Abstract: An actuator for an inhaler for delivering drug by inhalation, comprising: a housing for receiving a canister which comprises a body which includes a base and a head and defines a chamber for containing drug, and a valve stem which extends from the body and from which drug is in use delivered on actuation of the canister; an outlet through which a user in use inhales; and a nozzle which provides for delivery of drug through the outlet; wherein the outlet includes at least one air flow path which provides for a substantially annular air flow at an inner peripheral surface of the outlet on inhalation by the user through the outlet, such as to provide a sheathing air flow to an aerosol spray when delivered from the nozzle.

Abstract: There is provided a method of loading a container with a defined quantity of product which comprises the steps of a) closing off a perforation (12a, 12b) in a perforated plate (10); b) directing powder (30) into said closed-off perforation; and c) transferring the contents of the perforation to said container.

Abstract: A method of cold starting a molten bath-based direct smelting process for producing molten iron in a vessel (3) is disclosed. The method includes a step of preheating the vessel before supplying solid feed materials into the vessel. The method also includes a subsequent step of supplying an oxygen-containing gas and solid feed materials including material for forming slag, iron-containing feed material, and carbonaceous material into the vessel and generating heat and forming a bath of molten material that includes molten iron and molten slag in the vessel.

Abstract: There is provided a method of loading a container with a defined quantity of product which comprises the steps of a) closing off a perforation (12a, 12b) in a perforated plate (10); b) directing powder (30) into said closed-off perforation; and c) transferring the contents of the perforation to said container.

Abstract: There is provided a method of loading a container with a defined quantity of product which comprises the steps of a) closing off a perforation in a perforated plate; b) directing powder into said closed-off perforation by the action of a first leveller blade moveable in a sweeping path relative to the perforated plate; and c) transferring the contents of the perforation to said container, and an apparatus for achieving such method.

Abstract: An inhaler is provided with a restricting member to prevent unintentional actuation of the inhaler. Also provided is an inhaler with an extensible strap joining a dust cap to the housing of an inhaler, the strap being particularly suited for use with inhalers that comprise a restricting member. The inhaler is useful, for example, in the treatment of asthma.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating dynamic form pages for accessing a database. An item model is stored in the database and defines attributes or characteristics of item types. The item model is separate from the actual data and from the data model. When a form page is requested, the page is dynamically generated by accessing the item model based on the requested form. The page is then displayed to the user. Data can be included in the page as necessary. Form pages can be generated on the fly and can automatically adapt to changes in the definition of the item model.

Abstract: A novel roof vent in accordance with the present invention, utilizes a vent pipe communicating with a shroud, where the shroud compatibly fits over a ridge vent on a roof. The vent pipe is extended above the roof, sufficiently so as to rise above the anticipated level of snow load that may be experienced in the locale of the application. The roof vent of the preferred embodiment includes an apron that adjustably fits the roof pitch of the installation and further includes a ridge vent cutout for compatibly fitting over the ridge vent. In one version of the present invention, cosmetic dress may be used to allow the roof vent to blend with architectural requirements without impacting the functionality of the roof vent operation.

Abstract: A device having variable inspiratory resistance suitable for measuring the inspiratory strength of a patient which comprises a chamber in communication with a mouthpiece, said chamber (a) being provided with a calibration system for measuring the inhalation flow rate during inhalation through the mouthpiece and (b) being provided with a variable resistance feature by which the resistance to airflow through the device may be altered.

Abstract: There is provided a medicament dispenser for dispensing medicament comprising: a body; a holder, shaped to fit within the body and movable relative to the body; and receivable by said holder, a cassette containing a medicament carrier, wherein movement of the holder relative to the body results in movement of the cassette between a first position and a second position such that the cassette is reversibly removable from the holder when the cassette is in the second position.

Abstract: There is provided a medicament dispenser for dispensing medicament comprising: a body; a holder, shaped to fit within the body and movable relative to the body; and receivable by said holder, a cassette containing a medicament carrier, wherein movement of the holder relative to the body results in movement of the cassette between a first position and a second position such that the cassette is reversibly removable from the holder when the cassette is in the second position.

Abstract: A device having variable inspiratory resistance suitable for measuring the inspiratory strength of a patient which comprises a chamber in communication with a mouthpiece, said chamber (a) being provided with a calibration system for measuring the inhalation flow rate during inhalation through the mouthpiece and (b) being provided with a variable resistance feature by which the resistance to airflow through the device may be altered.

Abstract: A device having variable inspiratory resistance suitable for measuring the inspiratory strength of a patient which comprises a chamber in communication with a mouthpiece. The chamber is provided with a calibration system for measuring the inhalation flow rate during inhalation through the mouthpiece. The calibration system is also provided with a variable resistance feature where the airflow resistance may be altered.

Abstract: A powder inhalation device comprising a housing containing a pharmacologically active compound, a conduit (8) with an outlet extending into the housing through which a user can inhale to create an airflow through the conduit, a dosing unit (6,7) for delivering a dose of the compound to the conduit and baffles (9) arranged within the said conduit to aid disintegration of powder agglomerates entrained in said airflow. The baffles (9) comprise a plurality of staggered plates extending into the conduit from opposite sides of the conduit at an angle of less than 90.degree. to the sides of the conduit and are inclined towards the outlet to create a plurality of constrictions within the conduit and a plurality of changes in the direction of the said airflow through the conduit.

Abstract: Carbon blacks having a CTAB of greater than, or equal to, 140 m.sup.2 /g; a CDBP of greater than or equal to 115 cc/100 g; a Tint value of greater than or equal to 135%; a .DELTA.D50 of less than or equal to 50 nm; a Dmode less than or equal to 72 nm; and an Occluded Volume Index greater than or equal to 1.30 that impart superior treadwear resistance and abrasion resistance to rubber compounds. Preferably, the carbon blacks of the present invention are further characterized by having a N.sub.2 SA greater than or equal to 150 m.sup.2 /g, and less than 180 m.sup.2 /g; and a DBP of greater than or equal to 140 cc/100 g. Also disclosed are rubber compounds containing the carbon blacks which exhibit increased abrasion resistance and treadwear resistance at normally utilized loading levels. Further disclosed are rubber compounds containing the carbon blacks which exhibit increased treadwear resistance/hysteresis ratios at loading levels lower than normally utilized in the compounding of tire compounds.

Abstract: In a RAID level 5 disk drive subsystem, one or more additional disk drives, called "reserve" disks are intercoupled to the array of disk drives and a control system is included for storing recovered digital data on the additional disk drive if a sector on one of the disk drives becomes defective. The system reduces the number of disk accesses required to obtain the information stored on the defective sector. Once the information has been recovered, it is then stored on the "reserve" disk. Thereafter, whenever this information is required, the system reads the required information from the "reserve" disk, instead of going through an entire recovery process for the defective sector. Since the recovery process can take a time that is greater than several disk access times, the present invention improves the speed and the availability of data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for attaching a sign element to a base with a frameless magnetically attractive support system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for attaching a sign element to a base with a frameless magnetically attractive support system.