Measuring and dispensing very small quantities—especially less than 1 milligram—of powders or thick pastes is extremely difficult. Many powders don’t flow smoothly and tend to settle or clump, making traditional dosing methods inaccurate or inconsistent. This challenge affects industries like pharmaceuticals, ink production, and precision chemicals, where exact amounts are critical.
The
Solution
This invention introduces a specialized device designed to accurately measure and eject ultra-small doses of powders or pastes—even those with poor flow properties. The device uses precision-engineered bores, pistons, and valves to create, isolate, and eject a defined micro-dose. The whole system is driven by vacuum and pressure controls, enabling automation and repeatability without relying on the flow behavior of the material.
What’s
New and Inventive
Unlike conventional systems that rely on the powder freely flowing through tubes or funnels, this system actively transports the material using pneumatic pistons—no flow needed. It also includes an “air-cutting” jet to cleanly separate sticky or viscous doses. The system’s dosing precision can be further enhanced by setting exact volumes using threaded rods and precision movements.
Tangible Benefits
- Enables accurate, repeatable micro-dosing (as low as 1 mg)
- Works with challenging materials—sticky pastes, fine powders, etc.
- Easily scalable for automated machines (e.g., pharmaceutical tablet production)
- Reduces waste and improves product consistency
- Avoids the need for additives that help flow but may alter product quality
Broader
Impact
This invention could transform how sensitive materials are handled across industries. In pharmaceuticals, it enables more consistent drug dosing and supports safer, smaller batch production. It can also reduce formulation errors and material waste. In manufacturing, it enables automation in processes that were previously manual due to material limitations—potentially leading to better efficiency, sustainability, and cost savings.