Abstract: An analytical apparatus comprises a biosensor device (3) which forms the base of a sample chamber. A stirrer (8) extends into the sample chamber and moves within the chamber so as to homogenize a sample contained within the chamber in contact with the biosensor (3). Movement of the stirrer (8) is preferably reciprocal movement along an axis perpendicular to the surface of the biosensor (3).

Abstract: Pressurized aerosol inhalation composition consisting essentially of a liquefied hydrofluoroalkane, a powdered medicament dispersible to form a suspension in the liquefied hydrofluoroalkane, and polyvinylpyrrolidone present in a concentration of 0.00001 to 10% w/w.

Abstract: There is provided a device for the administration of an inhalation medicament, including a body defining a through-going air pathway having a longitudinal axis, an air inlet, an air outlet forming a mouthpiece, means for dispensing medicament into the pathway and air flow regulating means, characterized in that the air flow regulating means includes a movable obstructing means adapted to reduce the cross-sectional area of the pathway at a location between the air inlet and the means for dispensing medicament, and biassing means, whereby the obstructing means is biassed into a first resting position in which the cross-sectional area of the pathway is minimum and is adapted to move against the bias of the biassing means to a second position in which the cross-section area of the pathway is maximum in response to a pressure fall at the mouthpiece caused by inhalation and is adapted to move farther to a third position in which the cross-sectional area of the pathway is less than maximum in response to a greater p

Abstract: A process for the production of compacted bodies of powdered medicament is disclosed, the process comprising the steps of:a) positioning expansible means along the longitudinal axis of the mold;b) placing loose powdered medicament in the mold; andc) expanding the expansible means perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the mold. An apparatus for use in the process according to the invention and medicament compacts formed by the process are also disclosed.

Abstract: Pressurised aerosol compositions comprise a medicament, a hydrofluorocarbon propellant and a polyethoxylated surfactant, the compositions containing substantially no solvent, other than the propellant, capable of increasing the solubility of the surfactant in the propellant. The compositions according to the invention are advantageous in that the solubility of the surfactant is such as to ensure good dispersion of the medicament and smooth operation of the aerosol valve.

Abstract: A device for the administration of powdered inhalation medicament contained initially in a capsule having at least one aperture formed therein, comprising a swirl chamber (1) adapted to receive the medicament capsule; a mouthpiece (2) communicating with the swirl chamber (1) and separated therefrom by a grid (4); at least one air inlet (5) in tangential communication with the swirl chamber (1) whereby air can be drawn through the device via the mouthpiece (2) to cause a swirling air flow through the swirl chamber (1); and a cover member (7), having a continuous substantially planar inner surface, provided on the base of the swirl chamber (1) remote from the mouthpiece (2); said cover (7) being moveable between a first position in which the capsule can be inserted into the swirl chamber (1) and a second position in which the capsule is retained in the swirl chamber (1) and rotates upon air being drawn through the device, thereby dispensing the medicament contained therein.

Abstract: An analytical apparatus comprises a biosensor device (3) which forms the base of a sample chamber. A stirrer (8) extends into the sample chamber and moves within the chamber so as to homogenize a sample contained within the chamber in contact with the biosensor (3). Movement of the stirrer (8) is preferably reciprocal movement along an axis perpendicular to the surface of the biosensor (3).

Abstract: There is provided a device for the administration of an inhalation medicament, including a body defining a through-going air pathway having a longitudinal axis, an air inlet, an air outlet forming a mouthpiece, means for dispensing medicament into the pathway and air flow regulating means, characterised in that the air flow regulating means includes a movable obstructing means adapted to reduce the cross-sectional area of the pathway at a location between the air inlet and the means for dispensing medicament, and biassing means, whereby the obstructing means is biassed into a first resting position in which the cross-sectional area of the pathway is minimum and is adapted to move against the bias of the biassing means to a second position in which the cross-section area of the pathway is maximum in response to a pressure fall at the moiuthpiece caused by inhalation and is adapted to move further to a third position in which the cross-sectional area of the pathway is less than maximum in response to a greater

Abstract: An aerosol inhalation device suitable for use in association with a pressurized medicament container having a valve stem has a spray head adapted to receive the valve stem. The spray head has an outlet orifice of uniform diameter which is provided with a spout to prevent blockage of the spray head. The device is especially useful in the administration of hygroscopic medicaments, for example sodium cromoglycate or nedocromil sodium.

