Abstract: A dry powder inhalation device has a means to aerosolize powdered medicament and introduce the aerosolized medicament to an airflow directed to a user outlet. The device has a primary deagglomeration structure in the form of a baffle through which the airflow passes downstream of the means to aerosolize the powdered medicament and a secondary deagglomeration structure which is a tortuous passage through which the airflow passes downstream of the primary deagglomeration structure. The deagglomeration structures cause disruption to the airflow in their vicinity whereby the particles of the aerosolized powdered medicament are deagglomerated due to the primary deagglomeration structure and the secondary deagglomeration structure. The insert defines a tortuous passage which has a trajectory with a centre line, whereby the centre line has two or more major bends, involving a first point of inflection between a pair of adjacent bends of the two or more major bends.

Abstract: A turbine blade has a root portion, a platform and an aerofoil, the aerofoil is mounted on the platform and is formed by a pressure side wall and a suction side wall and has an outer surface, the pressure side wall and the suction side wall meet at a leading edge and a trailing edge, the aerofoil has an axial chord length, the suction side wall defines part of the radially outward surface of the aerofoil, the suction side wall defines an overhang, the overhang has a maximum overhang length that is between 5% and 20% of the axial chord length of the blade and is located between 5% and 50% of the suction surface length from the leading edge.

Abstract: A turbine blade has a root portion, a platform and an aerofoil, the aerofoil is mounted on the platform and is formed by a pressure side wall and a suction side wall and has an outer surface, the pressure side wall and the suction side wall meet at a leading edge and a trailing edge, the aerofoil has an axial chord length, the suction side wall defines part of the radially outward surface of the aerofoil, the suction side wall defines art overhang, the overhang has a maximum overhang length that is between 5% and 20% of the axial chord length of the blade and is located between 5% and 50% of the suction surface length from the leading edge.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler incorporates a cyclone chamber (4) comprising at least one air inlet (6) and an outlet (10) wherein the configuration of the air inlet (6) and the shape of the chamber (4) is such that in use a reverse flow cyclone is set up in the chamber (4). The chamber (4) further comprises flow disrupter means, e.g. the upper surface (14) of a protrusion (12) from the base, disposed so as in use to restrict air flowing from the base of the chamber (4) in an axial direction.

Abstract: An inhalation device comprising a hermetically sealed receptacle (1) containing a single dose of a pressurized formulation (30) comprising a pharmaceutically active ingredient and a liquefied aerosol propellant consisting of HFA 134a, HFA 227 or a mixture thereof and wherein at least a portion (12) of the receptacle is perforable.

Abstract: A valve stem (100) for use with a metered dose dispensing valve, said valve stem having a central longitudinal axis and comprising a first stem portion (101), a second stem portion (102) and a disk seal (112), said disk seal being disposed between the first and second stem portion along the longitudinal axis of the valve stem and said disk seal extending radially outwardly from the central longitudinal axis of valve stem so as to be capable of forming a fluid-tight seal with a portion of an internal wall of said valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel design for a metering valve that provides improved consistency of formulation delivery. Generally, the metering valve includes (a) a valve stem that generally defines a longitudinal axis and includes a body portion having a metering surface, wherein the longitudinal axis and a plane tangential to at least a portion of the metering surface define an angle from about 2° to about 90°; and (b) a valve body having an internal chamber defined at least in part by the body wall and includes a metering portion configured to substantially conform to the metering surface of the valve stem.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed metal receptacle containing a medicinal aerosol formulation, preferably a pressurized medicinal aerosol formulation, or a liquefied aerosol propellant, wherein at least a portion of the receptacle comprises metal foil having a thickness of from 25 ?m to 250 ?m which is laser welded to form an hermetic seal.

Abstract: An adaptor for use with a container equipped with a dispensing valve that comprises a valve stem movable between an inner closed or priming position and an outer dispensing position, for dispensing doses of pressurized aerosol formulation as well as dispensers comprising such an adaptor and container; said adaptor being adapted to receive the container and comprising an actuation mechanism, said actuation mechanism being arranged such that the user will operate the mechanism by applying a depressive or squeezing force and the dose will be dispensed upon said depressive or squeezing force and said actuation mechanism being arranged such that upon release of the mechanism by the user, the valve stem of the dispensing valve will be moved automatically into its inner closed or priming position.

Abstract: A control device suitable for controlling the position of a cursor on a computer display. The device includes at least a pair of optical radiation sources irradiating a spaced away pair of optical radiation detectors. Interposed between the sources and detectors is an elongate member moveable transverse to the paths of radiation between sources and detectors. The member is opaque to the radiation and it obscures radiation detected by the detectors dependant upon its position. Thus the outputs of the detectors vary with the position of the member. By comparing the outputs of the detectors, typically subtracting one form the other, the sign of the result indicates the direction the member has been moved and the magnitude can give an indication of the extent of the movement. In a further form, a second pair of sources and a second pair of detectors are provide in similar manner to the first except that the radiation paths are co-planar but at ninety degrees to each other.