Dissolution tester assembly with integrated imaging system
Inventors
Lee, Luke • Zhang, Yu Sheng • Cheetham, Charles
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11209410-B2
Publication Date
2021-12-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
Dissolution tester assembly that tests pharmaceutical tablets includes a frame that operatively supports a vessel having an interior into which a tablet is placed, a camera assembly supported by the frame and including a shaft having a hollow portion and an end that extends into the vessel interior, and an imaging system for imaging the tablet during the dissolution process to enable display of the images on a monitor. The imaging system includes a first camera positioned in the hollow portion of the shaft and oriented to image downward toward a bottom of the vessel, and/or a second camera positioned on the frame at a location directly below the vessel and oriented to image upward toward the bottom of the vessel. An attachment, such as a paddle for stirring or a basket for retaining the tablet, may be positioned at the end of the shaft in the vessel.
Core Innovation
A dissolution tester assembly includes a frame that operatively supports a vessel having an interior into which a tablet is placed for testing dissolution of the tablet. A shaft is supported by the frame and has an end that extends into the interior of the vessel when the vessel is supported by the frame. The assembly further includes an integral imaging system that is integrated with the shaft to obtain images related to the tablet dissolution testing.
The integral imaging system includes a first camera on the shaft oriented to image downward through a bottom of the shaft, obtaining images of an area below the shaft and between the shaft and the vessel when supported by the frame. The imaging path is described as passing downward through a transparent disk at the shaft end, and a tube in a hollow portion of the shaft can provide mechanical and optical arrangement for the first camera.
Embodiments extend the imaging system to include a second camera on the frame, positioned below the vessel, oriented to image upward toward the bottom of the vessel and thereby image the area below the shaft and between the shaft and the vessel from two directions. The described configuration supports visualization of a tablet present in that area, and image output can be sent to a monitor and optionally recorded via a control unit.
Claims Coverage
The document contains two independent claims. Across these claims, the inventive features focus on a frame-supported vessel and shaft for tablet dissolution testing, and an integral imaging system that images the region between the shaft and the vessel from one or two directions using cameras positioned relative to the shaft and vessel.
Frame-supported vessel for tablet dissolution testing
A frame that operatively supports a vessel having an interior into which a tablet is placed for testing dissolution of the tablet.
Shaft extends into the vessel interior
A shaft having an end that extends into the interior of the vessel when the vessel is supported by said frame.
Integral imaging system with first downward-facing camera on the shaft
An integral imaging system having a first camera on said shaft oriented to image downward through a bottom of said shaft in order to obtain images of an area below said shaft and between said shaft and the vessel when supported by said frame.
Vertical facing first and second cameras imaging from two directions
An imaging system having first and second cameras that face one another in a vertical orientation with said first camera positioned in said shaft to image an area below said shaft and between said shaft and the vessel when supported by said frame and said second camera imaging the area below said shaft and between said shaft and the vessel when supported by said frame from a position below the vessel when supported by said frame to thereby image a tablet when present in the area below said shaft and between said shaft and the vessel when supported by said frame from two directions.
Across the independent claims, the coverage is directed to a dissolution tester with a frame-supported vessel and a shaft extending into the vessel interior, combined with an integral imaging system that images the region below the shaft and between the shaft and vessel using cameras positioned on the shaft and, in one claim, on the frame below the vessel for two-direction imaging of a tablet present in that region.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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