BOC LAUNCHES CYLINDER TO AID ASTHMA SUFFERERS

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BOC LAUNCHES CYLINDER TO AID ASTHMA SUFFERERS
12 June 2003 - BOC Gases

BOC has today announced the launch of a new Heliox cylinder in the UK to aid the treatment of patients with airway obstructions, such as acute asthma.

The Heliox 21, which contains 33 per cent more gas than the existing F cylinder, is an addition to the company’s existing HX cylinder range. Heliox 21, which is a mixture of 21 per cent oxygen and 79 per cent helium, has proved to be effective in treating symptoms associated with upper and lower airway obstruction.

The new cylinder incorporates an integral valve with a Heliox BS 6582 Schraeder outlet connector and a six to 15 litre flow clickstop, which eliminates the need for an external regulator. It also features a permanently live gauge that allows the user to check the cylinder contents.

The result of a number of diseases and therapeutic interventions is the partial obstruction of the upper and lower respiratory airways. This obstruction will lead to an increased resistance to airflow which may give rise to wheezing, shortness of breath and other symptoms of respiratory distress.

David Owers, marketing manager, BOC Medical, said: "Heliox is effective in treating symptoms associated with these airway obstructions for a number of reasons. Heliox gas mixtures are typically three times less dense than air. This lower density reduces the amount of turbulent flow around the obstruction and increases the volume of gas that can be taken into the lungs with each breath effort. This reduction in the work of breathing, can be seen by a rapid reduction in the patient's respiratory distress.

"Due to its lower density, gas molecules diffuse more readily through Heliox than through oxygen or air. Removal of carbon dioxide, for example, is improved."

An additional benefit of Heliox is that it may also increase the duration of the 'therapeutic window', allowing extra time for other medications to take effect. As a result the need for invasive interventions, such as mechanical ventilation, and the inherent risks, side effects and costs of such treatments are reduced.

BOC is the leading provider of medical gases to the UK health care industry and has been supplying the NHS for nearly 50 years.

http://www.boc.com

About: BOC Gases
Through its PGS line of business, BOC supplies gas and related solutions to the chemicals, petroleum, glass, water services, electronic packaging, fibre optics, hydrogen energy, metals and food industries. BOC helps meet customer needs in a variety of ways, from the supply of a single gas or application through to designing, constructing and operating fully integrated gas and utilities schemes.

The BOC Group, which serves two million customers in more than 50 countries, is one of the largest and most global of the world's leading gases companies. It employs some 44,500 people worldwide and had annual sales of over £4.3 billion in 2003. Further information about The BOC Group may be obtained on the Internet at www.boc.com

The BOC Group has an international portfolio of companies grouped for management control and reporting into three lines of business: Process Gas Solutions, Industrial and Special Products, and BOC Edwards. It also has a specialist logistics business, Gist.

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