For removing residual powder when manufacturing tablets, the use of spiral tablet dedusters has been common since the early 90s when the concept of an elevating deduster was introduced. However, Pharma Technology Inc. (PTI) has now introduced a product it believes offers an “all in one” approach to dedusting and testing tablets.
The Pharmaflex 750 Deduster consists of a spiral mechanism made of tritan, a high-pressure moulded polymer, instead of stainless steel, Nic Michel, general manager at PTI told in-Pharmatechnologist.com.
“Stainless steel spirals have been around for 20 years,” he explained “but the main issue is when tablets vibrate on a spiral they go to where the amplitude is greatest (the outside of the spiral) and, as the points for dust extraction are right in the centre, the tablets are as far away as you would want them to be.”
PTI’s offering, however, allows continuous dust suction as close to the tablet as possible as it takes place on the spiral’s outer circumference.
Furthermore, Michel said, the unique concept allows the firm to offer its clients customable dedusting solutions. The polymer segments are 55mm and additional segments can be added to fulfill custom needs, he said, making this “a much more flexible concept.”
The deduster, which is equipped with an insight metal detector from Lock Inspection Systems, has a 17 year patent meaning it has exclusivity on the market and, Michel said that he predicts “a phenomenal uptake” by the industry.
Dangers of Dust
In tablet production it is vital to remove loose powder for a number of reasons. “If you don’t remove this you might get blinded sensors,” said Michel, or “jammed mechanisms when packaging in bottling and blistering.”
Safety is also an issue, especially if a packaging line serves a number of products as the failure to fully remove residual powder could lead to cross-contamination.
Furthermore, he told us, loose powder could lead to air gaps in packaging, compromising unique doses and affecting the stability of a drug.
The presence of dust could lead to serious consequences in regards to the compliance of the drug from the patient’s point of view. Michel said: “Customers seeing residual powder may think they are being cheated or there is a decrease in quality which could lead to serious consequences.”