Flow cell for a dissolution test device

Abstract

A flow cell for a dissolution test apparatus, Includes a cell mount, a filter head, a cylindrical cell casing connected with the cell mount and with the filter head via threads provided on respective ends of the cylindrical cell casing, and a sample cell received in the cell casing and co figured for receiving a sample.

Claims

1. A flow cell for a dissolution test apparatus, comprising: a cell mount; a filter head; a cylindrical cell casing connected with the cell mount and with the filter head via threads provided on respective ends of the cylindrical cell casing; a water bath in which a heating coil for a test medium is located and on which the flow cell is mounted by means of the cell mount; a sample cell received in the cell casing and configured for receiving a sample, and an inlet opening on the bottom of the sample cell and an outlet opening in the head of the sample cell for pumping the test medium through the heating coil into the sample cell and through the filter pack and the outlet, wherein the sample cell sits with its bottom end face on a flat seal, which has an opening for the test medium supply, in a recess of the cell mount.

2. The flow cell of claim 1, further comprising a flat gasket arranged between the cell mount and the sample cell so as to seal the cell mount and the sample cell against each other.

3. The flow cell of claim 2, wherein the cell casing is sealed against the cell mount and against the filter head by respective further flat gaskets arranged between the cell casing and the cell mount and between the cell casing and the filter head.

4. The flow cell of claim 1, wherein the cell casing is sealed against the cell mount and against the filter head by respective flat gaskets arranged between the cell casing and the cell mount and between the cell casing and the filter head.

5. A method for carrying out a dissolution test with a dissolution test apparatus according to patent claim 1, comprising: introducing a sample into the flow cell; flushing the space surrounding the flow cell with water from the water bath for temperature control; pumping the test medium at a constant flow rate through the heating coil and heating it up to the water bath temperature; and flowing the test medium through the inlet into the flow cell, around the sample and exiting it the flow cell at the top through the filter pack and the outlet.

6. A dissolution test apparatus, comprising: at least one flow cell, said at least one flow cell comprising a cell mount; a filter head; a cylindrical cell casing connected with the cell mount and with the filter head via threads provided on respective ends of the cylindrical cell casing; a water bath in which a heating coil for a test medium is located and on which the flow cell is mounted by means of the cell mount, a sample cell received in the cell casing and configured for receiving a sample, and an inlet opening on the bottom of the sample cell and an outlet opening in the head of the sample cell for pumping the test medium through the heating coil into the sample cell and through the filter pack and the outlet, wherein the sample cell sits with its bottom end face on a flat seal, which has an opening for the test medium supply, in a recess of the cell mount.

7. The dissolution test apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a flat gasket arranged between the cell mount and the sample cell so as to seal the cell mount and the sample cell against each other.

8. The dissolution test apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cell casing is sealed against the cell mount and against the filter head by respective further flat gaskets arranged between the cell casing and the cell mount and between the cell casing and the filter head.

9. The dissolution test apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cell casing is sealed against the cell mount and against the filter head by respective flat gaskets arranged between the cell casing and the cell mount and between the cell casing and the filter head.

10. The dissolution test apparatus of claim 6, comprising seven said at least one flow cell.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a dissolution test device according to the invention; and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a single flow cell according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) Throughout all the Figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

(5) Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a sectional view of a preferred variant of the dissolution test device according to the invention with seven flow cells. By means of their cell mounts 4 the seven flow cells 1 are mounted on the water bath 2 of the test device into which the heating coils 3 of the flow cells 1 dip. The cell mounts 4 are firmly screwed to the upper part of the water bath 2, where they remain during normal operation of the device. For maintenance purposes, however, the cell mounts 4 can be removed after loosening the lateral screws.

(6) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a single flow cell 1 with its associated heating coil 3. The cell casing 5 has an internal thread with which it is screwed on the cell mount 4. In the center of the cell mount 4, a flat gasket 6 is inserted and in a groove on the outer circumference of the cell mount, the flat gasket 7 is inserted. The sample cell 8 is inserted In the center of the cell casing 5. Hereby, in the recess of the cell mount 4 the sample cell 8 sits with its bottom end face on the flat gasket 6, which has an opening for the test medium supply. The sealing of the cell casing 5 against the cell mount 4 is achieved by the front side flat gasket 7.

(7) The screwable filter head 9, in which a filter pack is inserted, has an external thread with which it is screwed into the cell casing 5 from above. Hereby, the endside gasket 10 seals the filter head 9 against the cell casing 5 and the sample cell 8. The outlet for the test medium is arranged centrally on the top of the filter head 9.

(8) To carry out the test, the sample is introduced into the sample cell 8. The space surrounding the sample cell 8 is flushed with water from the water bath for temperature control. The test medium is pumped at a constant flow rate through the heating coil 3 and is heated to the water bath temperature. Thereafter, the test medium flows through the inlet into the sample cell 8, flows around the sample and exits the sample cell 8 at the top through the filter pack and the outlet.