Method of providing ambulatory oxygen

• US 20060174881A1
• 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 7,954,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/201.250
• 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: A62B 19/00 Cartridges with absorbing substances for respiratory apparatus carbon dioxide absorbing devices A61M16/22
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/455 for transportable use
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0476 Vacuum pressure swing adsorption

Abstract

Concentrated oxygen product gas is produced and delivered to a patient. Product gas is produced by (a) introducing ambient air into a first end of a column containing an adsorbent material that preferentially adsorbs nitrogen and removes oxygen-rich product gas out a second end of the column; (b) evacuating the column through the first end to remove adsorbed gas from the column; (c) repressurizing the column by introducing ambient air into the first end of the column until the column is near 1.0 atmosphere; and (d) repeating steps (a)-(c). Product gas is delivered as needed to the patient.

Claims

1. A method of providing concentrated oxygen product gas to a patient, the method comprising:

producing product gas by;

(a) introducing ambient air into a first end of a column containing an adsorbent material that preferentially adsorbs nitrogen and removes oxygen-rich product gas out a second end of the column;

(b) evacuating the column through the first end to remove adsorbed gas from the column;

(c) repressurizing the column by introducing ambient air into the first end of the column until the vacuum within the column is near 1.0 atmosphere;

(d) repeating steps (a)-(c); and

delivering product gas to the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

introducing product gas into the column through the second end during a portion of step (c).

3. The method of claim 2 wherein introducing product gas occurs during an initial portion of step (c).

4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

controlling a cycle rate at which steps (a)-(c) are performed as a function of oxygen delivered to the patient.

5. A method of providing concentrated oxygen product gas to a patient, the method comprising:

producing product gas by;

(a) introducing ambient air into a first end of a column containing an adsorbent material that preferentially adsorbs nitrogen and removes oxygen-rich product gas out a second end of the column;

(b) evacuating the column through the first end to remove adsorbed gas from the column;

(c) repressurizing the column by introducing product gas into the second end of the column and ambient air into the first end of the column;

(d) repeating steps (a)-(c); and

delivering product gas to the patient.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein introducing product gas occurs during an initial portion of step (c).

7. The method of claim 5 and further comprising:

controlling a cycle rate at which steps (a)-(c) are performed as a function of oxygen used by the patient.

8. The method of claim 5 and further comprising:

storing a portion of the product gas in a reservoir.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein delivering the product gas is from the reservoir to the patient.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein delivering product gas occurs in response to inhalation by the patient.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the reservoir maintains the product gas at a pressure of between about 1.0 atm and about 2.0 atm.

12. A method of providing concentrated oxygen to a patient, the method comprising:

producing oxygen-rich product gas with a vacuum swing adsorption process comprising;

(a) introducing ambient air into a first end of a column containing an adsorbent material that preferentially adsorbs nitrogen and removes oxygen-rich product gas out a second end of the column;

(b) evacuating the column through the first end to remove adsorbed gas from the column;

(c) repressurizing the column by introducing product gas into the second end of the column and ambient air into the first end of the column;

(d) repeating steps (a)-(c);

storing product gas produced by the vacuum swing adsorption process; and

delivering stored product gas to the patient.

13. The method of claim 12 and further comprising:

introducing product gas into the column through the second end during a portion of step (c).

14. The method of claim 13 wherein introducing product gas occurs during an initial portion of step (c) prior to introducing ambient air.

15. The method of claim 12 and further comprising:

controlling a cycle rate at which steps (a)-(c) are performed as a function of product gas delivered to the patient.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the product gas is stored at a pressure of about 1.0 atm to about 2.0 atm.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein delivering stored product gas comprises delivering a pulse of product gas to the patient in response to inhalation by the patient.

18. A method of providing concentrated oxygen product gas to a patient, the method comprising:

producing the product gas by;

(a) introducing ambient air at about 1.0 atmosphere (atm) into a first end of a column containing an LiLSX adsorbent material and removes product gas out a second end of the column;

(b) evacuating the column through the first end to a vacuum level within a range of about 0.1 atm to about 1.0 atm;

(c) repressurizing the column to about 1.0 atm; and

(d) repeating steps (a)-(c);

storing the product gas at a pressure of about 1.0 atm to about 2.0 atm; and

delivering stored product gas to the patient.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein repressurizing in step (c) comprises:

introducing product gas into the column through the second end; and

introducing ambient air into the column through the first end.

20. The method of claim 18 and further comprising:

controlling a cycle rate at which steps (a)-(c) are performed as a function of oxygen delivered to the patient.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein delivering stored product gas comprises delivering a pulse of product gas in response to an inhalation by the patient.