Pharmaceutical Tablet Drilling
Controlled Release Drug Delivery
Time releasing medication is the most common use for tablet drilling. Tablets or capsules can be made in layers with an indigestible coating, followed by medication and possibly another indigestible layer and more medication. The laser drilling allows a aperture or a pattern of apertures to be drilled through the various layers. This permits the medication to be released in the stomach through the apertures. By varying the size and number of apertures the delay of the medication can be "metered".
The non-contact laser process is perfectly suited for this task as the drilling can be accomplished at extremely high rates with an infinite number of aperture sizes and pattern variations. With the addition of a vision system, aperture quality can be controlled, mis-drilled tablets or capsules can be rejected-and all of this can be done on-the-fly.
Additionally, the laser reacts favorably with medication and their carrier materials during the drilling process.
Drilled Tablets
Control Micro Systems has been an industry innovator in on-the-fly tablet drilling systems for pharmaceutical companies. Our experience with high speed, reliable on-the-fly systems makes us the best choice for drilling your tablets or capsules. Some of our Advantages are:
- The CMS configuration offers true “on-the-fly” tracking of the tablets which should result in better aperture quality over the range of aperture sizes.
- Our bowl feeder and handling system offer a superior handling environment for the tablets resulting in a smoother transition and thus less chance of tablet breakage and lost yield.
- Due to the handling and the design of the CMS system the surface of the tablet is visible with the integrated vision system. This will allow for improved tracking of the tablet and misplaced drill sites again resulting in improved yield.
- Changeover for varying tablet sizes require minimal changes in the CMS handling system; minimal changes would be done in the bowl feeder and minor adjustments to the conveyor system. In contrast others require the belts or wheels to be changed. This will result in improved uptime and reduced cost of ownership due to change over time resulting in lost production.
- The CMS handling system is designed for minimal maintenance and cleaning requirements. This is accomplished with the smooth transport system that we offer in contrast to the chain link transport that others provide. Again resulting in improved uptime, improved cost of ownership and increased production time.
- The handling design and the capabilities of the CMS system will allow the customer to drill multiple apertures per side of tablet should they choose.
- The CMS system can process Bi-Color or Single color tablets.
- The CMS system with a single, laser, system is based on expected throughput needs including growth. This design is capable of throughput ranges of 50,000 to 70,000 tablets per hour average and is capable of throughputs to 100,000 tablets per hour. In addition, this single laser system design will reduce maintenance and power consumption needs in comparison to a dual laser configuration.
- The CMS system orients Bi-Color tablets “Drill Side” up so that the tablets enter the conveyor and through the Laser Drilling area “Drill Side” up.
- The CMS system can be programmed to drill one aperture or multiple apertures and a single side of the tablet.
- The CMS system is capable of drilling apertures in the size range of .2mm diameter to 2mm which is standard and is also capable of drilling larger or smaller apertures.
- The CMS system has the flexibility incorporated into the system to handle tablet sizes from 6.5mm diameter to 13mm diameter with minimal change over time. This design flexibility results in lower cost and less need for multiple systems for different product sizes.
- The CMS system incorporates a Vision System. With the ability to inspect every tablet for:
- #of drilled apertures
- Location of apertures
- Size of apertures
- Tablets that fail the Vision Inspection will be rejected into a reject bin, keeping the rejected tablets away from the “Accepted” or properly drilled tablets.
