Abstract: Radiation sterilized hydrogels, medical devices containing the same and method of making radiation sterilized hydrogels.

Abstract: A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine for dispensing beverages from beverage cartridges containing one or more beverage ingredients, the beverage preparation machine comprising means for receiving, in use, a beverage cartridge and means for passing water through the beverage cartridge to thereby produce a beverage, the beverage preparation machine further comprising a code reader for interpreting a code provided on or in the beverage cartridge.

Abstract: A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients.

Abstract: A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients.

Abstract: A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients.

Abstract: A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the one or more beverage ingredients is a liquid chocolate ingredient.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine for dispensing beverages from beverage cartridges containing one or more beverage ingredients, the beverage preparation machine comprising means for receiving, in use, a beverage cartridge and means for passing water through the beverage cartridge to thereby produce a beverage, the beverage preparation machine further comprising a code reader for interpreting a code provided on or in the beverage cartridge.

Abstract: A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients.

Abstract: A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the one or more beverage ingredients is a liquid chocolate ingredient.

Abstract: A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the one or more beverage ingredients is a liquid chocolate ingredient.

Abstract: A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the one or more beverage ingredients is a liquid chocolate ingredient.

Abstract: A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the one or more beverage ingredients is a liquid chocolate ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible pad for preparing a beverage comprising: a filter bag defining a storage volume; the storage volume containing a water-soluble composition or a combination or mixture of water-soluble compositions for forming a beverage; wherein the storage volume further contains one or more absorbent elements.

Abstract: A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the one or more beverage ingredients is a liquid chocolate ingredient.

Abstract: A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the one or more beverage ingredients is a liquid chocolate ingredient.

Abstract: A pod for preparing a beverage comprising: a rigid or semi-rigid sidewall; a rigid or semi-rigid upper surface containing one more apertures forming an inlet of the pod; a lower surface formed at least partially from filtering material, the filtering material forming an outlet of the pod; the sidewall, upper surface and lower surface together defining a storage volume extending from the inlet to the outlet and containing a water-soluble composition, or a combination or mixture of water-soluble compositions for forming a beverage; wherein the rigid or semi-rigid sidewall maintains a physical separation of the filtering material and the upper surface during use.

Abstract: A low pressure beverage preparation system for automatically preparing a range of beverage types from a range of beverage cartridges, the system comprising: a beverage preparation machine; and a plurality of beverage cartridges, each beverage cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients associated with a specific beverage type, wherein the beverage preparation system comprises: a. means for receiving one of said plurality of beverage cartridges in said beverage preparation machine and means for supplying, in use, to said beverage cartridge an aqueous medium at a pressure of less than 2 bar to produce a beverage from the one or more beverage ingredients contained therein; b. a reader in said beverage preparation machine for automatically interpreting a code written on said beverage cartridge; c. processing means for creating a specific brewing cycle based on said code; d.

Abstract: A method of preparing a beverage with the steps of: a) inserting a first beverage cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients into a beverage preparation machine; b) operating said beverage preparation machine to pass an aqueous medium through the first beverage cartridge to dispense a first portion of said beverage into a receptacle; c) inserting a second beverage cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients into the beverage preparation machine; and d) operating the beverage preparation machine to pass an aqueous medium through the second beverage cartridge to dispense a second portion of said beverage into the receptacle; wherein one of the first or second beverage cartridges contains a liquid dairy-based ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible pad (10) for preparing a beverage comprising: a flexible bag defining a storage volume (13); the storage volume containing a water-soluble composition or a combination or mixture of water-soluble compositions for forming a beverage; wherein at least a part of the flexible bag is formed from a flexible water-impermeable thin sheet material (11, 12), wherein said flexible water-impermeable thin sheet material comprises one or more apertures (40, 41) defining an inlet or an outlet of the storage volume.