Abstract: A medication inhalation device includes a housing having a through-going pathway connecting an air inlet with an air outlet, a medicament reservoir adapted to receive a compacted body of powdered medicament, and metering means for dispensing a predetermined dose of medicament from the reservoir into the through-going pathway, the metering means including means for abrading the compacted body; the device is provided with a shutter movable between a first position in which the compacted body is isolated from the through-going pathway and a second position in which the compacted body is in communication with the through-going pathway wuch that a dose of medicament can be dispensed from the reservoir into the through-going pathway.

Abstract: A medicament compact is produced by placing loose powdered medicament in a mould having a longitudinal axis where a mandrel is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the mould compressing the medicament when a force parallel to the longitudinal axis is applied. The frictional force between the medicament and the mould and the frictional force between the medicament and the mandrel are opposite.

Abstract: A device for the administration by inhalation of a medicament in powdered form comprises a medicament reservoir (3) and metering means for dispensing a dose of medicament from the reservoir (3), characterized in that the reservoir (3) comprises a compacted body of powdered medicament (10) and the metering means includes means (11) for abrading the compacted body (10).

Abstract: A device for the administration by inhalation of a medicament in dry powder form comprises a medicament reservoir (9) and a medicament metering system (10) including a metering chamber (23) communicable with the reservoir (9), characterized in that the reservoir (9) is mounted in a housing (1) for rotation about an axis and the metering chamber (23) is located radially of the axis, the arrangement being such that the metering chamber (23) is charged with medicament during a charging rotation of the reservoir (9) about the axis.

Abstract: A non-pressurized pharmaceutical inhalation composition includes a therapeutically effective amount of a particulate inhalation medicament. The medicament has a mass median diameter in the range 0.01 to 15 .mu.m. A particulate polysaccharide entrapped flavoring agent is included in the composition and has a mass median diameter in the range of 10 to 200 .mu.m. The composition can be used to practice a method for treatment of reversible obstructive airway disease which includes administering the pharmaceutical composition to a patient.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry which is particularly suitable for the determination of isotopic ratios.In order to improve the precision of such determinations, the nozzle-skimmer type interface of the mass spectrometer is arranged so that the ratio ##EQU1## is greater than 0.8 mB.sup.1/2, where d.sub.s is the diameter of the orifice in the skimming member, s is the spacing between the sampling member and the skiming member, and p.sub.1 is the pressure in the region between the sampling and skimming members. Although use of the invention slightly reduces the efficiency of the interface it results in more accurate isotopic ratio determinations.

Abstract: An enclosed ion source for generating substantially monoenergetic ions from a gaseous sample comprises a chamber into which the gaseous sample is introduced and which is substantially enclosed by a source block having two electron entrance apertures formed in it and by a source plate having one ion extraction aperture formed in it. Two filaments are disposed outside the chamber and adjacent the electron entrance apertures. The electron impact ion source is characterized by the provision of an electrically conductive shield which is disposed within the chamber and which defines an equipotential region. The electrons, generated from a heated filament, pass into the chamber through one of the electron entrance apertures. The shield allows the passage of molecules of the gaseous sample and the electrons into the equipotential region, so that electron impact ionization of at least some of the sample occurs in the equipotential region.

Abstract: A medicament pack (1) comprising a base member (2) having a plurality of blisters (3) formed therein, each blister (3) being adapted to accommodate a medicament containing capsule (4), each capsule (4) being provided with at least one aperture (5) to permit medicament to be dispensed therefrom, wherein the base member (2) comprises sealing surfaces (6) adapted to seal the apertures (5).

Abstract: A compacted body of powdered medicament for use in a device for the administration by inhalation of a medicament in powdered form. The compacted body is made by compressing a loose powder containing the medicament in powdered form under pressure to create sufficient structural integrity in the body to permit metering of several unit doses of the medicament by abrasion of the body in the device.

Abstract: A method of treatment of a condition selected from the group comprising conjunctivitis, keratitis, ‘allergic eyes’, adenovirus infections, corneal homograft rejection, anterior uveitis, nasal polyps, vasomotor rhinitis, allergic manifestations of the nasopharynx, reversible obstructive airways disease, Crohn's disease, distal colitis and proctitis, which method comprises administration to a patient suffering from such a condition of a therapeutically effective amount of an aqueous solution containing, as active ingredient, 9-ethyl-6,9-dihydro-4,6-dioxo-10-propyl-4H-pyrano(3,2-g)quinoline-2,8-dicarboxylic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Also described are novel pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in such methods of treatment.