Abstract: Ampules are provided for the packaging and storage of drugs intended for nebulizer administration for which physical and/or chemical shelf life stability requires that the drug be stored in other than the diluent in which it will be nebulized, and in a volume or physical state that does not allow accurate dispensing from ordinary ampules.

Abstract: The present invention involves an enhanced method for operating a speech recognition system in which sequential vocabularies are loaded for comparison to the input speech. Form each sequential vocabulary a subset of candidate vocabulary elements are selected for matching, the probability match scores of each of the selected candidate vocabulary elements is weighted by a weighting factor that is dependent on the particular vocabulary from which the vocabulary elements are selected. As each set of candidate vocabulary elements is selected from the next sequential vocabulary, the selected set is combined with the set of previously selected and weighted vocabulary elements, which is then further weighted according to the weighting criteria of the then active vocabulary. At the end of the sequential vocabulary selection grouping process, the final, sequentially weighted match scores for the candidate vocabulary elements are arranged and an appropriate match to the input speech is presented.

Abstract: A virtual vocabulary database is provided for use with a with a particular user database as part of a speech recognition system. Vocabulary elements within the virtual database are imported from the user database and are tagged to include numerical data corresponding to the historical use of the vocabulary element within the user database. For each speech input, potential vocabulary element matches from the speech recognition system are provided to the virtual database software which creates virtual sub-vocabularies from the criteria according to predefined criteria templates. The software then applies vocabulary element weighting adjustments according to the virtual sub-vocabulary weightings and applies the adjustment to the default weighting provided by the speech recognition system. The modified weightings are returned with the associated vocabulary elements to the speech engine for selection of an appropriate match to the input speech.

Abstract: An inhalable formulation of amphotericin B and a hydrofluoroalkane propellant in for pressurized metered dose aerosol canisters is provided. Also provided are methods for administering amphotericin B to the upper or lower respiratory tract of a patient with this inhalable formulation and a pulsatile nasal administration device for delivery of medications packaged in a metered dose aerosol canister to the paranasal sinuses.

Abstract: An enhanced electronic peak flow meter is provided that combines some of the enhanced electronic features found in other electronic peak flow meters with software for executing a stochastic process control and evaluating the digital respiratory data collected by the meter. The programmed stochastic process control is capable of selecting and calculating any one of a number of pulmonary function parameters including at least one statistical process control variable to determine a pulmonary threshold. Information systems linking doctor's offices and patient's meters are further provided to transmit warning data in cases where the pulmonary threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: Formulations, methods and devices for producing formulations and methods for nebulizer delivery of formulations of water-insoluble drugs and drugs requiring storage in aqueous or other water-miscible pharmaceutically unacceptable vehicles for stability are provided. Also provided are methods for minimizing wastage of drugs administered by nebulizer, and for the achievement of quantitative dosing with diluent from a mass marketed formulations, which because of the mass market is much less costly per dose than formulations manufactured specifically for much lower volume medical use.

Abstract: New applications of unidirectional airflow sensing in devices which measure inspiratory airflow and bidirectional airflow are provided. Such devices can be used for administration of a medication via inhalation, in spirometers and in devices which measure and monitor respiratory ventilation.