1. A process for producing a biodegradable polymer foam structure comprising:
melting a biodegradable polymer;
dissolving an effective amount of a blowing agent in the biodegradable polymer to define a mixture in a melt state, the blowing agent being a blend comprising from about 1 weight percent to about 99 weight percent methyl formate and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a), wherein the mixture is maintained as a homogeneous solution in the melt state;
forming an extrudate in the melt state from the mixture; and
expanding the extrudate from the melt state to form the biodegradable polymer foam structure, wherein the foam structure is a substantially closed-cell and dimensionally stable board or sheet.
2. A process for producing a biodegradable polymer foam structure comprising:
preparing an expandable polymeric formulation comprising a biodegradable polymer and a blowing agent, the blowing agent comprising methyl formate and at least one coblowing agent having a volatility higher than methyl formate;
forming the formulation into expandable beads; and
expanding the expandable beads to form a substantially closed-cell and dimensionally stable biodegradable polymer foam structure.
3. The process of claim 2, wherein preparing the expandable polymeric formulation further includes a process selected from the group consisting of (a), (b), and (c):
a. (i) melting a biodegradable polymer;
(ii) mixing an effective amount of the blowing agent in the biodegradable polymer to define a mixture; and
(iii) extruding the mixture into a low temperature zone to form the expandable beads;
b. dissolving an effective amount of the blowing agent into the biodegradable polymer;
c. synthesizing the biodegradable polymer in the presence of the blowing agent.
4. The process of claim 1, wherein the blowing agent blend further comprises at least one additional co-blowing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon, an ester, an ether, an acetal, an alkanol, a carbonate, an amine, a ketone, an inorganic agent and a chemical blowing agent.
5. The process of claim 4, wherein the at least one additional co-blowing agent is selected from the group consisting of ethane, propane, n-butane, isobutane, isopentane, 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a), trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa), dimethyl ether, carbon dioxide, and any combination thereof.
6. The process of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable polymer includes poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), poly(caprolactone) (PCL), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(hydroxy alkanoates) (PHA), dendritic polymers with acidic, hydroxyl and ester functional groups, modified polyesters, acetylated cellulose, starch, a starch derivative, a co-polymer of PLA and a modified polyester, or a combination thereof.
7. The process of claim 1, wherein the process further includes the step of blending at least one non-biodegradable thermoplastic polymer with the biodegradable polymer prior to the dissolving step.
8. The process of claim 7, wherein the process further includes the step of adding at least one compatibilizer to the biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymers prior to the dissolving step.
9. The process of claim 7, wherein the non-biodegradable thermoplastic polymer is an alkenyl aromatic polymer, an acrylic polymer, a polyolefin, or mixtures thereof.
10. The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer foam structure has a density of about 1 to 15 lbft3.
11. The process of claim 1, wherein the expandable polymeric formulation comprises from about 1 weight percent to about 20 weight percent blowing agent.
12. The process of claim 1, wherein the expandable polymeric formulation comprises from about 3 weight percent to about 9 weight percent blowing agent.
13. The process of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable polymer foam structure is a thermoformable sheet.
14. A biodegradable polymer foam structure prepared by a process comprising:
melting a biodegradable polymer,
dissolving an effective amount of a blowing agent blend in the biodegradable polymer to define a mixture in the melt state, the blowing agent being a blend comprising methyl formate and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a), wherein the mixture is maintained as a homogeneous solution in the melt state;
forming an extrudate from the mixture; and
expanding the extrudate to form a biodegradable polymer foam structure, wherein the foam structure is a substantially closed-cell and dimensionally stable board or sheet.
15. A biodegradable polymer foam structure prepared by a process comprising:
preparing an expandable polymeric formulation comprising a biodegradable polymer and a blowing agent, the blowing agent comprising methyl formate and at least one coblowing agent having a volatility higher than methyl formate;
forming the formulation into expandable beads; and
expanding the expandable beads to form a biodegradable polymer foam structure having a density less than about 15 lbft3.
16. The polymer foam structure of claim 14, wherein the blowing agent blend comprises from about 1 weight percent to about 99 weight percent methyl formate.
17. The polymer foam structure of claim 16, wherein the blowing agent blend further comprises at least one additional co-blowing agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon, an ester, an ether, an acetal, an alkanol, a carbonate, an amine, a ketone, an inorganic agent and a chemical blowing agent.
18. A composite polymer foam structure comprising a biodegradable foam structure according to claim 14, and a film coating disposed on the foam, the film coating comprising a non-biodegradable thermoplastic polymer, a biodegradable polymer, or a combination thereof.
19. A biodegradable polymer foam structure prepared by a process comprising:
preparing an expandable polymeric formulation comprising a biodegradable polymer and a blowing agent blend, the blowing agent blend comprising methyl formate, a hydrocarbon, and carbon dioxide; and
expanding the formulation to form a substantially closed-cell and dimensionally stable biodegradable polymer foam structure.
