Applications

The range of applications of the new Becker Technologies leak-tester covers the control of filled:

• Small glass and plastic containers, pharmaceutical cartridges, vials
• Blisters and other containers containing volatile substances

As well as the detection of:

• Smallest leakages
• Residual moisture e.g. in vacuum drying plants
• Traces of volatile substances

Advantages

The advantages of this new technique, successfully employed in several semi-automatic testers for the pharmaceutical industry are:

• Qualified and validated
• In compliance with FDA requirements
• Independent of the material (e.g. glass, polyethylene) of the specimen to be controlled
• High sensitivity, detects losses in the µg-range if required
• Detection of water traces under vacuum, so far not covered by any other method
• Non-contact, stress-free measurement
• PLC- or PC-controlled operation
• In-line control, e.g. in blow-fill-seal plants

Measuring Principle

Polyethylene cartridges, vials and other containers, seals etc. can be leak tested reliably by the new technique developed by Becker Technologies. The method bases on the fact, that traces of volatile substances, e.g. from aqueous or alcoholic solutions are evaporated and released under vacuum and change the plasma properties of a gas discharge. Luminescence of the plasma decreases depending on the quantity and type of released contaminants. Luminescence is measured via a special photo sensor. Leaking cartridges, vials or other samples releasing volatile traces are indicated by missing a certain defined signal threshold. Depending on the application and the required accuracy, the threshold for the "leak-criteria" can refer e.g. to gravimetrical (loss of mass per time interval), biological (no penetration of pathogens) germs or other standards. (See also Pharm. Ind. 61, 369-371 (1999)).

Service Offer

• Design, construction and support of semi or fully automatic stand-alone units, e.g. for galenic R&D or production of clinical samples and pre-series, replaces time consuming conventional tests
• Performance of test-series
• Support and consulting, individual adaption for in-line process control in production lines
• Design and construction of leak control units for production lines

Leak-testing Device