	US 12,274,955 B2
	Usability of a disposable for a spray drying plasma system
Robert R. Andrews, Norfolk, MA (US); Herman E. Snyder, W. Lafayette, IN (US); William J. Merritt, Danvers, MA (US); Kyle D. Erickson, Melrose, MA (US); Evan P. Ordway, Salem, MA (US); Clair Strohl, Emmaus, PA (US); and Russell Barron, Boston, MA (US)
Filed by Velico Medical, Inc, Beverly, MA (US)
Filed on Apr. 30, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/650,263.
Application 18/650,263 is a continuation of application No. 17/945,129, filed on Sep. 15, 2022, granted, now 11,998,861.
Prior Publication US 2024/0293759 A1, Sep. 5, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01D 1/18 (2006.01); F26B 3/12 (2006.01)

CPC B01D 1/18 (2013.01) [F26B 3/12 (2013.01)]

23 Claims

1. A method of spray drying plasma with a spray drying system, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

A) drying plasma from a donor to obtain dried plasma; and

B) producing a plasma unit having the dried plasma with the spray drying system;

wherein the spray dried system comprises:

i) A spray drying apparatus for spray drying plasma having operator controls comprising:

(1) a plasma source providing a plasma

(2) a pressurized aerosol gas source providing a pressurized aerosol gas;

(3) a drying gas source providing a drying gas;

(4) a receiver for receiving a guide on a spray drying disposable device;

(5) a locating arrangement for aligning the spray drying disposable device, said locating arrangement having a first locator; a second locator and a third locator, wherein the first locator is at the spray drying apparatus;

(6) an exhaust port for exhausting the drying gas, opposite the drying gas source; and

ii) the spray drying disposable device having a length and an outer edge, the spray drying disposable device comprises:

(1) a spray drying head comprising:

(a) a spray dry nozzle in fluid communication with the plasma source and the pressurized aerosol gas source;

(b) a drying gas inlet in communication with the drying gas source;

(d) the second locator in the spray drying head; wherein, when in use, the second locator aligns with the first locator; and

(2) one or more first positioning arrangements at the outer edge of the spray drying disposable device for reversable attachment to a spray drying finishing apparatus;

(3) a drying chamber, when in use, in fluid communication with the spray dry nozzle and the drying gas source to receive a spray of plasma from the nozzle for drying;

(4) a gas outlet, when in use, the gas outlet is in communication with the drying gas source, said gas outlet attaches to the exhaust port of the spray drying apparatus; and

iii) the spray drying finishing apparatus, comprising:

(1) a shuttle that comprises:

(a) a spray drying head receiver;

(b) the third locator, wherein the third locator aligns with the second locator of the spray drying head;

(c) one or more second positioning arrangements for receiving the first positioning arrangements at the outer edge of the spray drying disposable device; and

(d) a gas outlet receiver;

(2) an impactor, when in use and when the spray drying disposable device containing a spray dried plasma is attached, allows for the movement of the spray dried plasma within the drying chamber,

(3) a sealer that seals the spray dried plasma within a portion of the drying chamber to thereby create a plasma unit; and

(4) a separator which separates the plasma unit from the drying chamber;

wherein when the receiver receives the guide of the spray drying disposable device, and the first locator of the locating arrangement is aligned with the second locator of the spray drying head, the spray drying apparatus and the spray drying disposable device are in an aligned position; and

wherein when the third locator of the locating arrangement of the spray drying finishing apparatus is aligned with the second locator of the spray drying head, the gas outlet receiver of the spray drying finishing apparatus receives the gas outlet of the spray drying disposable device, and the one or more second positioning arrangements receives the first positioning arrangements at the outer edge of the spray drying disposable device, the spray drying finishing apparatus and spray drying disposable device are in an aligned position.