Abstract: In one aspect, a drug delivery device is provided herein including: a monolithic body having a plurality of fluid ducts and at least one outlet duct formed therein; a plurality of drug cartridges attached to the body, the drug cartridges each including a reservoir for accommodating at least one drug wherein, the plurality of fluid ducts is arranged to convey the drugs from the drug cartridges to the at least one outlet duct; and, a needle support spaced from the body, the needle support including a needle configured for insertion into a patient for drug delivery, the needle support including adhesive for releasable securement to a patient, wherein, the needle support is connected to the body by a flexible tether through which passes at least one fluid passageway formed to convey drug from the at least one outlet duct to the needle.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method is provided herein of preparing a drug delivery device, the drug delivery device having a body with at least one fluid duct being open along a first face of the body, the at least one fluid duct for conveying drug from at least one reservoir to a needle configured for injection into a patient, the method including: providing a barrier across the first face of the body to at least cover the at least one fluid duct, wherein the barrier is ultraviolet transmissive; and, exposing the first face of the body to ultraviolet radiation so as to allow the ultraviolet radiation to pass through the barrier and decontaminate the at least one fluid duct.

Abstract: Described herein is a an optical sensing unit, the optical sensing unit including a one-dimensional array of sensor locations, each sensor location being responsive to an incident optical signal to generate a local analog intensity value representative of the intensity of the optical signal at the sensor location, the sensing unit including a digital interface to deliver a local digital intensity value corresponding to the local analog intensity value, a first microcontroller function in communication with the digital interface for sequentially collecting local digital intensity values to form a group of digital intensity values corresponding to an intensity variation across the array over a predetermined sensing period, a second microcontroller function cooperating with the first microcontroller function to receive the group of digital intensity values for transfer to an output device.

Abstract: Described herein is a an optical sensing unit, the optical sensing unit including a one-dimensional array of sensor locations, each sensor location being responsive to an incident optical signal to generate a local analog intensity value representative of the intensity of the optical signal at the sensor location, the sensing unit including a digital interface to deliver a local digital intensity value corresponding to the local analog intensity value, a first microcontroller function in communication with the digital interface for sequentially collecting local digital intensity values to form a group of digital intensity values corresponding to an intensity variation across the array over a predetermined sensing period, a second microcontroller function cooperating with the first microcontroller function to receive the group of digital intensity values for transfer to an output device.