transferring solid articles, comprising: a cylindrical member which has a supply opening formed at one end portion and a discharge opening formed at the other end portion, such that an angle formed between an axis of the cylindrical member and a horizontal plane is not more than 75.degree.; a transfer member which is rotatably provided in the cylindrical member; the transfer member including a rotary shaft extending along the axis of the cylindrical member and a helical vane projecting from a peripheral surface of the rotary shaft such that lead angle of the helical vane at its outer peripheral edge ranges from 3.degree. to 25.degree.; and a drive member so as to rotate the transfer member about the axis of the cylindrical member at a rotational speed of not more than 500 r.p.m.

Abstract: A transfer device is disposed vertically between an apparatus for carrying out a process and a further apparatus for carrying out a subsequent process so as to transfer solid articles from the apparatus to the further apparatus by gravity. The transfer device includes a cylindrical member which extends vertically and is provided, at its upper and lower portions, with a solid article supplying portion and a solid article discharge portion, respectively. A guide member is provided for effecting flow of the solid articles. The guide member is fixed to the cylindrical member so as to extend through a hollow defined in the cylindrical member from the solid article supplying portion to the solid article discharge portion.

Abstract: A disposable syringe of a dual-chamber type, wherein an injection needle is secured to the tip end of an injection cylinder with a first component being filled in it, and the injection cylinder is accommodated for its free sliding operation within a cylindrical housing, a second component container is air tightly secured to the tip end of the housing through a seal member through which a penetrating operation can be effected, and a cover for air tightly covering the injection cylinder rear end portion, including a plunger which is inserted for its free sliding operation into the injection cylinder in cooperation with the housing is engaged with the rear end of the housing.

Abstract: A filling machine provided with a filling amount weighing apparatus which is used in a step of preparing medical supplies and so on, and continuously fills automatically powder, liquid or the like of a very small amount into a container such as vial, ampul or the like so as to weigh the filling amount, on the employment of an electronic balance to effect a weighing operation of high speed and precision so as to improve the filling amount accuracy through the reduction in dispersion in the filling amount.

Abstract: An auger feeder suitable for use in subdividing and feeding of powdery particles such as precious medicines in a trace amount, because the component parts of the auger feeder can be easily disassembled for sterilization treatment before use. In addition, it can be prevented owing to the electric detection system in the auger feeder of the present invention that foreign particles resulting from the contact or the friction between the components are mixed with the powdery particles.