1. A method comprising:
providing an integrated circuit including a gate;
forming a triode near the integrated circuit, wherein forming the triode includes forming a first node over a second node, the second node over a third node, and the third node in a substrate; and
attaching a connector to the triode and the integrated circuit, the connector connecting the triode to the gate,
the triode being electrically coupled to the integrated circuit only by the connector.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein attaching the connector includes attaching the connector to the triode and over the gate between a source and a drain of the integrated circuit.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein attaching the connector includes attaching the connector to the triode and over the gate adjacent to a source and a drain of the integrated circuit.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising forming an electronic system or a subsystem with the triode, the connector, or the integrated circuit.
5. A method comprising:
providing an integrated circuit having a gate, a first substrate, and a second substrate;
forming a triode having a first node over a second node, the second node over a third node, and the third node in the second substrate near the integrated circuit; and
forming a lightning rod including a connector over the first substrate and the triode in the second substrate, the connector connecting the triode to the gate.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein forming the triode includes implanting dopants forming the first node over the second node, the second node over the third node, and the third node in the second substrate.
7. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein forming the triode includes forming a P-N-P or an N-P-N structure for dissipating an electrical charge and suppressing leakage.
8. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein forming the lightning rod includes forming the connector through a dielectric over the first substrate.
9. The method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising forming a buried oxide under the first substrate and over the triode and the second substrate.
10. An integrated circuit system comprising:
an integrated circuit including a gate;
a triode near the integrated circuit, wherein the triode includes a first node over a second node, the second node over a third node, and the third node in a substrate; and
a connector attached to the triode and the integrated circuit, the connector connecting the triode to the gate,
the triode being electrically coupled to the integrated circuit only by the connector.
11. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the connector is attached to the triode and over the gate between a source and a drain of the integrated circuit.
12. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the connector is attached to the triode and over the gate adjacent to a source and a drain of the integrated circuit.
13. The system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising forming an electronic system or subsystem with the integrated circuit system.
14. The system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising:
a first substrate and a second substrate;
the triode has a first node over a second node, the second node over a third node, and the third node in the second substrate near the integrated circuit; and
the connector is the connector of a lightning rod including the connector over the first substrate and the triode in the second substrate.
15. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the triode includes dopants forming the first node over the second node, the second node over the third node, and the third node in the second substrate.
16. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the triode is a P-N-P or an N-P-N structure for dissipating an electrical charge and suppressing leakage.
17. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the lightning rod includes the connector through a dielectric over the first substrate.
18. The system as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a buried oxide under the first substrate and over the triode and the second substrate.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A formulation for use in-an inhaler device, comprising
carrier particles having a diameter of at least 50 m and a mass median diameter of at least 175 m;
fine particles of an excipient material having a mass median aerodynamic diameter of not more than 20 m; and active particles.
2. A formulation according to claim 1, in which the mass median diameter of the carrier particles is at least 200 m.
3. A formulation according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the mass median aerodynamic diameter of the fine excipient particles is not more than 15 m.
4. A formulation according to claim 3, in which the mass median aerodynamic diameter of the fine excipient particles is not more than 10 m.
5. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the carrier particles and the fine excipient particles are of the same material.
6. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which at least the carrier particles are of a crystalline sugar
7. A formulation according to claim 6, in which the carrier particles are of dextrose or lactose.
8. A formulation according to claim 7, in which the carrier particles are of lactose.
9. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the fine excipient particles are of dextrose or lactose.
10. A formulation according to claim 9, in which the fine excipient particles are of lactose.
11. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the carrier particles are of a material having a fissured surface.
12. A formulation according to claim 11, in which the carrier particles are of a crystalline sugar having a tapped density not exceeding 0.75 gcm3.
13. A formulation according to claim 12, in which the carrier particles have a tapped density not exceeding 0.70 gcm3.
14. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the carrier particles have a bulk density as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry of not exceeding 0.6 gcm3.
15. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 14, in which the carrier particles are in the form of an agglomerate consisting of a plurality of crystals fused to one another.
16. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 15, in which the carrier particles are obtainable by a wet granulation process.
17. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 15, in which the carrier particles are dendritic spherulites.
18. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 17, which contains up to 90% by weight of active particles and fine excipient particles, based on the total weight of active particles, fine excipient particles and carrier particles.
19. A formulation according to claim 18, which contains up to 50% by weight of active particles and fine excipient particles, based on the total weight of active particles, fine excipient particles and carrier particles.
20. A formulation according to claim 19, which contains up to 20% by weight of active particles and fine excipient particles, based on the total weight of active particles, fine excipient particles and carrier particles.
21. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 20, in which the active particles are present in an amount of from 0.01 to 90% by weight, based on the total weight of active particles and fine excipient particles.
22. A formulation according to claim 21, in which the active particles are present in an amount of from 0.1 to 50% by weight, based on the total weight of active particles and fine excipient particles.
23. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 22, which contains up to 20% by weight of active particles, based on the total weight of the formulation.
24. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 23, which comprises at least 50% by weight carrier particles, based on the total weight of the formulation.
25. A formulation according to claim 24, which comprises at least 70% by weight carrier particles, based on the total weight of the formulation.
26. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 25, which contains at least 4% by weight fine excipient particles, based on the total weight of the formulation.
27. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 26, which contains up to 20% by weight fine excipient, based on the total weight of the formulation.
28. A formulation according to claim 27, in which the fine excipient particles are present in an amount of up to 15% by weight based on the total weight of the formulation.
29. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 28, which contains at least 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation, of particles of diameter less than 20 m.
30. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 29, in which the active particles comprise an agent having therapeutic activity when delivered into the lung.
31. A formulation according to claim 30, in which the active particles comprise a therapeutically active agent for the prevention or treatment of respiratory disease.
32. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 31, in which the active particles comprise one or more active agents selected from 2-agonists, ipatropium bromide, steroids, cromones and leukotriene receptor antagonists.
33. A formulation according to claim 30, in which the active particles comprise a therapeutically active agent for systemic use.
34. A formulation according to any one of claims 30 to 33, in which the active particles comprise one or more agents selected from peptides, polypeptides, proteins and DNA fragments.
35. A formulation according to claim 34, in which the active particles comprise insulin.
36. A formulation for use in a dry powder inhaler, comprising more than 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation, of particles of aerodynamic diameter less than 20 m, the formulation having a flowability index of 12 mm or less.
37. A formulation according to claim 36, which comprises more than 10% by weight particles of aero-dynamic diameter less than 20 m.
38. A formulation for use in an inhaler device, comprising:
from 5 to 90% by weight carrier particles having a diameter of at least 50 m and a mass median diameter of at least 175 m;
from 0.01 to 80% by weight of a therapeutically active agent;
from 9 to 50% by weight of particles of fine excipient material of diameter less than 50 m;
in each case, by weight, based on the total weight of the carrier particles, active agent and fine excipient material.
39. A formulation substantially as described herein.
40. A formulation substantially as described in any of Examples 1 to 3.
41. An inhaler device comprising a formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 40.
42. A device according to claim 41, which is a dry powder inhaler.
43. A device according to claim 42, which is a pressurised metered dose inhaler.
44. A method of manufacturing a formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 43, comprising mixing the fine excipient particles with the carrier particles and the active particles.