Abstract: Aerosol dispensing apparatus comprising a housing in which a container can be located, an outlet leading from the housing, a receiving block having an inlet for receiving an outlet member of the container and a passage through which contents of the container may pass on their way to the outlet when the container is actuated. The housing contains a carriage in which the container is firmly gripped. The carriage is able to slide reciprocally within the housing as the container moves between rest and actuated positions and comprises a projection. The housing further comprises an abutment and is formed with an upper part which houses at least the container, in use, and a lower part comprising, at least, the outlet.

Abstract: Surface profiling apparatus (10) according to one embodiment comprises three long period gratings (LPGs) (12, 14, 16) fabricated in progressive three layered (PTL) fibre (18) and embedded within a deformable carrier member (40) comprising a skeleton (42) provided between two sheets of flexible rubber skin (44, 46). The LPGs (12, 14, 16) are illuminated by three wavelength modulated, narrow bandwidth optical signals, each having a different wavelength and modulation frequency. A photodetector (26) connected to three lock-in amplifiers (28, 30, 32) measures the amplitudes of the first and second harmonic frequency components of the photodetector output signal corresponding to each LPG (12, 14, 16). Similar surface profiling apparatus (10) forms the basis for respiratory function monitoring apparatus (100) in which five LPGs are provided within each of four PTL fibres (104, 106, 108, 110) and embedded in four carrier members (40a–d) attached to a garment (114) to be worn by a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metering valve comprising a valve stem (11) co-axially slidable within a valve body (14), the metering valve comprising a metering chamber (13), wherein the metering chamber is constructed wholly from rigid components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metering valve comprising a valve stem (11) co-axially slidable within a valve body (14), the metering valve comprising a metering chamber (13), the metering chamber comprising one or more ports (23) wich function as both an inlet to, and an outlet from, the metering chamber in use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metering valve comprising a valve stem (1) co-axially slidable within a valve body (14), the metering valve comprising a metering chamber (13) having no moving parts therein.