Abstract: Described is a system for roasting, grinding, brewing and dispensing coffee comprising: an infuser head in fluid communication with a source of hot water and comprising bedding means for distributing coffee grounds such that they are disposed substantially evenly on an inner surface of a slidable wall of a coffee cartridge thereby forming an extraction bed within an extraction chamber; and infuser means comprising one or more outlets for the hot water, the infuser head being adapted to deliver hot water to the extraction bed within the extraction chamber, whereby coffee is extracted to yield a coffee brew.

Abstract: Described is a system for roasting, grinding, brewing and dispensing coffee comprising a grinding and infusion assembly comprising a tubular extraction sleeve, infuser head and blade grinder, wherein the system further comprises a first seal, being a linear shaft seal for preventing a flow of coffee brew between the infuser head and inner surface of the extraction sleeve during extraction of the coffee grounds; a second seal, being a static seal for preventing a flow of coffee brew between the infuser head and grinder spindle when the grinder is not rotating and in the retracted position; and a third seal, being a rotary shaft seal for preventing the movement of coffee grounds between the infuser head and grinder spindle when the grinder is rotating in the extended position.

Abstract: Described is a system for roasting, grinding, brewing and dispensing coffee comprising an infuser head adapted to deliver hot water preferentially to coffee grounds located on the periphery of an inner surface of a central portion of a slidable wall of a coffee cartridge and/or the inner surface of an extraction sleeve.

Abstract: Described is a system for roasting, grinding, brewing and dispensing coffee comprising a coffee cartridge containing: (i) unground and (ii) unroasted or part-roasted coffee beans, said cartridge having walls defining a cartridge chamber in which the beans are confined, wherein part or all of at least one wall of the cartridge is openable, and the openable wall of the cartridge is opposed to a slidable wall thereof, said slidable wall comprising: inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface being in contact with the beans; a peripheral sealing portion on the inner surface; and a central portion bounded by the peripheral sealing portion and comprising a screen for retaining the beans within the cartridge chamber while permitting a flow of coffee brew therethrough.

Abstract: Described is a cartridge containing non-coffee plant materials, said cartridge having walls defining a chamber in which the plant materials are confined, the cartridge being adapted to serve as a grinding and extraction chamber for the plant materials.

Abstract: Apparatuses for pulverizing a solid dosage form and for distributing, dissolving and/or suspending a solid dosage form in an extraction fluid, as well as related methods and processes for producing extracted solid dosage forms using such methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A coffee cartridge containing unground coffee beans, said cartridge having walls defining a chamber in which the beans are confined, the cartridge being adapted to serve as a grinding and extraction chamber for the coffee beans.

Abstract: Described is a modular microfluidic device (MMD) for producing an analytic composition from a biological fluid sample, said device comprising a reagent module (RM) comprising a reagent reservoir containing a reagent and an eluent reservoir containing an eluent, said reagent and eluent reservoirs being coupled to one or more RM microchannels; and a sample preparation module (SPM) comprising a SPM microchannel adapted to couple with the RM microchannel whereby fluid continuity between SPM and RM microchannels is produced on coupling, and: (i) a sample inlet for receiving said biological fluid sample; (ii) an outlet for delivering said analyte composition; (iii) a sensor component; (iv) a mixing chamber; (v) a metering chamber; (vi) an eluent chamber; (vii) a valve; and (viii) a solid phase extraction element (SPE); wherein said metering chamber is of fixed volume and shape and substantially ellipsoidal, the metering chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and/or outlet being in fluid communication wit

Abstract: Described is a modular microfluidic device (MMD) for producing an analyte composition from a biological fluid sample, said device comprising: (a) a reagent module (RM) comprising a reagent reservoir containing a reagent and an eluent reservoir containing an eluent, said reagent and eluent reservoirs being coupled to one or more RM microchannels; and (b) a sample preparation module (SPM) comprising a SPM microchannel adapted to couple with the RM microchannel whereby fluid continuity between SPM and RM microchannels is produced on coupling, and: (i) a sample inlet for receiving said biological fluid sample; (ii) an outlet for delivering said analyte composition; (iii) a mixing chamber; (v) a metering chamber; (vi) an eluent chamber; (vii) a valve; (viii) a solid phase extraction element (SPE); and (ix) an aspirator in fluid communication with the sample inlet of the SPM for withdrawing an aliquot of said biological fluid when contained in a sample vessel, said aspirator being operably coupled to a pneumatic fl

