27 February 2007; Nottingham, UK: Copley Scientific has launched the Copley Spray Force Tester SFT 1000, extending the company’s capability in spray force measurement for inhaled and nasal products. The new system reflects increasing recognition by both the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the pharmaceutical industry of the importance of impaction force as a parameter for spray characterisation and product performance assessment. Simple to operate, the SFT 1000 is a cost effective option for the measurement of maximum spray force for both nasal sprays and metered dose inhalers (MDIs). It is highly suitable for quality control and research and development applications in laboratories requiring straightforward, repeatable spray force measurement.
Recent work by the FDA highlights the application of spray impaction force for in vitro equivalence studies and raises the possibility of using maximum force measurements at different distances from the mouthpiece for quality control purposes. Of all the variables that can be used to characterise a spray, impaction force is among the most noticeable to the patient and is also closely correlated with aerosol deposition behaviour.
The SFT 1000’s highly sensitive load cell permits accurate measurement of maximum impaction force (+/- 2.5 mN) during the spray event. The distance between the test device and impaction plate can be simply set and varied using precision slide rails with an integral lock, while the impaction plate is easily removed for cleaning. The unit can be operated vertically or horizontally for representative testing of nasal sprays and metered dose inhalers respectively, and calibration can be easily verified by the user in the laboratory.
The launch of the SFT 1000 reflected growing interest in spray force measurement as a practical way to support product understanding during development and quality control. For laboratories involved in nasal spray testing and MDI evaluation, spray impaction force data can provide an additional perspective on device performance alongside other established in vitro measurements.
CAPTION: Copley Scientific’s SFT1000
About Copley Scientific
Copley Scientific is a major provider of test equipment for pharmaceutical solid dosage forms, including tablet dissolution, disintegration, friability, hardness and powder testers, and is recognised as the world’s leading manufacturer of inhaler test equipment. The company has offices in the UK and Switzerland and a partnership with aerosol particle science experts MSP Corporation in the US. Copley’s broad range of testing products for metered-dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers, nebulizers and nasal sprays are supplied and supported worldwide through close relationships with specialist distributors. Serving the pharmaceutical and associated industries, Copley offers an extensive range of equipment for research, production, clinical trials and quality control, as well as full validation and aftersales service, providing a single source for products that meet individual needs. www.copleyscientific.com
