MicroNIR PAT-U
A fit-for-purpose near-infrared (NIR) analyzer for quality-by-design (QbD) manufacturing
The MicroNIR™ PAT-U is a USB-powered rugged NIR spectrometer. It is the smallest of its kind on the market making it suitable for use on equipment of different sizes as well as implementation of multiple of the analyzers on a given process.
The new MicroNIR PAT-U process spectrometer is a spectrometer innovation from the company. It is a scalable, sturdy next-generation system for real-time process monitoring in pharmaceutical and food process analytical technology (PAT) applications. With proven Viavi linear variable filter (LVF) technology, the PAT-U is recognized to have the smallest form factor on the market in a fit-for-purpose design. This makes it ideal for application with processing equipment of all sizes, with stability and the performance to facilitate efficient manufacturing.
The MicroNIR PAT-U can be used in an easy manner and was designed for the present-day demanding GMP-regulated environments; however it still needs marginal system maintenance. There are no moving components or expensive fiber optic cables, enabling excellent instrument stability and performance in challenging process environments. Its stainless steel exterior is water and dust resistant according to IP65 standards and cleans easily.
Key Features
The key features of the new MicroNIR PAT-U process spectrometer are listed below:
- Compact for effortless integration
- USB communication
- Non-invasive, real-time NIR analysis
- Washable, IP67 rated enclosure
Applications
The main applications of the new MicroNIR PAT-U process spectrometer are listed below:
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Granulation
- Fluid bed drying
- Content uniformity
- Food and feed manufacturing
- Fat
- Moisture content
- Protein
- Nutritional assay
- Industrial processing
- Polymers
- Reaction monitoring
- Petrochemicals
MicroNIR Software
The software package allows deployment flexibility from process/product development to manufacturing environments and offers encrypted secure data storage, audit trails, comprehensive user management and numerous other capabilities required for regulated GMP environments.
- The instrument control software enables uncomplicated data acquisition, user management, real-time analysis, method development, method investigation, and instrument qualification per USP 1119 criteria
- The Viavi Unscrambler® X Lite regression and classification software provides a full set of chemometric tools for data investigation and calibration model development
- The MicroNIR Process software is programmed for easy process monitoring of varied process techniques from a variety of MicroNIR spectrometers. Process engineers can smoothly view acquired data and trend results in real-time with concurrent output of key process data to the plant control system.
Mounting and Process Integration
The MicroNIR PAT-U is engineered to guarantee highest flexibility to meet the many varied criteria for process integration. It adds into a process with different mounts.
Standard
The standard mount includes a weld in base flange, a 2” sanitary (hygienic) flange mount, a sapphire window, and a retaining ring with O-rings. The base flange is welded into a hole cut in the specific process equipment. Next, the window, the sanitary flange mount, and retaining ring are assembled. The PAT-U with a modifiable collet then secures against a sanitary flange and the window using a standard tri-clover clamp (or C-clamp). All pieces can be dismantled for easy cleaning and maintenance.
Threaded
The threaded mount allows a user to weld a mount into the process equipment and then link the PAT-U using the threaded tip of the spectrometer. This mount also has a removable window to allow easy cleaning and maintenance.
Standard mount
Technical Specs
Parameter | Specification |
Illumination source | Two integrated vacuum tungsten lamps |
Bulb life | >40,000 hours |
Illumination geometry | Flood illumination/ 0° observer |
Input aperture dimensions | 2.5 x 3.0 mm |
Sample working distance | 0 – 15 mm from window |
Dispersing element | Linear variable filter |
Detector | 128-pixel InGaAs photodiode array |
Pixel size/pitch | 30 µm x 250 µm/50 µm |
Wavelength range | 950 – 1650 nm (10,526 – 6060 cm-1) |
Pixel-to-pixel interval | 6.2 nm for 950 – 1650 nm |
Spectral bandwidth (FWHM) | <1.25% of center wavelength (1% typical) (for example, @1000 nm, resolution is <12.5 nm) |
Analog-to-digital convertor | 16 bit |
Dynamic range (Max) | 1000:1 |
Measurement time (typical) | 0.25 – 0.5 second |
Integration time | 10 ms typical, minimum 10 µsec, maximum limited by dark signal |
Computer interface | USB 2.0 |
Spectrometer weight | 318 g (11.2 oz) |
Size | 45 mm diameter x 69 mm tall |
Power | USB powered (<500 mA @5V) |
Data format | Encrypted, Unsb, CSV, and SPC output |
Operating system | Windows 8.1, 8, and 7 |
Software available | MicroNIR Pro standard, Unscrambler X Lite, MicroNIR Process |
Operating temperature | 0 – 40 deg C (non-condensing) |
Enclosure | Stainless steel 316: dust and waterproof, sealed and cleanable to IP67 standard |
Mounting | Adaptable stainless steel tri-clover mount, screw into welded flange |