Dissolution test apparatus

A dissolution test apparatus comprising:

• (a) a frame assembly;
• (b) a vessel plate supported by the frame assembly and including a plurality of apertures defining vessel sites;
• and
• (c) a spindle head assembly supported by the frame assembly and movable between a front lowered position, a front raised position and a rear position, the spindle head assembly including a plurality of rotatable shafts, wherein
• (d) the spindle head assembly at the front raised position is disposed above the vessel plate;
• (e) the spindle head assembly at the rear position is disposed in an offset, non-obstructive relation to the vessel sites;
• and
• (f) at the front lowered position of the spindle head assembly, each of the rotatable shafts is operatively aligned with a corresponding one of the vessel sites.

A dissolution test apparatus comprising:

• (a) a frame assembly including a front section and a rear section;
• (b) a first axis transport assembly mounted to the frame assembly;
• (c) a second axis transport assembly movably engaging the first axis transport assembly;
• and
• (d) a spindle head assembly including a plurality of rotatable shafts, the spindle head assembly movably supported by the second axis transport assembly between a front lowered position and a front raised position, and the spindle head assembly movable with the first axis transport assembly between a rear position and the front raised position, wherein
• (e) the spindle head assembly at the front lowered position is disposed above the front section of the frame assembly;
• and
• (f) the spindle head assembly at the rear position is disposed above the rear section of the frame assembly.

A dissolution test apparatus comprising:

• (a) a frame assembly including a front section and a rear section, the front section having first and second laterally spaced edges defining a tapered width of the front section, the tapered width narrowing in a direction from the rear section to the front section;
• (b) a vessel plate mounted at the front section and including a plurality of vessel mounting apertures, wherein at least a majority of the apertures are disposed along first and second vessel alignment directions, the first vessel alignment direction running parallel to the first edge of the front section and the second vessel alignment direction running parallel to the second edge of the front section;
• and
• (c) a spindle head assembly supported by the frame assembly and including a plurality of rotatable shafts.

A dissolution test apparatus comprising:

• (a) a frame assembly including a front section and a rear section;
• (b) a vessel plate mounted at the front section and including first and second laterally spaced edges defining a tapered width of the vessel plate, the tapered width narrowing in a direction from the rear section to the front section, the vessel plate further including a plurality of vessel mounting apertures, wherein at least a majority of the apertures are disposed along first and second vessel alignment directions, the first vessel alignment direction running parallel to the first edge of the vessel plate and the second vessel alignment direction running parallel to the second edge of the vessel plate;
• and
• (c) a spindle head assembly supported by the frame assembly and including a plurality of rotatable shafts.

A dissolution test apparatus comprising:

• (a) a frame assembly including a front section and a rear section;
• (b) first and second lateral support members movable between the front and rear sections along a first axis, each of the first and second lateral support members including an upper section and a lower section;
• (c) first and second lateral guide members mounted to the frame assembly, wherein the first lateral support member movably engages the first lateral guide member and the second lateral support member movably engages the second lateral guide member;
• and
• (d) a spindle head assembly interposed between the first and second lateral support members and movably connected to each of the first and second lateral support members, the spindle head assembly including a spindle drive mechanism, a dosage delivery mechanism and a probe mechanism, wherein the spindle head assembly is movable along a second axis to and from the upper and lower sections of the first and second lateral support members.

A dissolution test apparatus comprising:

• (a) a frame assembly including a front section and a rear section;
• (b) a transport assembly including first and second lateral support members, each of the first and second lateral support members including an upper section and a lower section, wherein each of the first and second lateral support members is movably mounted to the frame assembly and movable along a first axis to and from the front and rear sections of the frame assembly;
• and
• (c) a spindle head assembly interposed between the first and second lateral support members and movably connected to each of the first and second lateral support members, wherein the spindle head assembly is movable along a second axis to and from the upper and lower sections of the first and second lateral support members, the spindle head assembly including a dosage delivery mechanism, the dose delivery mechanism including:
• (i) a dose delivery conduit having a first open conduit end and a second conduit end and defining a dosage delivery passage;
• (ii) an actuator;
• and
• (iii) a dosage-retaining element operatively connected to the actuator and movable between a closed state wherein the dosage retaining unit obstructs the dosage delivery passage and an open state wherein the dosage retaining unit is disposed in non-obstructive relation to the dosage delivery passage.

A dissolution test apparatus comprising:

• (a) a frame assembly;
• (b) a vessel plate supported by the frame assembly and including a plurality of vessel locations;
• and
• (c) a spindle head assembly supported by the frame assembly and movable between a front position and a rear position, the spindle head assembly including a plurality of dose delivery mechanisms, each dose delivery mechanism including:
• (i) a dose delivery conduit defining a dose delivery passage and having a first open conduit end and a second open conduit end;
• (ii) an actuator;
• and
• (iii) a dose retaining element operatively connected to the actuator and rotatable between a dose retaining position and a dose delivery position, wherein the dose retaining element blocks the dose delivery passage at the dose retaining position and opens the dose delivery passage at the dose delivery position, and wherein:
• (d) at the front position of the spindle head assembly, the second open conduit end of each of the dose delivery mechanisms is operatively aligned with a corresponding one of the vessel locations;
• and
• (e) at the rear position of the spindle head assembly, each of the dose delivery mechanisms is disposed in an offset, non-obstructive relation to the vessel plate.

A combined probe/dosage delivery mechanism comprising:

• (a) a dose delivery conduit having a first open conduit end and a second conduit end and defining a dosage delivery passage;
• (b) an actuator;
• (c) a dosage retaining element operatively connected to the actuator and movable between a closed state wherein the dosage retaining unit obstructs the dosage delivery passage and an open state wherein the dosage retaining unit is disposed in non-obstructive relation to the dosage delivery passage;
• (d) a probe member bore;
• (e) a probe member movably disposed in the probe member bore;
• (f) a probe drive motor;
• and
• (g) a probe drive transmission mechanism operatively coupled between the probe drive motor and the probe member.