Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) Shot Weighers
(Video 1 here) (Video 2 here)

Labman have now completed their second MDI Shot Weigher for batch testing inhaler canister drug dosing. The system has been upgraded to improve throughput and so quicken test times.

One of Labman's most recent robotic systems performs through life testing on metered dose inhalers (aerosols). The system provides secure 21 CFR part 11 compliant results with user logon and file signature functionality.

The system comprises racking for 160 inhaler canisters, a weighing station to 5 decimal places, a 2D barcode reader, and a firing station for dispensing the doses.

The canisters are individually picked from the racking and barcode read to identify the inhaler. The barcodes are 2D and so can contain any data required to identify the product. In this instance the barcodes contain up to 52 characters of information.

Ref:TN123456
20/05/2005 15:15
Code: 123456
Lot: 1
Unit 001 : 063

The inhaler canisters once identified by the barcode are weighed, shaken, fired and reweighed to calculate the dispensed volume. The firing station can adjust the force of actuation and the timing of the fire to provide studies more alike with human use.

The shake movement is provided using a stepper motor mounted on the z-axis of the system. This shake movement is used in this manner as it has already been in use for a number of years and so has been evaluated and previously approved for such studies.

A range of canister types can be tested, and any number of doses can be dispensed until the canister is "dead". The system runs 24 hours a day with no user intervention.