Abstract: A pressurised dispensing container (10) comprising a container (11) for product to be dispensed, and a valve fixed to the container, wherein the container contains a propellant comprising 1,1-difluoroethane or a derivative thereof and optionally ethanol. The valve comprises a valve stem (15), a valve body (16, 18) and one or more seals (20, 21), the valve stem being slidable within the valve body, the one or more seals co-operating with the valve stem for regulating discharge of a fluid. The valve further comprises a sealing gasket (14) for sealing the valve to the dispensing container. The one or more seals (20, 21) is/are formed from (i) an elastomeric composition, preferably an elastomeric composition comprising an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer. The sealing gasket (14) is formed from (ii) an elastomeric composition comprising an isobutylene polymer or co-polymer thereof.

Abstract: Fluid delivery device for discharging a fluid, having: a housing; piston pump; biasing mechanism; and trigger mechanism. The housing has a basal end and a discharge end with outlet for discharging the fluid. The piston pump has a casing defining a pump chamber for storage of fluid, a piston slidably movable relative to the pump chamber, a piston plunger, and a delivery channel. The trigger mechanism is movable from a cocked configuration wherein the trigger mechanism prevents transfer of a biasing force of the biasing mechanism to the casing to a triggered configuration with the trigger mechanism enabling transfer of the biasing force to the casing to cause movement of the casing towards the housing outlet to discharge fluid from the pump chamber, along the delivery channel and out of the outlet of the housing. The biasing mechanism has one or more flexible catch members and a manually operable trigger.

Abstract: A valve for discharging a fluid, comprising: a valve body at least partially defining a fluid chamber; and a valve stem extending into the fluid chamber, the valve stem comprising an outlet port for transfer, in use, of fluid from the fluid chamber into the valve stem; the valve stem being slidably movable relative to the valve body from: i) a non-dispensing position in which the outlet port is out of communication with the fluid chamber; to ii) a dispensing position in which the outlet port is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber so as to permit transfer of the fluid from the fluid chamber into the valve stem; wherein the valve further comprises a locking member which is configured to prevent return of the valve stem into the non-dispensing position once the valve stem slides beyond a locking position.

Abstract: Fluid delivery device for discharging a fluid, having: a housing; piston pump; biasing mechanism; and trigger mechanism. The housing has a basal end and a discharge end with outlet for discharging the fluid. The piston pump has a casing defining a pump chamber for storage of fluid, a piston slidably movable relative to the pump chamber, a piston plunger, and a delivery channel. The trigger mechanism is movable from a cocked configuration wherein the trigger mechanism prevents transfer of a biasing force of the biasing mechanism to the casing to a triggered configuration with the trigger mechanism enabling transfer of the biasing force to the casing to cause movement of the casing towards the housing outlet to discharge fluid from the pump chamber, along the delivery channel and out of the outlet of the housing. The biasing mechanism has one or more flexible catch members and a manually operable trigger.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device (1) for discharging a fluid comprises a housing (2, 3), piston pump (4), biasing mechanism (5, 101), and trigger mechanism (6); the housing (2, 3) comprising a basal end (3) and discharge end (2) having an outlet (10) for discharging the fluid; the piston pump (4) comprising a casing (20) defining a pump chamber (35) for fluid storage, piston (21) slidably movable relative to the pump chamber (35), piston plunger (22), and delivery channel (59) for delivering fluid discharged from pump chamber (35) to outlet (10); the trigger mechanism (6) being movable from cocked configuration, preventing transfer of biasing mechanism (5, 101) force to the casing (20) to prevent casing (20) movement towards the outlet (10), to triggered configuration, enabling transfer of biasing mechanism (5, 101) force to the casing (20) to cause casing (20) movement towards the outlet (10) to discharge fluid from the pump chamber (35).

