Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention provides an ankle-foot orthosis (1) for resisting plantarflexion of a patient's foot, comprising a resiliently flexible sock-like orthotic structure (1) formed of first (12) and second (14) tubular sections set at an angle to one another, wherein the second tubular section is capable of being opened for insertion of the patient's foot and lower leg into respective ones of said first and second tubular sections, the orthosis further comprising at least one closure member (34) that can be passed round at least part of the periphery of the second tubular section and secured in place to urge the second tubular section towards a closed position in which the second tubular section is closely fitted to the lower leg of the patient.

Abstract: An ankle-foot orthosis for resisting plantarflexion of a patient's foot, the orthosis comprising: a first resiliently flexible part (1) that comprises a first portion (3) and a second portion (5) set at an angle to said first portion (3), said first portion (3) being configured to lie against and along a portion of a patient's shin in use, and said second portion (5) being configured to extend partway along a dorsal aspect of the patient's foot in use, said first part (1) further comprising means (9) operable to secure said first portion (3) against the patient's shin; and a second resiliently flexible part (7) that is separate from but co-operates with said first part (1) in use, said second part (7) comprising a tubular body that is configured and arranged to fit around the patient's foot and to overlap at least part of the second portion (5) of said first part (1); wherein said first (1) and second parts (7) co-operate to provide a resistance to flexure suitable for correcting the plantarflexion experience

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention provides an ankle-foot orthosis (1) for resisting plantarflexion of a patient's foot, comprising a resiliently flexible sock-like orthotic structure (1) formed of first (12) and second (14) tubular sections set at an angle to one another, wherein the second tubular section is capable of being opened for insertion of the patient's foot and lower leg into respective ones of said first and second tubular sections, the orthosis further comprising at least one closure member (34) that can be passed round at least part of the periphery of the second tubular section and secured in place to urge the second tubular section towards a closed position in which the second tubular section is closely fitted to the lower leg of the patient.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention provides an ankle-foot orthosis (1) for resisting plantarflexion of a patient's foot, comprising: a resiliently flexible sock-like orthotic structure (10) formed of first (12) and second (14) tubular sections set at an angle to one another, wherein the second tubular section is capable of being opened for insertion of the patient's foot and lower leg into respective ones of said first and second tubular sections, the orthosis further comprising at least one closure member (34) that can be passed round at least part of the periphery of the second tubular section and secured in place to urge the second tubular section towards a closed position in which the second tubular section is closely fitted to the lower leg of the patient.

Abstract: An ankle-foot orthosis for resisting plantarflexion of a patient's foot, the orthosis having an orthotic structure formed of a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion set at an angle to the first portion. The orthotic structure is formed from a resiliently flexible material having a resilience chosen to be sufficient to provide a resistance to flexure that is appropriate for correction of the particular degree of plantarflexion experienced by the patient. The first portion has first and second regions that have been overlapped and permanently secured one to the other to form a tube that fits closely about the patient's foot. The second tubular portion is capable of being opened for insertion of the patient's foot into the tube formed by the first portion, and for insertion of at least a portion of the patient's lower leg into the second portion.

Abstract: This application relates to a prosthesis 12 and a cover 1 for a residual limb, wherein: the cover 1 comprises a first region 8 that is normally of a greater circumference than an adjacent second region of the cover, said first region being resiliently deformable so as to temporarily reduce the circumference of that region of the cover, and the prosthesis 12 comprises a portion that defines an internal cavity 11 into which a residual limb that is at least partly covered by said cover 1 may be inserted, wherein said cavity 11 is configured to include a first region 13 that has a first cross-sectional area and below said first region in the direction of limb insertion, a second region 15 that has a second cross-sectional area larger than said first, the arrangement being such that said resiliently deformable first region 8 of said cover deforms to reduce the circumference of that region of said cover as the cover 1 moves through said first region 13 of the cavity, and expands in said second region 15 of the cavi

Abstract: A humidifier unit (10) for injecting steam into air-conditioning ducting comprising at least one tubular portion (12) formed with at least one aperture (16) to enable steam to pass from the interior of the tubular portion (12) to the exterior thereof. The aperture (16) is formed through a wall portion (20) of the tubular portion to create an inwardly directed annular protuberance (18), which is integral with the surrounding wall portion (20). The protuberance (18) thus comprises the same material as the surrounding wall portion (20). Also a method of making such a humidifier unit (10) using thermal drilling or punching to create the aperture (16) and the annular protuberance (18).

