The Boc Group, Inc.

Other

Boc, Inc.

Anaxsys Technology Limited

The Boc Group Plc (an English Company)

The British Oxygen Company Limited

Michael E Garrett

Norberto O Lemcoff

Mario A Fronzoni

Alberto I La Cava

Brian C Green

Evelyn Arthur Shervington

John Robert Coates

Alberto I LaCava

Kenneth C Smith

Piotr J Sadkowski

Michael John Heywood

Tim Atkinson

Oliver A Kite

Arthur G Boon

Deryk John Peter Williams

Timothy D Atkinson

Mark Sinclair Varney

John B Gardner

Mark J Kirschner

William R Weltmer, Jr

Shuguang Deng

Dimitrios Psaras

Silvia Beatriz Dougill

Stephen N Waldron

Catharine Sarah Paige

Shigeki Hayashi

Ralph John Whiteman

Godfrey B Pickworth

Trevor Dane Hudson

Howard R Miller

Richard Tomlins

Niccola Butler

Michael Barr

Richard M Keene

Mark Varney

A method of determining the respiratory function of a subject is disclosed, the method comprising measuring the concentration of water vapor in the gas stream exhaled by the subject, and from the measured water vapor concentration determining the respiratory function of the subject. Mathematical techniques for analyzing the data obtained from the measurement of concentrations of gaseous components in an exhaled gas stream are also disclosed and their use in determining the lung function of a subject.

Gas sensor

Humidity profiles of exhaled air of individuals obtained using a sensor to detect water vapor content or temperature versus time of exhalation may exhibit an irregularity indicative of a space-occupying respiratory system lesion. Detection of such irregularities provides an inexpensive and rapid means of pre-screening individuals for lung cancer diagnosis, and is applicable even to individuals with other respiratory disorders such as asthma and COPD.

Detection of respiratory system lesions

A method of filling and sealing a gas capsule having (i) a hollow body portion and (ii) an elongate hollow neck portion having a free open distal end extending from the body portion is disclosed. The method is accomplished by applying a filling cap to the open end of the neck portion while evacuating the capsule and refilling with helium. Two crimping steps while pressure is maintained finishes the filling and sealing method.

Method of filling and sealing

A gas container is made from metal foam and the spaces defined by the open-celled structure are filled with a solid adsorbent material such as a zeolite or an activated carbon. The container may be made in the form of a panel.

Metal foam container

Apparatus and method for controlling the composition of the atmosphere within a refrigerated container during the storage and/or transportation of perishable and/or respiring produce in which carbon dioxide and ethylene (and other evolved hydrocarbons) are removed from the container atmosphere by adsorption, the adsorptive materials being regenerated with ambient air.

Atmosphere control for perishable produce

A metal foam object results from the mixing of a gasifier with metal powder and subjecting the mixture to an elevated temperature T and pressure P to form a sintered sheet placing at least a portion of the sintered sheet into a mold and subjecting the mold to a temperature T where T is greater than T at which the metal melts and the gas is released from the gasifier and quenching the metal foam object thus formed in the mold. The quenching is carried out by applying a cryogen to the object as a high velocity mixture of gas and liquid droplets.

Reticulated foam structures

A method of making a metal foam object includes the steps of mixing a gasifier with metal powder and subjecting the mixture to an elevated temperature T and pressure P to form a sintered sheet; placing at least a portion of the sintered sheet into a mold and subjecting the mold to a temperature T where T is greater than T at which the metal melts and the gas is released from the gasifier; quenching the metal foam object thus formed in the mold; and passing a hot inert gas through the metal foam object.

An apparatus for refrigerating goods in a container storing a cryogenic fluid and means for discharging the fluid into the container in order to reduce the temperature therein, characterized in that the storing means is adapted to operate at atmospheric pressures but not at pressures substantially greater than atmospheric. Such a system provides a single and inexpensive means for refrigerating goods in a transportable container, which may be divisible into smaller compartments, and may also be provided with eutectic plates to act as a thermal &ldquo;buffer&rdquo; whenever the container/a compartment is opened for loading/unloading.

Cryogenic refrigeration of goods

A container for cooling/refrigerating produce comprising at least one panel made from metal foam for storing a cryogenic fluid under pressure and means for discharging said fluid into the container in order to reduce/maintain the temperature within the container.

Containers for perishable produce

A multi-bed PSA pressure vessel includes a hollow tubular body having one or more end plates releasably secured thereto. Secured to the end plate(s) are pipes which extend along the interior of the hollow tubular body. Each of the pipes terminates at a location along the length of the tubular body different from the remaining pipes. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of perforated spacing flanges are secured to the pipe and some adjacent flanges defining between them a space for receiving adsorbing sieve material.

PSA systems

A spirit chilling apparatus comprising a drink chilling tube (,) concentric within an insulated container (,) filled with a constant boiling cryogen (,), such as acetone and solid carbon dioxide or similar azeotropic mixture. The innertube (,) is held in relatively poor thermal contact with the vessel (,) containing the liquid so that over a period of time it will adopt the temperature of the liquid (,) but when a measure of spirit is poured through it the specific heat of the tube (,) will be sufficient to result in a net temperature of &minus;5&deg; C. for both the spirit and the tube (,), the heat flow from the surrounding vessel (,) being insufficient to materially affect this. If the tube (,) is left in place it will again cool to the previous temperature so that a further measure of spirit can be cooled.

Spirit Chiller

A process for controlling the atmosphere in a container including the steps of passing a pressurized portion of the atmosphere serially through a plurality of separate but inter-communicating adsorbent beds which selectively adsorb water vapor, ethylene, carbon dioxide and nitrogen from the compressed atmosphere, then isolating the ethylene-selective adsorbent and desorbing ethylene therefrom, then desorbing nitrogen from the nitrogen-selective adsorbent and purging the carbon dioxide-selective bed, the ethylene-selective bed and the water vapor-selective bed with the desorbed nitrogen, and returning the purge and purged gas mixture to the container.

Controlling atmospheres in containers

Apparatus for cooling and/or gassifying a liquid

A beverage chiller which chills the liquid through the desorption of gas from an adsorbent within a vessel, wherein the chiller comprises a plurality of heat transfer elements, formed of thermally-conductive material and in direct thermal contact with the adsorbent and adapted to transfer heat between the vessel walls and the adsorbent therein, and wherein the elements are configured so as to cooperate in use in order to conduct desorbed gas from the adsorbent to the vessel walls and thence along the vessel walls prior to its exit from the vessel. The chiller provides more effective heat transfer and fully utilizes the chilling capacity of the desorbed gas by channeling it to and along the vessel walls.

Fluid chilling apparatus

A garment for use by a patient during an operation comprises an inner skin and an outer skin which between them define a space. A source and value are provided for passing a gas mixture of air and a predetermined volume of helium through the space to control the body temperature of the patient.

Growing community of inventors

Woking, United Kingdom

Michael E Garrett