Abstract: Dose indicator device for metered dose inhalers having a base, inner wheel, outer wheel, drive, transmission cog and flexible cover. The drive, inner wheel and outer wheel are concentrically, rotatably mounted about a first rotation axis. The cog rotates about a second axis parallel to the first. The inner wheel has inner annular surface primary indexing teeth and one or more outer annular surface secondary indexing teeth. The outer wheel has indexing teeth on an inner annular surface. The cog has gear teeth engageable with outer wheel indexing teeth and engageable by one or more inner wheel secondary indexing teeth. The drive has one or more arms engageable with primary indexing teeth. The flexible cover being flexible downwardly wherein, in use, downward drive movement is accompanied by drive rotation about the first axis, the rotation causing inner wheel rotation by interengagement of the drive and the primary indexing teeth.

Abstract: A metering valve (10) for dispensing metered doses of a pressurized product derived from a bulk supply of a pressurized product, the metering valve comprising a valve body (14), a valve stem (11), and sealing means (17,18), the valve stem (11) comprising an outlet for the pressurized product, the valve body (14) defining an internal volume (33), the metering valve further comprising a metering chamber (12), the valve stem being movable between a non-dispensing position in which the metering chamber is, in use, in fluid communication with the bulk supply of pressurized product and a dispensing position in which the metering chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet, characterized in that, in use, the bulk supply of pressurized product is wholly contained within the internal volume (33) of the valve body (14).

Abstract: A valve for discharging a fluid, comprising: a valve body at least partially defining a fluid chamber; and a valve stem extending into the fluid chamber, the valve stem comprising an outlet port for transfer, in use, of fluid from the fluid chamber into the valve stem; the valve stem being slidably movable relative to the valve body from: i) a non-dispensing position in which the outlet port is out of communication with the fluid chamber; to ii) a dispensing position in which the outlet port is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber so as to permit transfer of the fluid from the fluid chamber into the valve stem; wherein the valve further comprises a locking member which is configured to prevent return of the valve stem into the non-dispensing position once the valve stem slides beyond a locking position.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device (1) for discharging a fluid comprises a housing (2, 3), piston pump (4), biasing mechanism (5, 101), and trigger mechanism (6); the housing (2, 3) comprising a basal end (3) and discharge end (2) having an outlet (10) for discharging the fluid; the piston pump (4) comprising a casing (20) defining a pump chamber (35) for fluid storage, piston (21) slidably movable relative to the pump chamber (35), piston plunger (22), and delivery channel (59) for delivering fluid discharged from pump chamber (35) to outlet (10); the trigger mechanism (6) being movable from cocked configuration, preventing transfer of biasing mechanism (5, 101) force to the casing (20) to prevent casing (20) movement towards the outlet (10), to triggered configuration, enabling transfer of biasing mechanism (5, 101) force to the casing (20) to cause casing (20) movement towards the outlet (10) to discharge fluid from the pump chamber (35).

Abstract: A fluid delivery device for discharging a fluid having a housing, a piston pump, a biasing mechanism, and a trigger mechanism. The housing has a fluid discharge outlet. The pump has a pump chamber casing for fluid storage, a piston sliding in the pump chamber, a piston plunger, and a delivery channel leading to the housing outlet. The biasing mechanism biases the piston pump casing towards the housing outlet. The trigger mechanism has a catch member and a restraining member movable by a manually actuatable trigger from a cocked to a triggered configuration. The cocked restraining member engages the catch member to prevent movement and fluid discharge. A triggered restraining member disengages from the catch member for movement of the casing towards the housing outlet to discharge fluid from housing outlet.

Abstract: Dose indicator device for metered dose inhalers having a base, inner wheel, outer wheel, drive, transmission cog and flexible cover. The drive, inner wheel and outer wheel are concentrically, rotatably mounted about a first rotation axis. The cog rotates about a second axis parallel to the first. The inner wheel has inner annular surface primary indexing teeth and one or more outer annular surface secondary indexing teeth. The outer wheel has indexing teeth on an inner annular surface. The cog has gear teeth engageable with outer wheel indexing teeth and engageable by one or more inner wheel secondary indexing teeth. The drive has one or more arms engageable with primary indexing teeth. The flexible cover being flexible downwardly wherein, in use, downward drive movement is accompanied by drive rotation about the first axis, the rotation causing inner wheel rotation by interengagement of the drive and the primary indexing teeth.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device for discharging a fluid having a housing, a piston pump, a biasing mechanism, and a trigger mechanism. The housing has a fluid discharge outlet. The pump has a pump chamber casing for fluid storage, a piston sliding in the pump chamber, a piston plunger, and a delivery channel leading to the housing outlet The biasing mechanism biases the piston pump casing towards the housing outlet. The trigger mechanism has a catch member and a restraining member movable by a manually actuatable trigger from a cocked to a triggered configuration. The cocked restraining member engages the catch member to prevent movement and fluid discharge. A triggered restraining member disengages from the catch member for movement of the casing towards the housing outlet to discharge fluid from housing outlet.