20. The biodegradable polymer foam structure of claim 19, wherein the hydrocarbon is a C2 to C5 hydrocarbon.
21. A biodegradable polymer foam structure prepared by a process comprising:
preparing an expandable polymeric formulation comprising a biodegradable polymer and a blowing agent blend, the blowing agent blend comprising methyl formate, a low volatility blowing agent and a high volatility blowing agent; and
expanding the formulation to form a substantially closed-cell and dimensionally stable biodegradable polymer foam structure.
22. A biodegradable polymer foam structure prepared by a process comprising:
preparing an expandable polymeric formulation comprising a biodegradable polymer and a blowing agent blend, the blowing agent blend comprising methyl formate and at least one co-blowing agent, wherein the at least one co-blowing agent has volatility higher than methyl formate; and
expanding the formulation to form a substantially closed-cell and dimensionally stable biodegradable polymer foam structure.
23. A biodegradable polymer foam structure prepared by a process comprising:
preparing an expandable polymeric formulation comprising a biodegradable polymer and a blowing agent, the blowing agent is a blend consisting essentially of methyl formate, carbon dioxide, and optionally a hydrocarbon; and
expanding the formulation to form a substantially closed-cell and dimensionally stable biodegradable polymer foam structure.
24. The biodegradable polymer foam structure of claim 23, wherein preparing the expandable polymeric formulation further includes forming the formulation into expandable beads prior to the expanding step.
25. A process for producing a biodegradable polymer foam structure comprising:
melting a biodegradable polymer;
dissolving an effective amount of a blowing agent in the biodegradable polymer to define a mixture in a melt state, the blowing agent being a blend comprising methyl formate, CO2 and a C2-C5 hydrocarbon, wherein the mixture is maintained as a homogeneous solution in the melt state;
forming an extrudate in the melt state from the mixture; and
expanding the extrudate from the melt state to form the biodegradable polymer foam structure, wherein the foam structure is a substantially closed-cell and dimensionally stable board or sheet.
26. The process of claim 25, wherein the blowing agent blend comprises methyl formate, CO2, and i-butane.
27. The process of claim 2, wherein the blowing agent is a blend comprising methyl formate, CO2, and i-butane.
28. A process for producing a biodegradable polymer foam structure comprising:
melting a biodegradable polymer;
dissolving an effective amount of a blowing agent in the biodegradable polymer to define a mixture in a melt state, the blowing agent being a blend comprising methyl formate and CO2, wherein the mixture is maintained as a homogeneous solution in the melt state;
forming an extrudate in the melt state from the mixture; and
expanding the extrudate from the melt state to form the biodegradable polymer foam structure, wherein the foam structure is a substantially closed-cell and dimensionally stable board or sheet.
29. The process of claim 2, wherein the blowing agent is a blend comprising methyl formate and CO2.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An automated system for regulating the allocation of resources, or the dissemination of information within a healthcare facility, the automated system comprising:
a context providing system capable of determining the state of a parameter;
a facilities management system in communication with the context providing system; and
an integration protocol configured to facilitate communication between the context providing system and the facilities management system;
wherein the facilities management system allocates resources or disseminates information based upon the value of the parameter provided by the context providing system.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the context providing system is a clinical system.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the context providing system is a scheduling system.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the scheduling system is a surgery scheduling system.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the facilities management system is a building management system.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the context providing system is a clinical system.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the context providing system is a scheduling system.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the scheduling system is a surgery scheduling system.
9. The system of claim 5, wherein the building management system is configured to generate data related to the value of the parameter that is recorded in a database.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the building management system is configured to generate a report to one or both of a facility staff or a clinical staff in the event that the value of the parameter is outside of an acceptable range.
11. The system of claim 5, wherein the resource allocated comprises energy loads on one or more components of an HVAC system.
12. An automatic system for controlling an HVAC system for an area within a healthcare facility comprising;
a building management system;
a clinical system including schedule data relating to a usage schedule for the area;
an integration protocol configured to provide the schedule data to the building management system, whereby the building management system controls one or more conditions based on the scheduling data.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the clinical system is a surgery scheduling system scheduling system utilized in a health care facility.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the scheduling system is a surgical scheduling system or a patient registration system, and the context provided is an occupancy status of the area based on the scheduling system, or clinical information regarding the patient.
15. A system for controlling an HVAC system in a building configured to regulate environmental conditions in a zone, the system comprising:
a building control system configured to provide a control signal to the HVAC system;
a scheduling system in communication with the building control system and including schedule of use data for the zone;
wherein the control signal provided is based upon the schedule of use data that is provided to the building control system by the scheduling system.
16. The system of claim 15 further comprising an integration protocol in communication with the building control system and the scheduling system.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein the zone is a surgical suite.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein the zone is an operating room.