Abstract: An adherence monitor is provided for a dry powder inhaler that contains a blister strip having a plurality of blisters. The monitor has one or more optical sensors for reading non-numerical indicia on the blister strip. The optical sensor has a light guide which has a distal end remote from the sensor that is convex. The inhaler has an aperture into which the light guide is inserted when the monitor is mounted onto the inhaler.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler which contains a blister pack, such as a blister strip, is provided. The blister pack has a plurality of blisters, and a blister, or group of blisters, provides a dose of powdered medicament for inhalation. The blister pack has non-numerical indicia which encode an individual, unique number that is associated with each dose. The inhaler is adapted for mounting a monitor. The monitor comprises one or more sensors, such as optical sensors, for reading the non-numerical indicia on the blister pack.

Abstract: A process for producing a blister strip is provided. The blister strip contains two or more different formulations of powdered medicament for inhalation. The blister strip has a base in which blister cavities are formed. A first set of cavities each contain a first medicament formulation and are covered by a first lid material. A second set of cavities each contain a second medicament formulation and are covered by a second, separate lid material.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler is provided. The inhaler is adapted for detachably mounting a compliance monitor having a pressure sensor. The inhaler has a housing comprising first and second shell parts, and a mouthpiece which defines an inhalation passage. An external surface of the housing has an orifice. A conduit from the orifice to the inhalation passage is formed by a channel in one of the shell parts and a corresponding channel cover in the other shell part. When the compliance monitor is mounted on the housing, the pressure sensor is adjacent to the orifice and is in fluid communication with the inhalation passage via the conduit.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler and an adherence and/or compliance monitor for use with the inhaler are provided. The inhaler has a cover which is pivotable relative to its housing in order to expose a mouthpiece. The monitor has one or more sensors. The inhaler and the monitor have formations for mounting the monitor onto the inhaler. The inhaler and monitor are designed so that when the monitor is mounted onto the housing of the inhaler and the cover is opened, the cover at least partially covers and protects the monitor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method wherein the apparatus includes a channel; at least one pair of electrodes provided within sides of the channel; an electrolyte configured to move through the channel such that when the electrolyte is positioned between the at least one pair of electrodes the electrolyte provides a current path between the at least one pair of electrodes; and wherein the at least one pair of electrodes are configured such that movement of the electrolyte through the channel enables a time varying voltage to be provided.

Abstract: An apparatus (201) comprises a light emitter (202) and a photodetector (203) formed on a single fluid-permeable substrate (206) such that the photodetector (203) is able to detect light emitted by the light emitter (202) after interaction of the light with a user of the apparatus (201). The photodetector comprises a channel member (207) which may be made from graphene, respective source and drain electrodes (208, 209), a layer of photosensitive material (210) configured to vary the flow of electrical current through the channel member (207) on exposure to light from the light emitter (202), and a gate electrode (211).

Abstract: An apparatus and method, the apparatus including a channel; at least one pair of electrodes provided within sides of the channel; a conductor configured to move through the channel such that when the conductor is positioned between the at least one pair of electrodes a current path is provided through the at least one pair of electrodes and the conductor; and wherein the at least one pair of electrodes are configured such that the position of the conductor within the channel controls the length of the current path and enables a time varying voltage to be provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method and electronic device, the apparatus comprising: a memory element configured to store information; a switching element coupled to the memory element; wherein the switching element is configured to be switched from a first state to a second state in response to an input signal provided by a capacitive touch screen and wherein when the switching element is in the second state the information can be read from the memory element by the capacitive touch screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus, the method comprising: forming a layer of two dimensional material (23), in particular graphene, on a first release layer; forming, possibly a (gate) insulating layer (35), and at least two, preferably three, electrodes (25); forming a second release layer overlaying at least a portion of the layer of two dimensional material; providing a mouldable polymer (24, 26, 28) overlaying the at least two electrodes and the second release layer; and removing the first and second release layers to provide a cavity (29) between the mouldable polymer (26) and the layer of two dimensional material (23).

Abstract: An apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising: an information electrode; a ground electrode; a photo-resistive element configured to enable the information electrode to be connected to the ground electrode; and wherein the apparatus is configured to enable a sensor element to be positioned overlaying the photo-resistive element such that a change in optical properties of the sensor element controls the connection between the ground and information electrodes.

Abstract: A photodetector has a two dimensional conductive channel and a quantum dot layer configured to generate charge on exposure to incident electromagnetic radiation. The surface texture of the quantum dot layer has texturing to provide surface roughness which increases the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed in the quantum dot layer in comparison to a photodetector having a flat (non-textured) incident electromagnetic radiation surface.

Abstract: An apparatus including a flexible substrate; and an overhanging electronic component island, the electronic component island configured to be less flexible than the flexible substrate and including one or more electronic components, wherein the electronic component island includes a substrate-face with a connection portion and an overhang portion, the connection portion being mechanically coupled to a surface of the flexible substrate via a single connection-support pad and the overhang portion configured to overhang and be substantially free of the underlying flexible substrate such that the underlying flexible substrate can be strained independently from the overhang portion under operational strains of the flexible substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method wherein the method comprises: a deformable substrate; a curved support structure configured to support at least a portion of a resistive sensor wherein the resistive sensor comprises a first electrode, a second electrode and a resistive sensor material provided between the electrodes; at least one support configured to space the curved support structure from the deformable substrate so that when the deformable substrate is deformed the curved support structure is not deformed in the same way; wherein the resistive sensor is positioned on the curved support structure so as to limit deformation of the resistive sensor when the deformable substrate is deformed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method comprising: a plurality of sensor elements wherein the sensor elements are configured to be actuated in response to exposure to a parameter and the apparatus is configured to record when each of the sensor elements are actuated wherein: the plurality of sensor elements comprises at least a first subset of sensor elements and at least a second subset of sensor elements where the first subset of sensor elements are actuated in response to a first level of exposure to a parameter and the second subset of sensor elements are actuated in response to a second level of exposure to a parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method wherein the apparatus comprises: a deformable substrate; a curved support structure; at least one support configured to space the curved support structure from the substrate so that when the deformable substrate is deformed the curved support structure is not deformed in the same way; and a capacitive sensor comprising a protruding electrode capacitively coupled to an overlaying electrode; wherein the protruding electrode protrudes from a side of the curved support structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus, the method comprising: forming at least two electrodes (23) on a release layer wherein the at least two electrodes are configured to enable a layer of two dimensional material (25) to be provided between the at least two electrodes; providing moldable polymer (27) overlaying the at least two electrodes; wherein the at least two electrodes and the moldable polymer form at least part of a planar surface (29).