Abstract: A digital-computing platform provides a unified account current and statement billing workflow. This workflow comprises a plurality of event points including, for example, sending a statement, checking for receipt of a promise to pay, and checking for receipt of a payment. This platform uses an end-user interface to facilitate configuring a specific billing plan by use of this unified workflow. This can comprise configuring at least one action with respect to at least one of the aforementioned event points. By one approach, this can comprise providing an opportunity to select whether and when to send a statement, whether to receive a promise to pay, and/or a date by when to receive such a promise to pay. Configuring a specific billing plan can also comprise, if desired, providing an opportunity to identify an action to automatically take when an expected promise to pay is not received as expected.

Abstract: A computer-based billing system presents, via an end-user interface, a plurality of exceptions as have occurred with respect to corresponding billing events as pertain to a plurality of billed parties while also presenting exceptions metrics as pertain to this plurality of exceptions. These exceptions metrics include at least one age-related metric, at least one financial-related metric, and at least one count-related metric. These teachings then further provide for permitting the end user to selectively prioritize the presenting of the plurality of exceptions as a function of at least one of these exceptions metrics.

Abstract: A computer-based insurance billing system for use in controlling insurance business processes is provided. As used herein the insurance business processes may include delinquency, invoicing, accruing earned commissions, paying commissions, distributing received payments, and disbursing owed amount, to note a few. At a user interface, the end user is provided (101) an opportunity to effect a trouble ticked with respect to a particular insurance entity. The characteristics of the trouble ticket may be automatically determined (102) to identify which of the insurance business processes relate to the trouble ticket. The end user is automatically provided (103) an opportunity to establish a temporary hold on the identified insurance business processes.

Abstract: A visually-appealing, multi-component, packaged microwaveable frozen meal that includes at least two different, discrete, individually frozen edible components assembled on a support member to form the frozen meal that mimics a prepared meal, and a microwaveable film disposed adjacent the frozen components that conforms and adheres sufficiently tightly to the components and the support member is disclosed. The film and the support member form an enclosure having a reduced pressure therein. The film is at least sufficiently translucent or transparent so that a consumer can readily view a portion of the frozen meal as a complete, multi-component meal ready for serving.

Abstract: A moisture and heat exchanging unit for a respiration device such as a tracheal tube or tracheotomy canula, is described comprising a housing holding therein a moisture and heat exchanging body and/or a bacterial filter, said housing comprising two halves, a proximal half having an opening for connection with the airways of a patient and a distal half having an opening for communication with an air supply, said halves being mutually rotatable around a circular connection, one of said halves having an enlarged rim portion in locking, rotatable, relationship with a lid edge of the other of said halves. In a further embodiment, said halves are sealing against each other by an annular blade with tapering cross-section integral with one of said halves, sealing against an inclined internal surface of a collar integral with the other of said halves.

Abstract: A device for gas analysis, which determines the content of two or more gases in a gas flow. The device includes at least one source for emission of two or more ray paths of radiation of a detectable wavelength, a cuvette device having an inlet and an outlet for uninterrupted gas flow, and a detector device for conversion of the radiation into an electrical signal. The source(s), cuvettes, and detectors are arranged such that ray paths emitted from the source pass through cuvettes containing gas and to detectors to permit analysis of two or more gases in a gas flow. In a preferred embodiment, the cuvette device includes a block having cuvettes positioned in each of the ray paths, which cuvettes are interconnected to form an unbroken conduit for gas flow from inlet to outlet.

Abstract: A method and means is disclosed for carrying out the calibration of a gas monitor. The calibration is effected by providing a calibration gas containing a precise amount of the constituent that is measured by the gas monitor. That calibration gas is introduced into the gas monitor and passes therethrough in a closed system such that leakage of calibration gas to the surrounding environment at the inlet to the gas monitor and from the outlet of the monitor is prevented. The calibration gas is further stalled in the gas sensor chamber of the gas monitor for the operator to make necessary adjustments to the gas monitor at no flow conditions of the calibration gas.