Patent ID: 8793896

Claim:
A device for controlling a dehydration operation during a freeze-drying treatment, the device including: a freeze-drying enclosure connected to a vacuum line, and a gas analyzer adapted to analyze gas contained in said freeze-drying enclosure, said gas analyzer comprising: a gas ionization system comprising: a plasma source in contact with gas contained in said freeze-drying enclosure; and a radio-frequency generator coupled to said plasma source, said plasma source and radio-frequency generator operable to generate a plasma from gas contained in said freeze-drying enclosure; and a system for analysis of ionized gases, said system comprising: a radiation sensor situated in the vicinity of the area of generation of the plasma; and apparatus for analysis of the evolution of the radiation spectrum emitted by the plasma, said apparatus coupled to said radiation sensor characterized in that it includes means for repetitively turning the plasma source on and off.