Abstract: A seal assembly for the protection of a static seal device for use in a vacuum pump. The seal assembly comprising at least two components which are sealingly connected together, an o-ring seal, which is engaged between the two components to prevent transfer of fluid to and from the pump between these two components and a fluid channel. The fluid channel being in the plane of the o-ring and located between the o-ring seal and a process gas flow path. The fluid channel provides a path for a barrier gas to be routed when the apparatus is in use. The channel being connectable to an external source of barrier fluid and having an outlet in fluid communication with the pump swept volume.

Abstract: A portable ventilator uses a ROOTS-type blower as a compressor to reduce both the size and power consumption of the ventilator. Various functional aspects of the ventilator are delegated to multiple subassemblies having dedicated controllers and software that interact with a ventilator processor to provide user interface functions, exhalation control and flow control servos, and monitoring of patient status. The ventilator overcomes noise problems through the use of noise reducing pressure compensating orifices on the ROOTS-type blower housing and multiple baffling chambers. The ventilator is configured with a highly portable form factor, and may be used as a stand-alone device or as a docked device having a docking cradle with enhanced interface and monitoring capabilities.

Abstract: A portable ventilator uses a Roots-type blower as a compressor to reduce both the size and power consumption of the ventilator. Various functional aspects of the ventilator are delegated to multiple subassemblies having dedicated controllers and software that interact with a ventilator processor to provide user interface functions, exhalation control and flow control servos, and monitoring of patient status. The ventilator overcomes noise problems through the use of noise reducing pressure compensating orifices on the Roots blower housing and multiple baffling chambers. The ventilator is configured with a highly portable form factor, and may be used as a stand-alone device or as a docked device having a docking cradle with enhanced interface and monitoring capabilities.

Abstract: A stacking support for at least one row of wine bottles is of sheet-like form with indentations (10) shaped to receive and locate at least one row of bottles in parallel relationship in a first layer. The indentations (10) are so arranged that when a second like support for carrying a second layer will be laterally offset with respect to those of the first layer so that the bottles of the second layer will be supported by the bottles of the first layer. The support is so configured that when it is used in conjunction with the second like support (16) the two supports (16) cooperate to ensure anti-sagging support in the zone of the endmost bottle-carrying indentation (10e) of the second layer only partially supported by the first layer.

Abstract: A portable ventilator uses a Roots-type blower as a compressor to reduce both the size and power consumption of the ventilator. Various functional aspects of the ventilator are delegated to multiple subassemblies having dedicated controllers and software that interact with a ventilator processor to provide user interface functions, exhalation control and flow control servos, and monitoring of patient status. The ventilator overcomes noise problems through the use of noise reducing pressure compensating orifices on the Roots blower housing and multiple baffling chambers. The ventilator is configured with a highly portable form factor, and may be used as a stand-alone device or as a docked device having a docking cradle with enhanced interface and monitoring capabilities.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising bauxite refinery residues that have been reacted with sufficient calcium and magnesium ions that they have a reaction pH of less than 10.5, and one or more water treating additives. The invention also provides processes for treatment of water containing dissolved inorganic substances involving stepwise treatment of the water in which the reacted bauxite refinery residues are added after the addition of a pH-raising additive. The invention also provides processes for treatment of water containing dissolved inorganic substances in which the reacted bauxite refinery residues are added stepwise, with one or more water treating additives also being added in at least one of the steps.

Abstract: A portable ventilator uses a Roots-type blower as a compressor to reduce both the size and power consumption of the ventilator. Various functional aspects of the ventilator are delegated to multiple subassemblies having dedicated controllers and software that interact with a ventilator processor to provide user interface functions, exhalation control and flow control servos, and monitoring of patient status. The ventilator overcomes noise problems through the use of a noise attenuating system comprising noise reducing pressure compensating orifices on the Roots blower housing and multiple noise reducing chambers. The ventilator is configured with a highly portable form factor, and may be used as a stand-alone device or as a docked device having a docking cradle with enhanced interface and monitoring capabilities.

Abstract: An oral odor control agent admixture of generally equivalent proportions of thymol, anise, fennel, basil, and juniperberry essential oils shows efficacy as an odor control agent in oral care for control of garlic odor.

Abstract: A two component desensitizing dentifrice composition is disclosed which comprises a first dentifrice component containing an enzyme such as papain and a second dentifrice component containing an ionic surfactant such as sodium lauryl sulfate, the first and second dentifrice components being maintained separate from the other until dispensed for application to teeth whereby enzyme activity is maintained with improved dentifrice foaming characteristics.

Abstract: An antiplaque oral care composition having enhanced oral hygiene and organoleptic properties is provided. The composition contains an enzyme and a cyclodextrin. Papain and other proteolytic enzymes may be preferred. The resulting composition has more favorable organoleptic properties than a comparative composition containing only the enzyme.

