An in vitro release testing method and system for testing the ability of formulations to deliver agents across a barrier membrane is disclosed. The method may comprise steps of providing a dosage of a semi-solid formulation containing the bioactive agent, a receptor solution, and a barrier membrane to separate the semi-solid formulation and the receptor solution. The receptor solution may be a biphasic solution or an immiscible solution. The semi-solid formulation may be contacted with one side of the barrier membrane and the receptor solution with the other side of the barrier membrane for a time sufficient to produce penetration of the barrier membrane by the semi-solid formulation. The receptor solution may be sampled and assayed to determine the concentration of the bioactive agent in the receptor solution.

The invention refers to an in vitro method and apparatus for analysing the behaviour of substances in simulated physiological environment. The method comprises the steps of providing a first fluid, a gel matrix and a second fluid, separating the first fluid and the gel matrix by at least one first semi-permeable membrane and separating the gel matrix and the second fluid by at least one second semi-permeable membrane. The method further comprises the steps of injecting a substance into the first fluid, letting the substance migrate from the first fluid through the at least one first semi-permeable membrane, through the gel matrix, through the at least one second semi-permeable membrane and into the second fluid, and determining clearance of the substance from the first fluid.

An apparatus and method of analysis including at least one microscope means operable to characterize the surface of a sample in use, at least a first conduit to convey one or more solvents to the sample and a further conduit to convey at least part of the solution from the sample. At least one pump means delivers solvent to the sample and/or removes solution from the same.

A diffusion system to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of testing the release rate of an active ingredient in semisolid form through a membrane in between a dosage lid and a cell cap mounted on a cell in which a mixer is placed to mix the receptor medium in the cell as the semisolid diffuses through the membrane. The cell can be placed in a heating system to heat the samples. The cell has a sampling arm through which samples of the receptor medium can be extracted without opening the cell cap and dosage lid. The mixer may be cylindrical and may occupy a large surface area of the cell. The mixer may have grooves and other irregularities to increase turbulence while mixing. The system can be automated using an automated sampling and collection station.

A method of inspecting and determining characteristics of an aluminized coating of a hot stamped part is provided. The method includes removing a sample from the hot stamped part for Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES), analyzing the sample using GDOES, and plotting constituent element weight percentages versus depth on a graph. The method further includes determining points on the graph where constituent elements intersect and where the points of intersection indicate the characteristics of the aluminized coating. The characteristics of the method include, by way of example, a total thickness of the aluminized coating, a thickness of an inter-diffusion layer (IDL), constituents of the aluminized coating, constituents of the hot stamped part, phase composition of the aluminized coating, surface oxidation, and weldability.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for determining the fraction unbound (f.sub.u) of compounds including compounds having a high protein binding ratio with accuracy and in a short time.

The present invention relates to a method for determining a relative fraction unbound ratio (relative f.sub.u ratio) of an analyte between different biological samples, the method comprising the following steps of: (1) providing a chamber system (I) in which adjacent chambers are separated by a semipermeable membrane permeable to the analyte; (2) adding a donor solution containing a first biological sample (A) and the analyte to one chamber (donor-side chamber) in the chamber system (I); (3) adding an acceptor solution containing a second biological sample (B) to a chamber different from the donor-side chamber (acceptor-side chamber) in the chamber system (I); (4) measuring concentrations of the analyte in the donor solution in the step (2) and the acceptor solution in the step (3) over time; and (5) calculating the relative f.sub.u ratio using data associated with the concentrations of the analyte which are measured in the step (4).

The invention refers to an in vitro method and apparatus for analyzing the behavior of substances in simulated physiological environment. The method comprises the steps of providing a first fluid, a gel matrix and a second fluid, separating the first fluid and the gel matrix by at least one first semi-permeable membrane and separating the gel matrix and the second fluid by at least one second semi-permeable membrane. The method further comprises the steps of injecting a substance into the first fluid, letting the substance migrate from the first fluid through the at least one first semi-permeable membrane, through the gel matrix, through the at least one second semi-permeable membrane and into the second fluid, and determining clearance of the substance from the first fluid.

Disclosed herein is a method of determining properties of a fluid having an oil phase, a water phase, and an emulsion phase between the oil phase and water phase. The method includes emitting an electromagnetic wave into the fluid, and measuring an amplitude of a reflection of the electromagnetic wave off an interface between the oil phase and the emulsion phase. A thickness of the emulsion phase is determined based on the water-in-liquid ratio of the emulsion phase. Also disclosed is a method for determining at least one property of at least one interface phase between adjacent phases of a multi-phasic fluid during a first operating condition of a production system, and determining the at least one property of the at least one interface phase during a second operating condition of the production system different than the first operating condition.

A method of measuring a hydrogen diffusivity of a metal structure is provided. The method includes providing a hydrogen charging surface at a first location on an external surface of the structure, and a hydrogen oxidation surface at a second location adjacent to the first location on the external surface of the structure. A hydrogen flux is generated and directed into the metal surface at the charging surface. At least a portion of the hydrogen flux generated by the charging surface and diverted back toward the surface is detected, and a transient of the diverted hydrogen flux is measured. The hydrogen diffusivity of the metal structure is then determined based on the measured transient.

A method of inspecting and determining characteristics of an aluminized coating of a hot stamped part is provided. The method includes removing a sample from the hot stamped part for Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES), analyzing the sample using GDOES, and plotting constituent element weight percentages versus depth on a graph. The method further includes determining points on the graph where constituent elements intersect and where the points of intersection indicate the characteristics of the aluminized coating. The characteristics of the method include, by way of example, a total thickness of the aluminized coating, a thickness of an inter-diffusion layer (IDL), constituents of the aluminized coating, constituents of the hot stamped part, phase composition of the aluminized coating, surface oxidation, and weldability.