METHOD FOR ANALYSING A SPRAY GENERATED BY A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING FLUID PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT
A method of analyzing a spray generated by a spray device for spraying pharmaceutical fluid, the method comprising the following steps: providing a spray head ( 1 ) of a spray device for spraying pharmaceutical fluid, said spray head ( 1 ) including a spray orifice ( 2 ); causing a test fluid to pass through said spray head ( 1 ) towards said spray orifice ( 2 ), said test fluid being air at a temperature that is different from ambient temperature; displaying, by strioscopy, the flow of test fluid leaving said spray orifice ( 2 ); and analyzing said display of the test-fluid flow so as to determine whether or not the test-fluid spray coming from said spray head complies with predetermined specifications.
1 . A method of analyzing a spray generated by a spray device for spraying pharmaceutical fluid, the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
providing a spray head ( 1 ) of a spray device for spraying pharmaceutical fluid, said spray head ( 1 ) including a spray orifice ( 2 );
causing a test fluid to pass through said spray head ( 1 ) towards said spray orifice ( 2 ), said test fluid being air at a temperature that is different from ambient temperature;
displaying, by strioscopy, the flow of test fluid leaving said spray orifice ( 2 ); and
analyzing said display of the test-fluid flow so as to determine whether or not the test-fluid spray coming from said spray head complies with predetermined specifications.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein said analyzing step includes determining the cone angle of the test-fluid spray.
3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein said analyzing step includes an image-processing step for processing said display of the test-fluid flow.
4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein said predetermined specifications include a predetermined spray cone angle, such that test-fluid sprays having a cone angle that is greater than or equal to said predetermined spray cone angle are classed as being compliant, and test-fluid sprays having a cone angle that is less than said predetermined spray cone angle are classed as being non-compliant.
5 . A device for analyzing a spray generated by a spray device for spraying pharmaceutical fluid, the device being characterized in that it comprises:
a spray head ( 1 ) of a spray device for spraying pharmaceutical fluid, said spray head ( 1 ) including a spray orifice ( 2 );
means ( 24 ) for causing a test fluid to pass through said spray head ( 1 ) towards said spray orifice ( 2 ), said test fluid being air at a temperature that is different from ambient temperature;
a strioscopic setup ( 20 ) for displaying, by strioscopy, the flow ( 5 ) of test fluid leaving said spray orifice ( 2 ); and
analyzer means ( 30 ) for analyzing said display of the test-fluid flow ( 5 ) so as to determine whether or not the test-fluid spray coming from said spray head ( 1 ) complies with predetermined specifications.
6 . A device according to claim 5 , wherein said analyzer means ( 30 ) include measuring means for measuring the cone angle of the test-fluid spray.
7 . A device according to claim 5 , wherein said analyzer means ( 30 ) include image-processing means for processing said display of the test-fluid flow.
8 . A device according to claim 5 , wherein said strioscopic setup ( 20 ) comprises a camera ( 21 ), an objective lens ( 22 ), a light source ( 23 ), generator means ( 24 ) for generating a test-fluid flow, a display zone ( 25 ), at least one collimator lens ( 26 , 27 ), and a filter ( 28 ).
9 . A device according to claim 8 , wherein said strioscopic setup ( 20 ) further comprises a concave and/or parabolic mirror ( 29 ).
10 . A device according to claim 5 , wherein said filter ( 28 ) is a point, a wire, or a blade.