Pharmaceutical Technologies International, Inc.
"Your Destination For  The Expert Solution"

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE WILL BE UPDATED SOON.   

Description:

SPRAYex is a virtual spray drying expert. It is capable of determining the ability of a material to be spray dried as a single- or multi-component system. It suggests operating parameters based on material characteristics and the equipment available. The system also has a training module to guide newcomers in the field through the spray drying process and explains the relationship between the operating parameters and feed characteristics.

SPRAYex has a knowledge base containing a listing of all the facts that the expert system knows and uses to make its decisions. The knowledge needed by the system has been gathered from the domain experts in the field.

SPRAYex contains information on the material properties and processing conditions in a database format. This information is complied from experimental data obtained by PTI and additional data can be generated by the users or be obtained from the literature.

Components:
SPRAYex is composed of a number of key system components or modules, which are detailed below.

Formulation and process development module:
In this module, the expert system offers iterative sessions to determine the level of user interaction, type of equipment available, process constraints, formulation related preferences, and any special requirements for the specific product.

The expert system is then able to:

• Evaluate the ability of a material to be spray dried
  
• Assess the need for additional ingredients
  
• Evaluate the safety of spray drying the proposed material(s)
  
• Build a formula and suggest processing conditions such as spray rate, inlet air temperature, nozzle type, atomizer parameters, feed solids concentration, air flow, and feed rate
  
• Evaluate, re-evaluate and display formula and process parameters

This module also allows the user to challenge the system using fictitious requirements or actual, potential requirements.

Database module:
SPRAYex has a database containing the following information:

• raw materials: melting points, glass transition temperatures, DSC data, viscosity, and solubility
  
• equipment: brand name, dimensions, nozzle types, air flow
  
• processing conditions: atomization parameters, inlet/outlet air temperatures, feed parameters, pump parameters, nozzle parameters
  
• spray dried product: moisture content, melting points, glass transition temperatures, bulk density, tap density, particle size.
  

Search Engine and Interactive Graphics module:
This module allows the user to search for materials with specified properties. The user is also be able to compare the material properties in the form of graphical display whenever it is possible.

Training module:
This module assists the user in improving his/her knowledge in spray drying formulation and processing development by means of interactive text, graphical, and video displays.

The Manager:
This module keeps the log-book of the users, their access levels to the program, and their performance records.

Miscellaneous:

• Tip of the Day: This module calls up a help file in order to provide tips on use of the program.
  
• Advise Me: This module allows the user to access the online help file for the program.
  
• Show Me: This module allows the user to access animated help files and/or digital video clips for specific subjects. This will also include the training process for learning the program.
  

Report module:
A report is generated for the user at the end of each run to show the steps taken by the expert system to reach that recommendation. This feature is very important since formulation and process justification are now a requirement in pharmaceutical practice. It is possible to recall previous report files, make modifications and re-run the program.

Report files are generated in the form of rich text files that can be accessed by many word processing software such as Word and WordPerfect.

Manual:
The SPRAYex has an on-line manual to assist the user in running the program to its maximum capacity.

Programming Techniques:
PTI, Inc has integrated a number of knowledge representation techniques in order to maximize the performance of the expert system. Some of these techniques are listed below:

• Induction Systems
  
• Rule Based Systems
  Control by Backward Chaining
  Control by Forward Chaining
  Confidence Factors
  
• Fuzzy Logic
  
• Case-based Reasoning
  
• Neural Networks
  
• Front-end Programming
  

Software System Requirements:
The SPRAYex can run on the IBM compatible PCs with Windows 95/98 operating systems. A hard-lock is provided free of charge by PTI, Inc for the authorized use of the software. Multi-user options, Network applications and other customizations can also be negotiated.

The typical user of the SPRAYex should have a working knowledge of Windows 98/NT.

Cost:
Contact PTI, Inc.

Customized Version (SPRAYex-C):
Contact PTI, Inc.

FURTHER INFORMATION: