Low power ambulatory oxygen concentrator

• US 20060174878A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VBOX, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: VBOX, Incorporated
• Inventors: Lonnes, Perry B., Jagger, Theodore W., Kivisto, John A., Van Brunt, Nicholas P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,431,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/201.210
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0007 introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/03 Gases in liquid phase, e.g. cryogenic liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/108 Zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2256/12 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/102 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4533 for medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4541 for portable use, e.g. gas masks
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0407 Constructional details of adsorbing systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0415 Beds in cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0476 Vacuum pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/053 with storage or buffer vessel

Abstract

An oxygen concentrator comprises a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) gas separation system which includes a cartridge containing a mass of adsorbent material for producing oxygen, a drive which activates the gas separation system, and a power source comprising a mass. A ratio of the mass of the power source to a flow rate of oxygen produced by the oxygen concentrator is between 0.047 and 0.29 kg/LPM·hr.

Claims

1. An oxygen concentrator comprising:

a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) gas separation system comprising a cartridge containing a mass of adsorbent material (Madsorbent) for producing oxygen, and a drive which activates the gas separation system; and

a power source comprising a mass (Mpowerpack) for powering the drive;

wherein the mass of the power source (Mpowerpack) is such that;

$\mathrm{.047}<<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Mpowerpack}}{\mathrm{Qp}·<br><br>\mathrm{time}}<<br><br>\mathrm{.290}$

wherein Qp is a flow rate (in L/min) of oxygen produced by the oxygen concentrator, Mpowerpack is expressed in kg, and time is expressed in hours.

2. The oxygen concentrator of claim 1, wherein Qp (in L/min) is in the range of 0.1 to 1.5.

3. The oxygen concentrator of claim 1, wherein the concentrator mass is less than 2.3 kg.

4. The oxygen concentrator of claim 1, wherein the concentrator mass is less than 1.4 kg.

5. The oxygen concentrator of claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises three adsorbent beds, each containing a portion of the mass of adsorbent material.

6. The oxygen concentrator of claim 5, wherein each adsorbent bed contains between 10 cc and 20 cc of adsorbent material.

7. The oxygen concentrator of claim 1 wherein the adsorbent material comprises a zeolite.

8. The oxygen concentrator of claim 1 wherein the vacuum adsorption process comprises evacuating the adsorbent material to vacuum levels within a range of 0.1 to 1.0 atm.

9. The oxygen concentrator of claim 1 further comprising a flow setting control for adjusting the flow rate Qp of produced oxygen.

10. The oxygen concentrator of claim 1 where in the power source has charge life of at least 2 hours at a flow rate Qp of 1.5 L/min.

11. The oxygen concentrator of claim 1 where in the power source has charge life of at least 4 hours at a flow rate of Qp of 1.5 L/min.

12. The oxygen concentrator of claim 1 further comprising a flow setting control for adjusting the flow rate Qp of produced oxygen.

13. An oxygen concentrator comprising:

a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) gas separation system comprising a cartridge containing a mass of adsorbent material for producing oxygen and a drive which activates the gas separation system; and

a power source which operates the drive;

wherein the power source is characterized by an energy consumption rate of;

$6<<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Watts}}{\mathrm{Qp}}<<br><br>20$

wherein Qp is a flow rate (in L/min) of oxygen produced by the oxygen concentrator.

14. The oxygen concentrator of claim 13, wherein Qp (in L/min) is in the range of 0.1 to 1.5.

15. The oxygen concentrator of claim 13, wherein the concentrator mass is less than 2.3 kg.

16. The oxygen concentrator of claim 13, wherein the concentrator mass is less than 1.4 kg.

17. The oxygen concentrator of claim 13, wherein the cartridge comprises three adsorbent beds, each containing a mass of adsorbent material.

18. The oxygen concentrator of claim 17, wherein each adsorbent bed contains between 10 cc and 20 cc of adsorbent material.

19. The oxygen concentrator of claim 13 wherein the adsorbent material comprises a zeolite.

20. The oxygen concentrator of claim 13 wherein the vacuum adsorption process comprises evacuating the adsorbent material to a vacuum level within a range of 0.1 to 1.0 atm.

21. The oxygen concentrator of claim 13 further comprising a flow setting control for adjusting the flow rate Qp of produced oxygen.

22. The oxygen concentrator of claim 13 where in the power source has charge life of at least 2 hours at a flow rate Qp of 1.5 L/min.

23. The oxygen concentrator of claim 13 where in the power source has charge life of at least 4 hours at a flow rate of Qp of 1.5 L/min.

24. The oxygen concentrator of claim 13 where in the drive comprises an electric motor that draws a maximum of 15 watts of power.

25. An oxygen concentrator comprising:

a gas separation system comprising a cartridge containing a mass of adsorbent material for producing oxygen;

a gas storage and delivery system for receiving oxygen produced by the gas separation system;

a drive which activates the gas separation system; and

a power source which operates the drive;

wherein the power source is characterized by a total energy consumption rate of;

$6<<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Watts}}{\mathrm{Qp}}<<br><br>10$

wherein Qp is a flow rate (in L/min) of oxygen produced by the oxygen concentrator.

26. The oxygen concentrator of claim 25, wherein Qp (in L/min) is in the range of 0.1 to 1.5.

27. The oxygen concentrator of claim 25, wherein the concentrator mass is less than 2.3 kg.

28. The oxygen concentrator of claim 25, wherein the concentrator mass is less than 1.4 kg.

29. The oxygen concentrator of claim 25 wherein the adsorbent material comprises a zeolite.

30. The oxygen concentrator of claim 25 further comprising a flow setting control for adjusting the flow rate Qp of produced oxygen.

31. The oxygen concentrator of claim 25 where in the power source has charge life of at least 2 hours at a flow rate Qp of 1.5 L/min.

32. The oxygen concentrator of claim 25 where in the power source has charge life of at least 4 hours at a flow rate of Qp of 1.5 L/min.

33. The oxygen concentrator of claim 25 where in the drive comprises an electric motor that draws a maximum of 15 watts of power.

34. The oxygen concentrator of claim 25, wherein the cartridge comprises three adsorbent beds, each containing a mass of adsorbent material.

35. The oxygen concentrator of claim 34, wherein each adsorbent bed contains between 10 cc and 20 cc of adsorbent material.