This new desktop spectroscopic and imaging system for the pharmaceutical R&D market, the TAS7500, utilizes terahertz waves to perform non-destructive sample analysis. It relies on a proprietary method to achieve rapid, non-destructive imaging and analysis of pharmaceutical samples in the liquid or solid state. Crystalline qualities, the characteristics of constituents, and even the thickness, density and internal structure of pill coating may be analyzed and visually rendered in two or three dimensions. The system offers lower costs and higher efficiency at all stages of drug development, from lab research to process scale-up. According to the company, the system is poised to contribute to the new approach to pharmaceutical R&D, which is based on intelligent risk management, and incorporates the ICH2 guidelines that are being adopted by an increasing number of firms. The system provides a solution capable of non-destructively analyzing the thickness and density of pills/tablets with external coatings and complex internal structures, and presenting results as 2D or 3D visualizations. Operation is automatic, with users required to set just a few simple parameters, and a maximum analysis capacity of 10 pills or tablets at one time. The new system’s functionality contributes to a product development process designed to put quality first. The terahertz technology is capable of acquiring fingerprint spectra based on molecular interactions in the terahertz frequency range, making the system ideally suited to rapid evaluation of the crystalline properties of drugs, which have grown progressively more complex in recent years.

Advantest Corp., Santa Clara, CA 95054.  www.advantest.com or call 408-988-7700

INTERPHEX 2012 Booth No. 2161