Explication of mechanism for precision conveying and spraying of pharmaceutical powder by pulse-field of taper spiral type

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K03867
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 19010:Fluid engineering-related
• Research Institution: Oita National College of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Ogata Koichiro 大分工業高等専門学校, 機械工学科, 教授 (50370028)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 星 崇仁 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 講師 (10757892) ; 上野 崇寿 大分工業高等専門学校, 電気電子工学科, 准教授 (30508867) ; 稲垣 歩 大分工業高等専門学校, 機械工学科, 准教授 (50633400)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 粉体輸送 / 振動流動化 / 加圧流動化 / 高電界 / 流動性 / 通気性 / 付着性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To achieve stable transport and spraying of powdered medicines inside a pipe, we investigated the particle and powder characteristics of model particles (silica, glass beads) and pharmaceutical powders. We researched to clarify the powder transport characteristics using vibration fluidization and pressurized fluidization, as well as the transport characteristics of powders using a high electric field. As a result, the vibration fluidization transport experiment revealed that transport was easy for powders with high flowability and air permeability. In addition, the pressurized fluidization transport experiment confirmed that the powder formed a plug flow inside the transport pipe and showed periodic transport characteristics. It was possible to transport pharmaceutical powders using both transport methods. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the model and pharmaceutical powder could be transported using ionic wind generated by a high electric field.

Free Research Field

粉体工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

付着性を有する粉体薬剤の輸送管内での閉塞を防止し，粉体薬剤を安定的に輸送及び噴霧する医療機器の開発が強く求められているが，この目的に対して，本研究で用いた振動流動化輸送と加圧流動化輸送が有効であることを示した．また，取り扱う粉体の粒子径，流動性や通気性等の粉体特性の理解が重要であることも明らかにした．本研究で得られた知見は，本研究で対象とした医療・薬剤分野のみでなく，3Dプリンタ用金属粉末，食品粉体などの粉体化した材料を取り扱う各種輸送プロセスでの展開が期待され，学術的，社会的意義は極めて大きい．