Abstract:
An intravenous infusion device (10) comprises a fluid drip chamber (11) having an inlet (12) and an outlet (13). A floating plug (14) provides an indication of fluid level and when the fluid is exhausted the plug (14) settles in the outlet (13) and, being made from a soft deformable material, effectively forms a bung preventing air entering the line (4). It is thus a simple matter to replace an associated fluid bottle (2) and allow the replenished fluid to flow with minimal interruption or intervention. By providing the plug (14) with a flexible skirt or fin (15) and providing the chamber (11) with a conical end section (16) an enhanced seal is provided by the fin (15) engaging the conical section (16). In a further enhancement the conical section (16) has an opaque lower section (17) and the plug (14) is thus obscured from view as the fluid is depleted providing an enhanced visual indication that the fluid bottle (2) is empty. The plug (14) may advantageously also be coloured at least partially green such that the presence of a green indicator indicates that the infusion device is functioning.
Abstract:
A method of pushing information to a mobile device having a connection to a wireless telephone network, the method comprising the steps of identifying at least one item of information to be provided to a user of the mobile device, and opening a data transfer session using the wireless telephone network to send the at least one item of information specifically to the mobile device, and wherein the information is adapted to be received by a application executing within the mobile device and to be presented to a user via a user interface.
Abstract:
A medical tube is described. The medical tube comprises a tubular portion, an expandable portion and a pilot balloon for monitoring pressure in the expandable portion. The pilot balloon includes a pressure difference indicator configured to move from a first position to a second position when a pressure difference between pressure inside the pilot balloon and pressure outside the pilot balloon exceeds a predetermined pressure difference threshold.
Abstract:
A detector (80) for detecting molecules conveyed through a gaseous medium. For example, the molecules may be emitted from sewage, meat production plants, or detection of the molecules may give information about the state of health of a human or an animal. The detector (80) comprises sensors (82, 84, 86, 88) which have sensing surfaces. Each sensing surface has an electrical property that changes in response to the molecules when the molecules are coupled to the sensing surface so that the coupled molecules can be sensed by detecting the changed electrical property. The sensors are sensitive for a sulphur compound and for an organic compound. Also, a method of fabricating a detector for detecting molecules conveyed through the gaseous medium.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the probability that sampled data, associated with a source and obtained from a plurality of data input sources, are from a known source, given prior observed data obtained by the plurality of data input sources for one or more known sources. In one embodiment the data input sources are sensors for detecting molecules conveyed though the air and the method comprises identifying a source of the molecules. The present invention also provides a method of determining information about the position of at least one sensor relative to a previously known type of source.
Abstract:
One or more detectors, such as an electronic nose, are positioned for sensing a predetermined type of molecule in a gaseous medium, (eg, an organic odour or pollutant emitted from a processing plant). Data from the detectors may be transmitted by wireless, internet, or other means, and is electronically processed. Data may be classified via data clustering software (48, 55) using, for example, k-means cluster analysis. An artificial neural network may be trained to predict probable future data on the basis of earlier data (52, 54, 55), including, for example, whether the future concentration level of the predetermined type of molecule will be above a threshold level. The processed data may be used to generate an alarm signal and/or a feedback signal, to allow the source of the predetermined type of molecule to be manually or automatically controlled.
Abstract:
The invention describes human genes involved in cell cycle progression, including mitosis and meiosis. The invention also relates to the used of these "cell cycle progression" genes and proteins in the modulation of cell cycle progression in cells and methods for identifying modulators of these genes or proteins and hence modulators of mitosis and meiosis.
Abstract:
An inflatable pet bed (1) comprising an inflatable annulus (2) and a removable cover (3) for the annulus (2) that is so sized and shaped as to substantially surround the inflated annulus (2) in use, the pet bed being characterised in that the cover (3) is provided with an opening (4), the size of which can be altered (using a closure means) from a first generally fixed position to a second generally fixed position thus enabling the cover (3) to be removed from the annulus (2) without having to deflate the annulus (2).
Abstract:
A medical tube is described. The medical tube (10) comprises a tubular portion, an expandable portion (12) and a pilot balloon for monitoring pressure in the expandable portion. The pilot balloon (14) includes a pressure difference indicator (24) configured to move from a first position to a second position when a pressure difference between pressure inside the pilot balloon and pressure outside the pilot balloon exceeds a predetermined pressure difference threshold.
Abstract:
A method of reducing palm stems to biomass by rotating about a rotation axis a plurality of axially-extending blades (14), at least some of which are offset circumferentially about the axis to one another, and which describe cutting paths which meet or overlap in the axial direction, and a cutter element rotatable about a rotation axis and including a plurality of axially-extending blades, at least some of which are offset circumferentially about the axis to one another, and which describe cutting paths which meet or overlap in the axial direction.