Abstract: Apparatus for distributing a solid, gel, powder, granular, liquid or viscous liquid test substance in an extraction fluid comprises: a) a flow cell for holding the test substance comprising an extraction chamber of uniform cross-sectional area, a grinding surface, an extraction fluid inlet and an extract outlet; b) a grinding head disposed within the extraction chamber and adapted to reciprocate therein; and c) a recirculating pump for driving extraction fluid: (i) into the flow cell via the extraction fluid inlet; (ii) through the extraction chamber; and (iii) back to the flow cell via the extract outlet.

Abstract: Described is a modular microfluidic device (MMD) for producing an analyte composition from a biological fluid sample, said device comprising: (a) a reagent module (RM) comprising a reagent reservoir containing a reagent and an eluent reservoir containing an eluent, said reagent and eluent reservoirs being coupled to one or more RM microchannels; and (b) a sample preparation module (SPM) comprising a SPM microchannel adapted to couple with the RM microchannel whereby fluid continuity between SPM and RM microchannels is produced on coupling, and: (i) a sample inlet for receiving said biological fluid sample; (ii) an outlet for delivering said analyte composition; (iii) a mixing chamber; (v) a metering chamber; (vi) an eluent chamber; (vii) a valve; (viii) a solid phase extraction element (SPE); and (ix) an aspirator in fluid communication with the sample inlet of the SPM for withdrawing an aliquot of said biological fluid when contained in a sample vessel, said aspirator being operably coupled to a pneumatic fl

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for distributing a solid, gel, powder or viscous test substance in an extraction fluid, the apparatus comprising a flow cell for holding the test substance and having an inlet and an outlet; an extraction chamber located between said inlet and outlet comprising a convergent nozzle; and a recirculating pump for driving extraction fluid: (i) into the flow cell via the inlet; (ii) through the extraction chamber; and (iii) back to the flow cell via the outlet, whereby a pressure differential is established across the extraction chamber such that the velocity of the extraction fluid is greater at the outlet than at the inlet; characterized in that the apparatus further comprises a tortuous path flow control valve (TPV) located at the outlet and configured to permit flow of extraction fluid and extracted test substance but to prevent or retard passage of said test substance through the outlet.

Abstract: Novel mono- and dihydroxy phenylethylamine derivatives useful in treating melanoma are provided having the formulae (Ia, Ib or Ic). In the above formulae, Ra is hydrogen or —COORb, Rb is hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; Re and Re independently represent hydrogen and hydroxy, Rf is hydrogen, C1–4? alkyl or halogen, X is —CHOH—, —CH2-oxygen or sulphur, m is zero or 1, W is oxygen or sulphur, and —ODrug, —NHDrug and —N(Drug)2 each represent a residue of a therapeutically active agent. The above compounds are prodrugs which are inactive until metabolised by enzymes expressed by host melanoma cells.

Abstract: Novel mono- and dihydroxy phenylethylamine derivatives useful in treating melanoma are provided having the formulae (Ia, Ib or Ic). In the above formulae, Ra is hydrogen or —COORb, Rb is hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; Re and Re independently represent hydrogen and hydroxy, Rf is hydrogen, C1-4? alkyl or halogen, X is —CHOH—, —CH2-oxygen or sulphur, m is zero or 1, W is oxygen or sulphur, and —ODrug, —NHDrug and —N(Drug)2 each represent a residue of a therapeutically active agent. The above compounds are prodrugs which are inactive until metabolised by enzymes expressed by host melanoma cells. The invention allows a greater amount of active agent to be used while reducing systemic side effects.