Dissolution testing apparatus

An apparatus for dissolution testing of a material in a test solution within a test vessel, comprising:

• (a) a stirring element for stirring the test solution, wherein the stirring element comprises:
• (1) a hollow stirring assembly;
• and
• (2) a temperature sensor located within the hollow stirring assembly for generating signals representative of the temperature of the test solution, wherein the hollow stirring assembly comprises:
• (1) a hollow shaft adapted to be removably coupled to a plurality of different stirring element attachments.

An apparatus for dissolution testing of a material in a test solution, comprising:

• (a) a test vessel for holding the test solution and the material, wherein the test vessel comprises a reflective coating applied to a surface of the test vessel;
• and
• (b) a stirring element for stirring the test solution, wherein the stirring element comprises:
• (1) a hollow shaft;
• and
• (2) a temperature sensor located within the hollow shaft for generating signals representative of the temperature of the test solution.

An apparatus for dissolution testing of a material in a test solution within a test vessel, comprising:

• (a) a stirring element for stirring the test solution, wherein the stirring element comprises:
• (1) a shaft adapted to be removably coupled to a plurality of different stirring element attachments;
• (b) a heating element placed around the outside of the test vessel for heating the test solution;
• and
• (c) a controller for controlling the heating element to control the temperature of the test solution, wherein the heating element comprises:
• (1) a first heating area having a first power rating;
• and
• (2) a second heating area having a second power rating different from the first power rating.

An apparatus for dissolution testing of a plurality of materials in a plurality of test solutions within a plurality of test vessels, comprising:

• (a) a stirring element for each test vessel, for stirring the test solution, wherein each stirring element comprises:
• (1) a hollow shaft;
• (2) a stirring element attachment, adapted to be removably coupled to the hollow shaft, wherein the stirring element attachment is one of a blade attachment and a basket attachment;
• (3) a temperature sensor located within the hollow shaft for generating signals representative of the temperature of the test solution when the hollow shaft is inserted into the test solution;
• and
• (4) a signal transfer device for transmitting the signals from the temperature sensor while the stirring element stirs the test solution;
• (c) a heating element for each test vessel, placed around the outside of the test vessel for heating the test solution, wherein the heating element comprises:
• (1) a first heating area having a first power rating;
• and
• (2) a second heating area having a second power rating different from the first power rating;
• (d) a heater jacket for each test vessel, surrounding the heating element for holding the heating element in place around the test vessel, wherein the heater jacket and heating element are configured to permit viewing of the stirring element through the front of the test vessel when the stirring element is inserted into the test vessel and wherein the heater jacket and heating element are configured to provide a gap between the outer surface of the heating element and the inner surface of the heater jacket;
• (e) a controller for controlling each heating element to control the temperature of each test solution in accordance with the signals from each temperature sensor.

An apparatus for dissolution testing of a material in a test solution within a test vessel, comprising:

• (a) a stirring element for stirring the test solution;
• (b) a heating element placed around the outside of the test vessel for heating the test solution;
• and
• (c) a controller for controlling the heating element to control the temperature of the test solution, wherein the stirring element comprises:
• (1) a hollow shaft;
• and
• (2) a temperature sensor located within the hollow shaft for generating signals representative of the temperature of the test solution when the hollow shaft is inserted into the test solution, wherein the controller controls the heating element in accordance with the signals from the temperature sensor.

An apparatus for dissolution testing of a material in a test solution within a test vessel, comprising:

• (a) a stirring element for stirring the test solution;
• (b) a heating element placed around the outside of the test vessel for heating the test solution;
• and
• (c) a controller for controlling the heating element to control the temperature of the test solution, wherein the heating element comprises:
• (1) a first heating area having a first power rating;
• and
• (2) a second heating area having a second power rating different from the first power rating.