Abstract: A two component desensitizing dentifrice composition is disclosed which comprises a first dentifrice component containing an enzyme such as papain and a second dentifrice component containing an ionic surfactant such as sodium lauryl sulfate, the first and second dentifrice components being maintained separate from the other until dispensed for application to teeth whereby enzyme activity is maintained with improved dentifrice foaming characteristics.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for reducing the noise generated by compressors, including Roots-type blowers. The invention has particular use for reducing noise generated by compressors used in mechanical ventilators, though the advantages thereof may be realized in many different applications. One embodiment of the invention comprises a noise-attenuating gas flow path for a compressor contained in a portable ventilator housing. In one embodiment, the gas flow path comprises a plurality of chambers interconnected by flow tubes. The flow path is folded so as to fit into the limited space of a portable ventilator housing. The dimensions of the chambers and the flow tubes are selected so that an impedance mismatch is created between the chambers and the flow tubes. In one embodiment of the invention, the flow path comprises one or more perforated tubes located in one or more of the chambers.

Abstract: A ventilator device and system comprising a rotating compressor, preferably a drag compressor, which, at the beginning of each inspiratory ventilation phase, is accelerated to a sufficient speed to deliver the desired inspiratory gas flow, and is subsequently stopped or decelerated to a basal flow level to permit the expiratory ventilation phase to occur. The ventilator device is small and light weight enough to be utilized in portable applications. The ventilator device is power efficient enough to operate for extended periods of time on internal or external batteries. Also provided is an oxygen blending apparatus which utilizes solenoid valves having specific orifice sizes for blending desired amounts of oxygen into the inspiratory gas flow. Also provided is an exhalation valve having an exhalation flow transducer which incorporates a radio frequency data base to provide an attendant controller with specific calibration information for the exhalation flow transducer.

Abstract: A ventilator device and system comprising a rotating compressor, preferably a drag compressor, which, at the beginning of each inspiratory ventilation phase, is accelerated to a sufficient speed to deliver the desired inspiratory gas flow, and is subsequently stopped or decelerated to a basal flow level to permit the expiratory ventilation phase to occur. The ventilator device is small and light weight enough to be utilized in portable applications. The ventilator device is power efficient enough to operate for extended periods of time on internal or external batteries. Also provided is an oxygen blending apparatus which utilizes solenoid valves having specific orifice sizes for blending desired amounts of oxygen into the inspiratory gas flow. Also provided is an exhalation valve having an exhalation flow transducer which incorporates a radio frequency data base to provide an attendant controller with specific calibration information for the exhalation flow transducer.

Abstract: A Roots-type blower comprises a housing defining a rotor chamber and an inlet and outlet to the rotor chamber. First and second rotors are mounted in the rotor chamber, each rotor defining a plurality of lobes, adjacent lobes and the housing cooperating to define gas transport chambers. The blower is configured so that a net flow rate of gas into a gas transport chamber is generally or approximately constant, whereby a change in gas pressure in the gas transport chamber is generally or approximately linear, as the gas transport chamber approaches the outlet. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by providing flow channels extending from the outlet towards the inlet, and from the inlet towards the outlet, corresponding to each rotor. The flow channels permit gas to flow from the high pressure outlet to a gas transport chamber and from the gas transport chamber to the low pressure inlet.

Abstract: A portable ventilator uses a Roots-type blower as a compressor to reduce both the size and power consumption of the ventilator. Various functional aspects of the ventilator are delegated to multiple subassemblies having dedicated controllers and software that interact with a ventilator processor to provide user interface functions, exhalation control and flow control servos, and monitoring of patient status. The ventilator overcomes noise problems through the use of noise reducing pressure compensating orifices on the Roots blower housing and multiple baffling chambers. The ventilator is configured with a highly portable form factor, and may be used as a stand-alone device or as a docked device having a docking cradle with enhanced interface and monitoring capabilities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a brushless DC (BLDC) motor over a wide range of angular speeds is presented. Analog magnetic sensors provide continuous signal measurements related to the rotor angular position at a sample rate independent of rotor angular speed. In one embodiment, analog signal measurements are subsequently processed using an arctangent function to obtain the rotor angular position. The arctangent may be computed using arithmetic computation, a small angle approximation, a polynomial evaluation approach, a table lookup approach, or a combination of various methods. In one embodiment, the BLDC rotor is used to drive a Roots blower used as a compressor in a portable mechanical ventilator system.

Abstract: A stacking support for at least one row of wine bottles is of sheet-like form with indentations (10) shaped to receive and locate at least one row of bottles in parallel relationship in a first layer. The indentations (10) are so arranged that when a second like support for carrying a second layer will be laterally offset with respect to those of the first layer so that the bottles of the second layer will be supported by the bottles of the first layer. The support is so configured that when it is used in conjunction with the second like support (16) the two supports (16) cooperate to ensure anti-sagging support in the zone of the endmost bottle-carrying indentation (10e) of the second layer only partially supported by the first layer.

Abstract: An oral care composition having enhanced oral hygiene and antiplaque properties which comprises an orally acceptable vehicle containing a combination of an enzyme, cetylpyridinium chloride and a reducing agent.

Abstract: A two component desensitizing dentifrice composition is disclosed which comprises a first dentifrice component containing an enzyme such as papain and a second dentifrice component containing an ionic surfactant such as sodium lauryl sulfate, the first and second dentifrice components being maintained separate from the other until dispensed for application to teeth whereby enzyme activity is maintained with improved dentifrice foaming characteristics.