Abstract: Apparatus and process for non-destructively testing a fluid-filled container for leaktightness, the process comprising: (a) subjecting the fluid-filled container to a vacuum or near vacuum environment; (b) utilizing electrical equipment to form an electrical discharge in the vacuum or near vacuum environment sufficient to stimulate spectral light emissions from volatile fluid-filled container contents present in the vacuum or near vacuum environment; (c) detecting the spectral light emissions from the volatile fluid-filled container contents produced in step (b); and (d) evaluating the spectral light emissions detected in step (c) to determine the amount of volatile fluid-filled container contents present in the vacuum or near vacuum environment by comparing: (i) the measured brightness level of the spectral light emissions obtained from step (c), to (ii) a base brightness level obtained by measuring the brightness level of the spectral emissions due to the presence of residual gas or air molecules in the

Abstract: The invention relates to a propellant-free inhaler which has a storage chamber (6) for a powdered substance to be inhaled, which is associated with a metering device (8), which is manually operated by means of a button, having a metering chamber (7) for receiving a given dose of the powdered substance. The device also has a lateral mouth piece (11) for active breathing in, with an air channel (7) for distributing the particular dose of the powdered substance in the air stream. To ensure that the dosage provided is highly reproducible, a high proportion of this dose leaves the inhaler and the medicinal substance is reproducibly dispersed, a trigger operated pump (12,19,20) is provided which can be manually primed before the inhalation process by means of a button (1,42) and which can be actuated in synchronism with the breathing, thereby generating a current of foreign air which disperses the metered substance.

Abstract: In a device for initiating a mechanical switching operation in inhalers, in synchronism with the breathing, a membrane like transmitter element (47) is provided which cooperates with a release mechanism (45, 46, 50) on a switching device (13, 19c, 22).

Abstract: The invention relates to a propellent-free inhalation device having a supply of solidified medicinal substance to be inhaled, a manually operable metering device for removing a given dose of the medicinal substance for the inhalation process and having a mouthpiece for actively breathing in and an air space for distributing the particular dose of medicinal substance in the air stream. An abrasion device, in the form of a brush comprising a plurality of bristles, is used to abrade the medicinal substance to form the dose.