	US 12,083,447 B2
	Alignment 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. 17/945,130.
Prior Publication US 2024/0091665 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. B01D 1/18 (2006.01)

CPC B01D 1/18 (2013.01)

13 Claims

1. A spray drying system having a spray drying apparatus, a spray drying disposable device, and a spray drying finishing apparatus, said spray drying system comprises:

A) the spray drying apparatus for spray drying plasma 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 gas;

iv) a receiver for receiving a guide on the 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) a first retaining clip; and

vii) an exhaust port, opposite the drying gas source;

B) the spray drying disposable device having an outer edge, comprising:

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 is offset from the center of the spray drying head to allow said drying gas inlet to align with the drying gas source; and

(4) the second locator in the spray drying head; wherein the second locator aligns with the first locator; and

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

iii) a drying chamber in fluid communication with the spray dry nozzle and the drying gas source to receive atomized plasma from the nozzle for drying; wherein the drying chamber has a top end and a bottom end, and

iv) a gas outlet, wherein when in use, is attached to the exhaust port of the spray drying apparatus;

C) the spray drying finishing apparatus having a top end and a bottom end, comprising:

i) an frame suspended by a shuttle, the frame 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 having spray dried plasma is attached, allows for the movement of the spray dry powder 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 bag; and

iv) a separator which separates the plasma bag from the drying chamber;

wherein when the receiver receives the guide on the spray drying disposable device, the first locator of the locating arrangement is aligned with the second locator of the spray drying head, and the first retaining clip engages 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 of the outer edge of the spray drying disposable device, the spray drying finishing apparatus and spray drying disposable device are in an aligned position.