DRYER WITH MONITORING DEVICE

• US 20110247234A1
• Filed: 12/29/2009
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coriolis Pharmaservice Gmbh, INFAP GmbH, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen
• Original Assignee: INFAP GmbH
• Inventors: Resch, Manfred, Wiggenhorn, Michael, Friess, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 8,919,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/427
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/06 the process involving freezing

Abstract

The invention provides a monitoring device (32) for a dryer (10) includes a means for sensing a physical parameter, such as temperature or strain, at a sensing locus within the dryer (10), for example at a vial (20). The sensing means comprises an optical sensing fiber (38) having at least one fiber Bragg grating (54). Moreover, the invention provides a dryer, in particular a freeze dryer (10), which is equipped with such monitoring device (32).

Claims

1. A dryer comprising a monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device includes a means for sensing a physical parameter at a sensing locus within the dryer, the means comprising an optical sensing fiber having at least one fiber Bragg grating.

2. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the physical parameter is a temperature or a force.

3. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber Bragg grating is in a medially located longitudinal section of the sensing fiber.

4. The dryer of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sensing fiber is located in a tubular holder, which portion preferably includes the at least one fiber Bragg grating.

5. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the section in which the at least one fiber Bragg grating is located is a curved section, the curved section preferably being curved over an angular range of at least 180°

.

6. The dryer of claim 5, wherein the curved section forms a loop, a spiral, a circle, an ellipse, or a helix.

7. The dryer of claim 5, wherein the curved section is insertable into a container holding a material which is to be dried.

8. The dryer of claim 5, wherein the curved section extends from a sensing rod through which the sensing fiber is guided.

9. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the sensing fiber is affixed to, or incorporated in, a support unit adapted to support a material which is to be dried, the material preferably being contained in at least one container resting on the support unit.

10. The dryer of claim 1, including a means for sensing a physical parameter at a plurality of sensing loci within the dryer, the means comprising an optical sensing fiber having a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings which are positioned serially in distinct medially located longitudinal sections of the sensing fiber.

11. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the sensing fiber is connected to an interrogator, and wherein the interrogator is preferably coupled with a computer.

12. The dryer of claim 1, comprising a plurality of sensing fibers.

13. A dryer comprising the monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the dryer is preferably a freeze dryer.

14. A method for drying a material comprising the steps of using a freeze dryer including a means for sensing a physical parameter at a sensing locus within the dryer, the means comprising an optical sensing fiber having at least one fiber Bragg grating.

15. The method for monitoring a drying process of claim 14 including the step of using a monitoring device.

16. A monitoring device for use with a dryer, wherein the monitoring device includes a means for sensing a physical parameter with at least one sensing locus within the dryer, the means comprising an optical sensing fiber having at least one fiber Bragg grating

17. The monitoring device of claim 16, wherein the at least one locus in which the at least one fiber Bragg grating is located in the dryer is a curved section, the curved section preferably being curved over an angular range of at least 180°

and the curved section being insertable into a container holding a material which is to be dried.

18. The monitoring device of claim 17, wherein the curved section extends from a sensing rod through which the sensing fiber is guided.

19. The monitoring device of claim 16, wherein the sensing fiber is affixed to, or incorporated in, a support unit adapted to support a material which is to be dried, the material preferably being contained in at least one container resting on the support unit.