Abstract: A metered dose inhaler for dispensing a fluid medicament as droplets of small mean particle size without the use of pressurized gas or liquefied propellants. A liquid drug is contained in a fluid reservoir, and metered quantities of the drug are successively presented into a reduced cross-section pressure chamber, with non-return valves controlling the flow of liquid through the device. The metered quantity of the drug is then subjected to a sudden and great increase in pressure by releasing a piston into the pressure chamber. The liquid drug is thereby ejected through an atomizing head, to reduce it to a fine atomized spray of small mean particle size, preferably less than approximately 12 micrometers.

Abstract: A needless injector having a liquid metering chamber with an outlet orifice, a piston slidable within the metering chamber, and a rod arranged to strike one end of the piston to force liquid through the outlet orifice. A cam follower is mounted at one end of the rod to ride on a cam that retracts the rod away from the piston. The injector is in two parts which are biassed away from each other. The front part of the injector carries the outlet orifice and the rear part carries the cam. Actuation occurs when the two parts of the injector are sufficiently urged towards each other by the user to actuate the cam to release the rod and thereby strike the piston and force liquid through the outlet orifice.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly which comprises a nozzle aperture for discharge of a fluid as a spray of droplets, and a conduit in fluid flow communication with the nozzle aperture. The flow of fluid through the conduit is restricted by the minimum effective cross-sectional area of the conduit transverse to the line of flow of fluid through the conduit so that back flow of fluid from the nozzle aperture through the conduit at ambient and operational pressure differentials is substantially prevented. The invention further provides for a method of discharging a fluid as a spray of droplets, and a spray generating device which includes the nozzle assembly of the present invention.

Abstract: A method and device are described for atomising liquids, in which the liquid is forced through an annular gap formed between a spherical or conical surface and a circumambient hole in a plate, which components may be displaced relative to one another to control the flow of liquid through the gap. The size of the gap is controlled by a stop.

Abstract: A method and device are described for atomizing liquids, in which the liquid is forced through an annular gap formed between a spherical or conical surface and a circumambient hole in a plate, which components may be displaced relative to one another to control the flow of liquid through the gap. The size of the gap is controlled by a stop.

Abstract: A process and a discharge valve assembly are provided for regulating the flow of a liquid product from an aerosol container which is pressurized with a permanent gas propellant. The liquid product is conveyed under pressure to a mixing region and the propellant gas is separately conveyed to the mixing region. The mixture is passed through at least one choke restrictor that is located between the mixing region and the discharge nozzle. The mixture expanding downstream of the restrictor forms a foam-like mixture internally of the valve assembly and prior to discharge of the mixture from the exit nozzle.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing chemical analysis wherein a cuvette holds a sample under examination and a support carries a dispenser head carrying two one-shot dispensers each in the form of a pressurized container holding a liquid reagent, of which a metered does is delivered into the cuvette through a discharge tube fixed to the dispenser head when the body of the container is displaced relative to said discharge tube.

Abstract: A pressurized metering dispenser comprises a main reservoir, a liquid metering chamber and a gas chamber. A valve arrangement enters the reservoir and the gas chamber from an outlet nozzle at the end of a central passage, the inboard end of which is above the level of liquid in the reservoir when the dispenser is held nozzle-down. A gas holding chamber communicates with the gas chamber and the liquid metering chamber with the reservoir in a normal state, and actuation is achieved by upward displacement of the nozzle to start off the liquid and gas holding chambers and from their supplies and finally cause the chamber to communicate with the chamber to cause the liquid to be expelled through the nozzle under the gas pressure in the chamber. A holder for such a dispenser includes an actuating lever and counter to indicate the number of actuations.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating a stream of flowing liquid in a conduit into segments separated by gas bubbles of a known or at least controllable size includes a chamber communicating with the interior of the conduit and a duct of smaller cross section than the chamber, which projects into the chamber and is connectable to a source of gas under pressure: the size of the gas chamber, can be adjusted to change the rate at which the gas bubbles are injected and thus vary the length of the liquid segments.