US 11,998,861 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)
Assigned to Velico Medical, Inc., Beverly, MA (US)
Filed by Velico Medical, Inc., Beverly, MA (US)
Filed on Sep. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/945,129.
Prior Publication US 2024/0091664 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. B01D 1/18 (2006.01); F26B 3/12 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 1/18 (2013.01) [F26B 3/12 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spray drying system comprising:
A) A spray drying apparatus for spray drying plasma having operator controls comprising:
i) a plasma source providing a plasma;
ii) a pressurized aerosol gas source providing a pressurized aerosol gas;
iii) a drying gas source providing a drying Mas;
iv) a receiver for receiving a guide on a spray drying disposable device;
v) 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;
vi) an exhaust port for exhausting the drying gas, opposite the drying gas source;
vii) an indicator to provide feedback for communicating that the spray drying disposable device is aligned with the spray drying apparatus;
viii) a door, wherein the door closes when the spray drying disposable device is installed; and
ix) emergency shut off, positioned to be locatable by an operator;
B) the spray drying disposable device having a length and an outer edge, the spray drying disposable device comprises:
i) a spray drying head comprising:
(1) a spray dry nozzle in fluid communication with the plasma source and the pressurized aerosol gas source;
(2) a drying gas inlet in communication with the drying gas source;
(3) the guide that when in use, allows said drying gas inlet to align with the drying gas source;
(4) the second locator in the spray drying head; wherein, when in use, the second locator aligns with the first locator; and
(5) 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;
ii) 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;
iii) a gas outlet, when in use, the gas outlet is in communication with the drying gas source, said gas outlet attached to the exhaust port of the spray drying apparatus; wherein the length of the spray drying disposable is between about 30 and about 40 inches; and
C) the spray drying finishing apparatus, comprising:
i) a shuttle that comprises:
(1) a spray drying head receiver;
(2) the third locator, wherein the third locator aligns with the second locator of the spray drying head;
(3) one or more second positioning arrangements for receiving the first positioning arrangements at the outer edge of the spray drying disposable device; and
(4) a gas outlet receiver;
ii) 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,
iii) a sealer that seals the spray dried plasma within a portion of the drying chamber to thereby create a plasma unit; and
iv) 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,
wherein the pressurized aerosol gas source and plasma source are connected to the spray drying nozzle;
wherein the operator controls are within proximity, 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.