Planar Heating Surface for Rapid Dissolution Medium Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dissolution testing apparatuses are slow and complicated in adjusting the temperature of the dissolution medium, particularly those using water baths, and lack flexible configuration between open and closed systems, impacting efficient quality control and product optimization.

Innovation Solution

A dissolution medium heating module with a two-dimensional heating loop structure and planar heating surfaces, allowing for fast and precise temperature control of individual dissolution cells, enabling flexible setup and reproducible testing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If water bath heating systems are used for temperature control, then temperature stability is maintained, but temperature adjustment speed becomes slow and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature adjustment speedVSAvoidheating system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is segmented into multiple independent planar heating surfaces, each capable of independent temperature control. This allows different zones to be heated at different rates and temperatures, enabling fast overall temperature adjustment while maintaining simplicity through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from traditional three-dimensional water bath heating to two-dimensional planar heating surfaces. This dimensional change enables direct contact heating with significantly increased heat transfer efficiency, allowing rapid temperature adjustment without the complexity of water circulation systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If individual heating elements are provided for each cell, then temperature control precision is improved, but device complexity and configuration difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control precisionVSAvoidheating module configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The planar heating surfaces are designed with universal applicability, where each heating surface can serve multiple dissolution cells simultaneously. This multi-functional design achieves precise temperature control for individual cells while reducing overall system complexity through standardized, interchangeable heating modules

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The planar heating surfaces act as intermediaries between the heat source and the dissolution cells. This intermediary layer enables precise temperature control by providing a stable, uniform heating interface that simplifies the connection between heating elements and multiple cells

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If fast temperature adjustment is implemented, then productivity is improved, but temperature uniformity and testing reproducibility may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature adjustment speedVSAvoidtesting reproducibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the planar heating surfaces can be controlled with different thermal characteristics, allowing local optimization for fast heating in some areas while maintaining uniform temperature in others. This ensures both rapid temperature adjustment and consistent testing conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The heating system operates continuously with constant heat application through the planar surfaces, ensuring uniform temperature distribution throughout the dissolution medium. This continuous heating action maintains temperature stability and reproducibility while enabling fast overall temperature changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables rapid and precise temperature adjustment of the dissolution medium, ensuring consistent and reproducible testing conditions, improving compliance and product optimization in dissolution testing.

Implementation Method 1

The at least one planar heating surface is provided adjacent to the heating loop structure for emitting and transferring thermal energy to the heating loop structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal energy transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4528270A1Heating module for heating a dissolution medium of a dissolution testing apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.03.26 SOTAX AG
  • EP4528270A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4528270A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4528270A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a dissolution testing apparatus for dissolving a dissoluble substance and a dissolution medium heating module (6) for the dissolution testing apparatus, wherein the heating module (6) comprises a heating chamber in form of a two-dimensional heating loop structure (14), which is connected or connectable, through a pump, to a dissolution medium reservoir (15) for receiving the dissolution medium. A heater in form of at least one planar heating surface (18) is arranged adjacent to the heating loop structure (14) for heating the dissolution medium in the heating chamber. The heating loop structure (14) comprises a dissolution medium conduit that loops in one plane in a serpentine pattern.