Abstract:
A walking assistance device, for example, a walking cane, a walking crutch, or walker includes a gas storage vessel for providing an ambulatory supply of medicinal gas for a user of the device. The gas storage vessel is formed from a plurality of polymeric hollow chamber having either an ellipsoidal or spherical shape and interconnected by a plurality of relatively narrow conduit sections disposed between consecutive ones of the chambers. The gas storage vessel includes a reinforcing filament wrapped around the interconnected chambers and interconnecting conduit sections to limit radial expansion of the chambers and conduit sections when filled with a fluid under pressure. The container system further includes a fluid transfer control system attached to the gas storage vessel for controlling fluid flow into and out of the gas storage vessel and a gas delivery mechanism for delivering gas from the gas storage vessel to a user in a breathable manner.
Abstract:
In a cylindrically-formed gasholder sealing member interposed between an inner circumferential surface of a tank constituting a gasholder and an outer edge of a shock-absorbing member that rises and falls within the tank along with a movable piston that rises and falls within the tank at an outer circumferential side of the movable piston, both surfaces of at least a tank-ward end, out of a tank-ward end on a side anchored to the inner circumferential surface of the tank and a shock-absorbing member-ward end on a side anchored to the outer edge of the shock-absorbing member, are covered by ethylene propylene diene rubber, and a portion other than the tank-ward end and the shock-absorbing member-ward end is not covered by ethylene propylene diene rubber.
Abstract:
An orientation independent delivery device. The delivery device includes a gas chamber, a delivery chamber, a gas cell, and a delivery aperture. The gas chamber includes a gas-side rigid portion and a gas-side flexible barrier. The gas-side flexible barrier is sealed to the gas-side rigid portion. The delivery chamber includes a delivery-side rigid portion and a delivery-side flexible barrier. The delivery-side flexible barrier is sealed to the delivery-side rigid portion and is oriented adjacent to the gas-side flexible barrier. The gas cell is coupled to the gas-side rigid portion of the gas chamber. The gas cell increases a gas pressure within the gas chamber to expand the gas-side flexible barrier. Expansion of the gas-side flexible barrier applies a compressive force to the delivery-side flexible barrier allowing a delivery material to escape from the delivery chamber.
Abstract:
A method for fragmenting a bubble of compressed gas released from a compressed gas reservoir situated at a depth under a water surface. The method comprises maintaining a grid disposed between the reservoir and the water surface to fragment the bubble into a plurality of fragmented bubble portions, the grid allowing passage therethrough of the fragmented bubble portions of the body of compressed gas generally along a travel path.
Abstract:
A transport unit includes a plurality of permanent magnets arranged to provide a magnetic holding field for protecting hyperpolarized gas during storage and/or transport. The permanent magnets are configured in a relatively light weight manner to project a substantially cylindrical magnetic holding field or spherical holding field in space. The magnet arrangements can include primary magnets and field shaping secondary magnets which act to enlarge the region of homogeneity. The permanent magnet arrangement can also be provided with a cylindrical shaped flex sheet magnetically activated to provide the magnetic holding field. The permanent magnet arrangements do not require disassembly to insert or remove one or more containers of hyperpolarized gas in or out of the transport unit.
Abstract:
A flexible pressure vessel is constructed from at least one pair of upper and mating lower dome shaped cell portions. The dome portions are molded from sheets of resilient material and joined together by radio frequency welding or high-strength adhesives. Upper and lower passageway portions extend outwardly from each cell portion to the surrounding sheet material. When the cell portions are joined the passageway portions are joined to form a passageway for connection to a valve or another cell. Upper and lower rings surround the upper and lower cell portions to provide reinforcement for the cells. First and second blankets of heavy-duty fiber reinforced material are attached over the upper and lower cell portions and stitched in place with heavy-duty stitching extending through the resilient material surrounding the cell portions. Cell shaped sponges impregnated with absorbent materials are encased in liquid and gas impermeable plastic tubing and inserted into the cells prior to joining of the cell portions. Heat-reflecting plastic film or metal foil is inserted between blankets and the cell portions. The heavy duty stitching is high-pressure loop and lock braiding. The passageway has a cross-section of between 0.050 and 0.100 inches. An apparatus and method are described for constructing the flexible pressure vessel.
Abstract:
A compact portable transport unit for shipping hyperpolarized noble gases and shielding same from electromagnetic interference and/or external magnetic fields includes a means for shifting the resonance frequency of the hyperpolarized gas outside the bandwidth of typical frequencies associated with prevalent time-dependent fields produced by electrical sources. Preferably the transport unit includes a magnetic holding field which is generated from a solenoid in the transport unit. The solenoid includes a plurality of coil segments and is sized and configured to receive the gas chamber of a container. The gas container is configured with a valve, a spherical body, and an extending capillary stem between the valve and the body. The gas container or hyperpolarized product container can also be formed as a resilient bag. The distribution method includes positioning a multi-bolus container within the transport unit to shield it and transporting same to a second site remote from the first site and subsequently dispensing into smaller patient sized formulations which can be transported (shielded) in another transport unit to yet another site.
Abstract:
A system and method utilizing compressed gas according to which the gas is compressed at a location above ground and transported to an underwater location. The gas is stored at the underwater location and later returned from the underwater location to the above-ground location for utilization as energy.
Abstract:
A gas container having a deformable outer container body, an inner bag, which has a gas barrier characteristic, and an outlet/inlet formed within the inner bag. A gas is charged into the inner bag through the outlet/inlet and discharged there by applying a pressure to the outer container body from outside. According to the invention, all of the gas held in the container can be used without leaving any remaining gas waste. In addition, the container can be re-used.