Abstract: Surface plasmon generation on a metal or semiconductor layer at an outer surface of an optical waveguide, using light reflected or scattered from inside the optical waveguide. One aspect provides a main optical waveguide (11) (e.g. optical fibre) having a second optical waveguide (18) adhered thereto, the second optical waveguide including an optically transparent material (610) separating two surface plasmon supporting layers (600, 620). Another aspect provides a surface plasmon supporting layer of material(s) adhered to the main optical waveguide, the layer having photo-induced regions of material compaction. The regions of compaction may cause un-inscribed refractive index modulations in the main optical waveguide. The surface plasmons are coupled to the guided mode(s) in the main optical waveguide. Surface plasmon resonance depends on sample material in contact with an outermost surface plasmon supporting layer.

Abstract: A metering valve for a pressurized fluid reservoir with an immobile fixed chamber body sealed off by a plug with at least one opening that serves as an inlet into the metering chamber that also serves as the outlet of any temporarily stored pressurized gas, with a valve stem that surrounds the metering chamber that it is co-axially aligned and slidable with respect to the metering chamber such that the valve stem's attached seals and its dispensing opening expose the metering chamber's opening to the dispensing opening of the valve stem as the valve stem is actuated to overcome the biasing forces of a spring, and subsequently close the metering chamber's opening when not actuated from the valve stem's dispensing opening and expose the metering chamber's opening to the pressurized fluid reservoir so that a metered dose of pressurized fluid is dispensed during each cycle of actuation of the valve stem.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metering valve comprising a valve stem (11) co-axially slidable within a valve body (14), the metering valve comprising a metering chamber (13), wherein the metering chamber is constructed wholly from rigid components.

Abstract: A metering valve (10) for dispensing metered doses of a pressurised product derived from a bulk supply of a pressurised product, the metering valve comprising a valve body (14), a valve stem (11), and sealing means (17,18), the valve stem (11) comprising an outlet for the pressurised product, the valve body (14) defining an internal volume (33), the metering valve further comprising a metering chamber (12), the valve stem being movable between a non-dispensing position in which the metering chamber is, in use, in fluid communication with the bulk supply of pressurised product and a dispensing position in which the metering chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet, characterised in that, in use, the bulk supply of pressurised product is wholly contained within the internal volume (33) of the valve body (14).

Abstract: The generation of surface plasmons on a metal layer arranged upon an outer surface of an optical waveguide, using light reflected from inside the optical waveguide. The reflected light may be a reflected part of guided light travelling along the optical waveguide and may be a back-reflected (e.g. obliquely back-reflected) part of the guided light. The reflected part of guided light may form a radiative optical mode(s) which is used to excite surface plasmons and which is also coupled to the remaining guided mode(s) of the light from which it derives. This coupling of the radiation mode(s) and the guided mode(s) enables changes in the radiation mode(s) to cause consequential changes in the guided mode(s) of light. Such changes in the radiation mode(s) may occur due to the coupling of the reflected mode(s) to the surface plasmons they excite at the metal layer.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus comprising a dispensing container assembled with a metering valve. The dispensing container defines a storage volume for a product and the dispensing container comprises a neck terminating in an open top for receiving the metering valve. The open top extends radially outwardly relative to the neck to define a support surface. The metering valve comprises a valve assembly and a ferrule, wherein the valve assembly comprises: a metering chamber body surrounding a metering chamber volume; an inner seal, for sealing an inlet of the metering chamber volume; an outer seal, for sealing an outlet of the metering chamber volume; a valve stem; and a biasing means for biasing the valve stem.