Patent search

[pork n beef]

Does snyone know how I can do a search for a particular patent?
The one I'm looking for was applied for by an ex-colleague of mine about 8 years ago.
I dont know too much info (dates, numberts, etc) only a few key-words.
Is there a central database type thingy that I can search?
Cheers
PNB

[AlexB]

This is probably the best place to start if you have few details....You should find it quite easily as you know the inventor name....
http://ep.espacenet.com/advancedSearch?locale=en_E...
Good Luck
ALex

[Morningside]

Have you tried http://www.wikipatents.com/simple_text_search ?
or
http://www.wipo.int/patentscope/en/

Edited by Morningside on Monday 9th November 14:02

[DangerousMike]

mopst useful thing to find out where the patent was filed.