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid by reacting carbon monoxide with methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof in a liquid reaction composition comprising an iridium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide, methyl acetate, water and acetic acid characterised in that there is also present in the reaction composition a monodentate phosphine oxide compound in an amount of up to and including 200 mol per gram atom of iridium.

Abstract: A gas-fired humidifier includes a heat exchanger with a plurality of generally upwardly extending tubes. These are connected at their lower ends to a source of water and at their upper ends to a steam header. A gas-fired burner is arranged to direct heat to the exterior of the tubes so as to cause water therein to boil and form steam in the steam header.

Abstract: A steam-raising system comprising a boiler having (a) a passageway for water and/or steam, (b) an inlet to the passageway through which water is introduced continuously for given periods when the boiler is in use, (c) a burner to heat the passageway from the outside thereof, and (d) an outlet from the passageway from which steam emerges continuously as water is introduced through the inlet. The system further comprises a pump connected by a flow-path to the said inlet to pump water thereto along the said flow-path. The pump is a variable-flow-rate pump constructed to provide a flow-rate through it which is substantially independent of its downstream pressure.

Abstract: A gas-fired humidifier comprising a heat exchanger with a plurality of generally upwardly extending tubes. These are connected at their lower ends to a source of water and at their upper ends to a steam header. A gas-fired burner is arranged to direct heat to the exterior of the tubes so as to cause water therein to boil and form steam in the steam header.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid by carbonylating with carbon monoxide methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof in a carbonylation reactor containing a liquid reaction composition comprising an iridium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide co-catalyst, a finite concentration of water, acetic acid, methyl acetate and at least one promoter wherein the water concentration is at or below that at which the maximum in the graph of carbonylation rate versus water concentration occurs and there is employed in the liquid reaction composition a co-promoter selected from alkali metal iodides, alkaline earth metal iodides, metal complexes capable of generating I.sup.-, salts capable of generating I.sup.-, and mixtures of two or more thereof.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid comprises (1) continuously feeding methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof and carbon monoxide to a carbonylation reactor containing a liquid reaction composition comprising an iridium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide co-catalyst, a finite concentration of water, acetic acid, methyl acetate and, optionally at least one promoter, (2) carbonylating the methanol and/or reactive derivative thereof with the carbon monoxide in the liquid reaction composition to produce acetic acid; and (3) recovering acetic acid from the liquid reaction composition, there being continuously maintained (a) in the liquid reaction composition water at a concentration of no greater than 4.5% by weight, and (b) in the reactor a carbon monoxide partial pressure in the range from greater than 0 to 7.5 bar.

Abstract: A steam-raising system comprising a boiler. The boiler has (a) a passageway for water and/or steam, (b) an inlet to the passageway through which water is introduced continuously for given periods when the boiler is in use, (c) a heater to heat the passageway, and (d) an outlet from the passageway from which steam emerges continuously as water is introduced through the inlet. The system further comprises a pump connected by a flow-path to the said inlet to pump water thereto along the said flow-path, and flow-control means in the said flow-path. The flow-control means comprise a plurality of lines which constitute a part of the flow-path, which are connected between the pump and boiler in parallel with one another, and which are independently openable to enable the amount of water delivered to the boiler to be varied.

Abstract: In a process for purifying a carboxylic acid fraction obtained by liquid phase carbonylation of an alkyl alcohol and/or its reactive derivative in which volatile iridium- and/or volatile co-promoter contaminants are converted to involatile forms by contacting with an iodide in the absence of carbon monoxide or at a partial pressure less than that of the carbonylation reaction. The involatile contaminants are then separated from the carboxylic acid.