Laser Drilling Enables Advanced Drug Delivery Systems - Coherent

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Laser Power Usable Cutting Energy Cutting Threshold Power 0 100 200 300 400 Time (microseconds) Flowing Gas Laser Laser Power Usable Cutting Energy Cutting Threshold Power 0 100 200 300 400 Time (microseconds) Slab Discharge Laser The fact that each square wave pulse delivers more useful cutting energy means that it takes fewer of these pulses to perform a given processing task. Because of the interrelationship between maximum possible pulse count and throughput speed in on the fly drilling, this translates into a wider process window and greater flexibility. In addition, the reduction of waste energy serves to further minimize any heat induced damage in the processed material. Control Micro Systems utilizes Diamond K Series slab discharge CO2 lasers from Coherent for many of its tablet drilling systems. In addition to the advantages of square wave pulsing, the Diamond K Series also delivers several other benefits for on the fly processing. The ability of these lasers to provide “power on demand” is probably the most important of these. This refers to the capacity to control the laser’s pulsing characteristics, in real time, down to the single pulse level if necessary. In contrast, many industrial lasers operate with a fixed or narrowly variable pulse repetition rate. Moreover, in most other laser types, individual pulses cannot be relied upon to produce consistent results because the laser takes several pulses to reach its steady state performance level. However, the slab discharge design does not have this limitation and can be perfectly pulsed instantaneously. Thus, power on demand is important because it allows the laser to be slaved to any arbitrary (and even variable) feedrate in a real production line. This is substantially simpler than attempting to adjust the mechanics of the conveyor system so that tablets are supplied at exactly the right time to synchronize with a fixed pulse rate laser. Conclusion The development of more sophisticated drug delivery systems permits the use of a wider range of chemical entities, but the complex structure of these devices often creates greater technical difficulties in production. The laser has shown itself to be a reliable and cost effective tool that Coherent Article for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing – – printed 01/18/07 Page 6
delivers processing capabilities not readily attainable through any other means. It has already proven to be an enabling technology for tablet drilling in the production of osmotic pumps, and will undoubtedly be useful in overcoming other challenges faced by pharmaceutical manufacturers in the future. Coherent Article for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing – – printed 01/18/07 Page 7
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Page 5: processing using galvanometer beam

Laser Drilling Enables Advanced Drug Delivery Systems - Coherent

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