Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for determining a temperature at which a phase change occurs in a fluid sample, a method for measuring a temperature at which a phase change occurs in a sample and a sample cell.

Abstract: An inflatable/deflatable compression device, such as, a sleeve or cuff for use in simulating blood circulation in the limbs. The compression device is designed for use with a source of cyclical fluid pressure to provide alternating inflation and deflation cycles of the device. The compression device has at least one inflatable/deflatable fluid chamber. A safety bleed hole fluidly couples the interior of the fluid chamber to the exterior so that fluid pressure will be released from the at least one fluid chamber in the event that the source of cyclical inflating and deflating fluid pressures does not cycle to its deflating mode.

Abstract: A method for measuring the freezing point of a liquid utilizing non-adiabatic thermodynamics for the chilling chamber. The temperature of the chilling chamber in which the measurement is made is actively altered to reduce net heat flow from the sample portion of the liquid being measured at least during nucleation of the sample portion. By actively altering the chilling-chamber temperature, the thermodynamics of the sample itself more nearly approach a true adiabatic condition during nucleation. Preferably, the freezing-point measurement is made in the sample-handling or pick-up device itself.