Method of performing spectral analysis in a pharmaceutical dissolution process

This invention relates generally to methods of performing spectral analysis in a pharmaceutical dissolution process, and more particularly to such methods using fiber optic probes. A method for performing spectral analysis in a pharmaceutical dissolution process. The method comprises inserting a fiber optic probe of a spectral analyzer into a dissolution vessel. The dissolution vessel contains a dissolution medium. The probe has a launch cable, a return cable, a launch lens portion, a return lens portion and a reflector. The reflector is spaced from both the lens portions. The cables, lens portions and reflector are arranged and adapted to form a light pathway whereby light transmitted through the launch cable passes through the launch lens portion, through a volume of the dissolution medium in the spacing between the launch lens portions and the reflector, and then through the return cable. The spacing between the reflector and the lens portions comprise a sample region. The fiber optic probe is sized and adapted to prevent bubbles in the dissolution medium from being trapped in the sample region. The method further comprises transmitting light along the optic pathway, and analyzing the transmitted light for determining certain optical properties of the dissolution medium in the optic pathway.