Precision Powder Dispensing Technology Targets New Pharma Applications

GiroNEX’s precision powder dispensing technology can dispense from 0.1 milligrams to 5 grams of pharmaceutical or other chemical powders into vials or capsules with accuracies of 2% or better across the complete weight range. The gently oscillating powder dispensing mechanism is capable of dispensing sensitive powders without damaging them or compromising on dispensing speed and accuracy, according to the company. The technology uses a series of interchangeable dispensing heads that covers a typical mass range and provides limitless dispensing capability, making the technology cost effective and easy to use, GiroNEX reports.

This approach has been developed to target opportunities in regulated production environments, such as localized manufacturing that enables pharmaceutical companies to offer more tailored treatments and hospital pharmacy compounding units involved in preparing patient-specific doses and drug combinations, nutritional supplements, and other materials. 

The company’s automation team has based its system software for the dispensing technology on a proprietary algorithm that learns how best to dispense new powders “on the fly,” effectively characterizing a powder’s flow behavior while it is being dispensed. As a result, users will no longer need to invest R&D time and resources in developing and testing reliable powder dispensing methods, the company reports.

In addition, the company believes its technology will help enable a new generation of automated “dispense and weigh” systems for use in pharmaceutical R&D, quality assurance/quality control, and other laboratory-based applications.

“GiroNEX has developed its new precision powder dispensing technology based on parent company GB Innomech’s experience in developing bespoke automation for some of the world’s top healthcare companies. The technology is robust and reliable, and offers a powerful combination of high performance, ease of use, and low operating costs for use in a broad range of pharmaceutical R&D and manufacturing applications,” said James Veale, technology development engineer at GiroNEX, in an Oct. 17, 2018 press release.

GiroNEX has also developed a prototype R&D laboratory-based system that uses a Sartorius weigh cell to display weights to the nearest microgram. The data is automatically transferred wirelessly and recorded with other batch and sample details to a dedicated system tablet. The company expects to take its first laboratory system into production in the first quarter of 2019, while at the same time continuing to develop the core technology for more advanced pharmaceutical and other industrial applications.

Source: GiroNEX