An electronic smoking article includes an outer tube extending in a longitudinal direction, an inner tube within the outer tube and including a pair of opposing slots, a liquid supply comprising a liquid material, a coil heater, a wick and a mouth end insert. The coil heater is located in the inner tube. The coil heater is formed of an iron-free, nickel-chromium alloy and has substantially uniformly spaced windings. The wick is surrounded by the coil heater such that the wick delivers liquid material to the coil heater and the coil heater heats the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol in the inner tube.

The methods described herein provide improvements to the measurement of dose content uniformity of inhaler and nasal devices. The methods involve analyzing and measuring a spray pattern of an emitted spray from an inhaler or nasal device. The spray pattern may be used to determine the dose content uniformity of an inhaler or nasal device.

A system, method or apparatus to detect abnormalities in delivery of a fluid may include an infusion apparatus that is controllable to cause one or more perturbations in a fluid flow (e.g., each of the one or more perturbations in the fluid flow may result in a measurable perturbed force response). A force signal representative of the perturbed force response may be used to determine an integrated perturbed force response value (e.g., using integration of the force signal over a perturbation time period; the integrated perturbed force response value being representative of an additional force caused by the at least one perturbation over an equilibrium force). A ratio between the integrated perturbed force response value and a normalizing value (e.g., based at least on a maximum perturbation force of the perturbed force response) may be used to determine if fluid flow is occluded.

A syringe fixture for holding a syringe in a test system, the fixture comprising a main housing comprising a first chamber, a second chamber, and an opening extending from the first chamber to the second chamber, wherein the first chamber comprises a first plurality of walls and a second plurality of walls forming a housing for at least a needle of the syringe, wherein the second chamber is configured to hold at least a flange portion of the syringe and the second chamber comprises a cover to enclose at least the flange portion of the syringe; and a base portion having a support, wherein the base portion is configured to receive a portion of a plunger rod, and wherein the base portion includes at least one geometric feature configured to allow or impart a rotational motion on the portion of the plunger rod received in the base portion.

A method for estimating an inhale dose when a drug is delivered to a person using an inhaler is disclosed. A predicted inhale dose (PID) of the drug is estimated based on at least one first-type parameter and at least one second-type parameter. The first-type parameter is related to a breath pattern of the person, and the second-type parameter is related to the inhaler.

In an embodiment, the present invention is an apparatus, configured to collect emitted sample dose from a drug delivery device, wherein the sample dose is an aerosol, wherein the apparatus comprises a collection assembly and a removable plunger.

A dialysis machine (e.g., a peritoneal dialysis (PD) machine) can include a pressure sensor mounted at a proximal end of a patient line that provides PD solution to a patient through a catheter. During treatment, an occlusion can occur at different locations in the patient line and/or the catheter. Elastic waves may be generated at a pump that introduces (e.g., for fill cycles) or withdraws (e.g., for drain cycles) the solution into/out of the patient line. For example, when the solution is introduced or withdrawn suddenly, elastic waves travel distally down the patient line until they encounter the occlusion, and are then reflected back (e.g., toward the pressure sensor).

A system for conducting inhalation studies includes an inhalation exposure chamber and an aerosol delivery line connected to the inhalation exposure chamber. The aerosol delivery line is configured to produce a bi-directional and symmetrical presentation of aerosol to the inhalation exposure chamber. A laminar flow element is configured to create an ante-chamber where complete and turbulent mixing of the aerosol occurs. A radial exhaust and the laminar flow element enable laminar flow of the aerosol through the inhalation exposure chamber.

Systems and methods for analyzing an infusion pump are provided. One infusion pump analyzer includes a fluid flow path configured to be coupled to an infusion pump to be tested and a pair of fluid chambers. The infusion pump analyzer further includes dual linear piston pumps coupled with the pair of fluid chambers and the fluid flow path to control the flow of fluid therethrough, and a valve coupled with the pair of fluid chambers and configured to rotate to selectively fill and drain the pair of fluid chambers.