Abstract: The invention relates to sustained release compositions of alfuzosin or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that include one or more functional layers. The functional layer includes alfuzosin or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic rate-controlling polymers.

Abstract: A side-emissive flexible polymeric light guide 1 is formed with a main body portion 6 and an integral attachment or anchoring element 7 that extends along its length for attaching the light guide 1 to an item. The attachment element 7 may be in the form of a flat strip of material which may be stitched to an item or may be formed for a snap-fit or in any other appropriate form, e.g. a rib and groove profile. The attachment element 7 is preferably opaque and co-extruded with the main body portion. The light guide may provide effective and simple to use trim and piping and may be used with bags, mobile phone pouches, clothing, furniture and signage. Various new mobile phone alert and signage systems are also disclosed which may, but need not, include a light guide having an integral attachment element.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for the preparation of alfuzosin or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof in high purity. More particularly, it relates to the preparation of pure crystalline alfuzosin base. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions that include the pure alfuzosin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to herbal materials and methods for making such materials in medicinally useful and pharmaceutically acceptable forms. Particularly, the present invention relates generally to Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) materials and methods for making such materials in medicinally useful and pharmaceutically acceptable forms. More particularly, the present invention relates a process which allows the standardization of the product to specified levels of bioactivity in both hydro-alcoholic tinctures and solid extracts in the processing of goldenseal materials to produce extracts which qualify as pharmaceutical grade compositions which are suitable for use in clinical or veterinary settings to treat and/or ameliorate diseases, disorders or conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for the preparation of clopidogrel and salts thereof. The inventors have developed a process for preparing racemic clopidogrel by racemizing R(?) clopidogrel. The process includes the step of reacting R(?) clopidogrel with a powered anhydrous base in one or more solvents.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition and method for treatment of a subject suffering from liver disease comprising the oral administration of a slow release formulation of calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem and thiamine which is also an antioxidant which is relatively hydrophilic when compared with the calcium channel blocker.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to herbal materials and methods for making such materials in medicinally useful and pharmaceutically acceptable forms. Particularly, the present invention relates generally to Hydrstatis canadensis (goldenseal) materials and methods for making such materials in medicinally useful and pharmaceutically acceptable forms. More particularly, the present invention relates a process which allows the precise standardization of at least two marker compounds, berberine and hydrastine, in both hydro-alcoholic tinctures and solid extracts in the processing of goldenseal materials to produce extracts which qualify as pharmaceutical grade compositions which are suitable for use in clinical or veterinary settings to treat and/or ameliorate diseases, disorders or conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable crozer adapted to be mounted above a new or used barrel for firstly creating a groove or “croze” along an inside surface to accommodate a barrel head, and secondly, for creating a bevelled top edge. In the case of used barrels, the croze is formed a short distance below the existing croze, and a new bevelled edge is formed to compensate for the lowered barrel head position. Conventional crozers are not adapted to be used on used barrels and have a number of inherent problems which are overcome by the present invention. In particular, conventional crozers are not portable which means they are not able to be used in mobile barrel reconditioning services, the time taken for each croze is significant, and they are generally in the form of bulky, quite expensive machinery.

Abstract: This invention relates to a thermite welding process for joining sections of a railway line in situ, the process including the preliminary step of mounting a suitable welding mould about the aligned sections of railway line to be welded together and sealing the mould to prevent run out; mounting a vibration means on the railway line at a suitable distance from the mould and operating it at a suitable frequency; heating the sections of railway line to a desired temperature; igniting an ignitor means and allowing it to drop into the mould to react with molten steel in the mould and fill a weld area about and between the sections of railway line in the mould; and when solidified, to vibrate the railway line for a further period of time until stress relieving of the cast weld area has occurred.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved hole saw boss (10) and in particular, to a boss including a threaded member (12) adapted to accommodate two hole saws of the same or different bore thread diameters. The present invention allows for a pre-existing aperture (22) in a work piece to be simply enlarged. This is useful if a new lock mechanism is being installed in a door with a pre-existing aperture where the lock mechanism requires a larger aperture than that which was in existence. Currently the aperture has to be enlarged by manual handwork since there is no centre-point to which a pilot drill may be enlarged. The threaded bore diameters of the present invention correspond with the commonly available hole saw threaded bore diameters. The present invention therefore provides the public with device for enlarging apertures which is simply, cost effective and can be used with currently available hole saws.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are non-synthetic herbal based anti-fertility compositions having high spermicidal activity for intravaginal administration comprising hydroalcoholic extract of Annona squamosa and pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, in suitably formulated dosage forms for intravaginal administration and a method of contraception in a female subject to prevent pregnancy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a water treatment apparatus, method and system for use in the treatment of an open or closed body of water including water in a vessel, pipe, reservoir, river, chamber, lake or similar bodies of water, the water being retained in a water containment means being referenced or tied to ground potential, the apparatus including an energisable material defined as an active electrode being configured and arranged for placement in the body of water, the active electrode being adapted to be energised or electrostatically charged with a negative electrostatic voltage charge from a power supply means, in use, to induce and set up an electrostatic field in the water causing contaminants in the water effected by the induced charge to bond and be removed from the water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a delivery device comprising a fluid cartridge holder, housing and a piston drive mechanism that comprises a hollow piston rod and a drive-shaft. The hollow piston rod has an internal thread that mates with the external thread of the drive-shaft, forming a thread connection and being axially restrained in the proximal direction relative to the housing. The drive mechanism is in turn connected to the housing via a one way ratchet such that the piston rod is prevented from moving in the proximal direction.

Abstract: This invention is a material discharge apparatus for controlling the flow rate of flowable material being conveyed through a hopper, the apparatus includes a hopper with an inlet at the top to receive flowable material and a discharge outlet at the base of the hopper, a valve configured and arranged in the hopper, the valve has a lower end portion adjacent the discharge outlet forming a gap between the hopper and the valve for material discharge, with the valve fixedly connected to a fixed support beam, the hopper elastically connected to the same fixed support beam such that as the more material is received by the inlet, the more the hopper sags, the larger the gap formed between the valve and the hopper grows, thereby increasing the rate of flow of material discharge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hole-saw assembly (10) including a hole saw (26) having at one end a plurality of cutting teeth and at the other end two shafts. The assembly includes a mandrel (16) coaxially aligned with said hole-saw and including a body having two bores there through coaxially aligned with said shafts. An annulus (20) located on top of the body is coaxially aligned with said mandrel and hole saw and includes two holes, the annulus rotatable around its longitudinal axis from a first to a second position. In the first position the annulus holes are aligned with the bores and shafts allowing the shafts to be freely insertable and removable and in the second position the holes are misaligned to lock the shafts to the annulus. The mandrel further includes a pair of driving pins (22) adapted to engage driving apertures (24) found in hole saws especially larger ones.

Abstract: A hole saw assembly including a boss adapted to hold a hole saw and having a plurality of connecting shafts. The shafts rotationally engage a driving means and longitudinally engage a locking member that locks the boss, driving means and the locking member together. This is achieved by the driving means and the locking member having co-axially aligned cutouts allowing for the insertion of the shafts. The locking member is moveable between two positions in one the cutouts engaging the shafts and in the other allowing for free longitudinal movement of the shafts.