Low coherence interferometry on compositions manufactured using thermal manufacturing processes

An apparatus for manufacturing a composition and for determining information indicative of a material attribute of the manufactured composition, wherein the apparatus comprises:

• a manufacturing device configured for manufacturing the composition using a thermal manufacturing process;
• wherein the manufacturing device comprises means for manufacturing the composition by extruding a core and coating the core, and further comprises means for coating the core by one of the group consisting of carrying out a further extrusion, and immersing in a coating bath;
• wherein the manufacturing device comprises means for continuously detecting detection data and continuously determining the information of an endless strand constituting the composition and being formed continuously by the thermal manufacturing process;
• a detection probe configured for detecting detection data from the composition during said thermal manufacturing process, by low coherence interferometry;
• and
• a processor configured for determining the information based on the detected detection data,
• wherein the information are indicative of at least one material attribute of a group consisting of a roughness of an exterior surface of the composition, a roughness between a core and a coating of the composition, a refraction index of at least part of the composition, information concerning an inclusion of the composition, and information concerning a porosity of the composition;
• determining the information indicative of a material attribute of the composition during the thermal manufacturing process in real time;
• wherein determining the information indicative of a material attribute of the composition comprises indicating anomalies or deviations from a predefined specification;
• and
• adapting the thermal manufacturing process in real time to continue the production of compositions in compliance with the predefined specification while the composition is produced by thermal manufacturing.

A method of determining information indicative of a material attribute of a composition, wherein the method comprises:

• manufacturing the composition using a thermal manufacturing process;
• wherein said manufacturing the composition comprises manufacturing the composition by extruding a core and coating the core, and further comprises coating the core by one of the group consisting of carrying out a further extrusion, and immersing in a coating bath;
• wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition and/or wherein the composition is configured as an intravaginal ring for contraception;
• wherein the method comprises continuously detecting detection data and continuously determining the information of an endless strand constituting the composition and being formed continuously by the thermal manufacturing process;
• detecting detection data from the composition by low coherence interferometry during the thermal manufacturing process;
• and
• determining the information based on the detected detection data;
• determining the information indicative of a material attribute of the composition during the thermal manufacturing process in real time;
• wherein determining the information indicative of a material attribute of the composition comprises indicating anomalies or deviations from a predefined specification;
• and
• adapting the thermal manufacturing process in real time to continue the production of compositions in compliance with the predefined specification while the composition is produced by thermal manufacturing.