Abstract: A dispensing device for dispensing a number of doses of medication to a patient, comprising a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the medication by actuation of the dispensing mechanism from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position, a dose counter for counting the number of doses dispensed by said device, a first battery-less arrangement for providing power to said dose counter in response to the actuation of said dispensing mechanism, and an electronic display for displaying a dose indication, characterised in that the device includes a second battery-less arrangement for providing power to said electronic display when said dispensing mechanism is in said non-dispensing position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for analyzing the release of active agent(s) from pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical-like products. The apparatus and method provide for more accurate simulation of the conditions in the GI tract including forces that are applied to the dosage form.

Abstract: There is provided a blister form medicament pack comprising (a) a base sheet in which blisters are formed to define pockets therein for the containment of inhalable medicament; and (b) a lid sheet which is sealable to the base sheet except in the region of the blisters and mechanically peelable from the base sheet to enable release of said inhalable medicament. The base sheet and/or said lid sheet have a laminate structure comprising (a) a first layer of aluminum foil; and (b) a second layer of polymeric material of thickness from 10 to 60 micron, said polymeric material having a water vapor permeability of less than 0.6 g/(100 inches2) (24 hours) (mil) at 25° C.

Abstract: There is provided a container for a medicament powder formed from a material comprising a desiccant. In one embodiment the container is a medicament dispenser comprising a body defining a reservoir for medicament in powder form, and an outlet in communication with said reservoir. In another embodiment the container is a medicament dispenser comprising a body defining a chamber for receipt of a medicament carrier, and an outlet in communication with said chamber. Methods of controlling moisture flow are also described.

Abstract: Chain linked capsules comprising multiple capsules interconnected in a chain by chain links. The capsules comprise a sleeve and a piston whereby a powder product can be sealed within the capsule. The capsules are for use in inhalation devices, for example for entraining a dose of an inhalable pharmaceutical powder product to a patient's respiratory tract.

Abstract: There is provided a method of loading a container with a defined quantity of product which comprises the steps of a) closing off a perforation (12a, 12b) in a perforated plate (10); b) directing powder (30) into said closed-off perforation; and c) transferring the contents of the perforation to said container.

Abstract: There is provided a method for metering a quantity of a particulate material onto the surface of a porous retainer comprising the steps of: exposing a first surface of a porous retainer to a pool of particulate material; applying a vacuum to a second surface of the porous retainer to meter material on the first surface; and adjusting the level of the vacuum to regulate the quantity of material metered on the retainer.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for delivering to a patient a drug composition from a container which contains the drug composition where the container is adapted to be placed in a dispensing mode thereof on application of an actuating condition thereto is disclosed. The device includes a dispensing unit adapted to receive the container, the dispensing unit having an actuating mechanism operable to apply the actuating condition to the container and an outlet through which the drug composition is dispensable from the device, and a removable casing unit for the dispensing unit. The dispensing and casing units have securing features for releasably, fixedly securing the units together, and the dispensing unit is operable to apply the actuating condition to the container when fixedly secured to the casing unit and when independent from the casing unit.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a metered volume of a fluid product having a storage chamber for storing the fluid product, an outlet orifice through which the fluid product is dispensable from the dispenser and a metering chamber is disclosed. The metering chamber has an outlet opening which places the metering chamber in fluid communication with the outlet orifice, a transfer opening through which the fluid product is transferable between the storage and metering chambers, and a boundary wall structure which is cyclically movable between a first configuration, in which the transfer opening is opened, and a second configuration, in which the transfer opening is closed. Each cycle of movement which commences at, and ends in, the second configuration results in a metered volume of the fluid product being transferred from the storage chamber to the metering chamber via the transfer opening and dispensed from the outlet orifice via the outlet opening.