Abstract: Apparatus for portable gas-assisted dispensing of medication not using a fluorocarbon propellant. The apparatus comprises a pressurized supply of gas containing therapeutic gas or mixture of therapeutic gases, and one or more drugs mixed therein, connected to a pressure regulator, wherein the pressure regulator is connected to a gas release switch which is connected to a breath activator. The breath activator is connected to an aspiration chamber, whereby in use when a patient inhales from the aspiration chamber, the inhalation causes the breath activator to engage with the gas release switch to release the therapeutic gas/drug mixture into the aspiration chamber, wherein the therapeutic gas and drug in the aspiration chamber are simultaneously delivered to a patient during inhalation. Alternatively, medication can be stored in a separate drug reservoir adjacent the pressurized supply of therapeutic gas, which medication is drawn into the aspiration chamber by a venturi assembly.

Abstract: An X-ray detection device for providing an output signal the value of which can be used to determine the radiation received at a selected region of an object, such as a patient, comprising a transmitter for being energized by X-rays, said transmitter producing radiation of a wavelength different from that of said X-rays, said transmitter aligned with X-ray film to be exposed, and wherein said transmitter is of substantially the same cross-sectional area of said X-ray film, a detector for detecting said radiation wherein said detector is substantially transparent to incident X-ray radiation, and a sensor connected to said detector, said sensor generating an output signal related to said radiation, the value of said output signal which can be used to determine the x-ray radiation received at said transmitter to provide X-ray exposure output readings at one or more selected locations of a patient's body.

Abstract: A dispenser monitoring system for a dispenser actuatable along its actuation axis to dispense a quantity of material includes a housing having a lower portion for mounting on a dispenser and an upper portion having a cavity; and a dispenser monitoring circuit disposed in the cavity including a switching device responsive to actuation of the dispenser container; a counter circuit, responsive to the switching device, for registering that a quantity of material has been dispensed; and a display device, responsive to the counter circuit, for indicating the status of the material in the dispenser.

Abstract: This invention relates to a microprocessor-based medical pump with a number of manual controls. The operation of this pump requires the attachment of a magnetic label to the front of the pump. This magnetic label includes a given number of strong permanent magnets in a pre-determined configuration which indicate the pharmaceutical product type and concentration to be infused. The magnetic label also changes the visual scales around the manual controls. Hall Effect sensors read the pre-determined configuration and send the data to the microprocessor which also reads the manual controls. Using the pre-determined configuration data and the manual control data, the microprocessor determines the desired infusion parameters.