Apparatus, method and system for delivering oxygen-ozone

• US 20080241052A1
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spinafx Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Minimus Spine, Inc.
• Inventors: Hooper, David M., Henson, Noel, Foster, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,588,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 423/581
• 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 2259/40015 with two sub-steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4003 with two sub-steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4006 Less than four
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40064 Five
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40066 Six
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40069 Eight
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/401 using a single bed
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/402 using two beds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/41 using plural beds of the same adsorbent in series
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0476 Vacuum pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/11 by electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/14 Concentric/tubular dischargers
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/22 Constructional details of the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/30 Dielectrics used in the electrical dischargers
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/64 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/82 Treatment with ultraviolet light

Abstract

Apparatus, method and system for delivering a sterile unit dose of ozone that may include concentrating oxygen from air, which can include pressurizing at least one zeolite chamber having at least one zeolite material where the at least one zeolite material selectively adsorbs a substantial amount of nitrogen and not a substantial amount of oxygen. An oxygen-ozone cell may be filled with substantially concentrated oxygen from the at least one zeolite chamber. The oxygen-ozone cell may then be sequestered. The oxygen-ozone cell may be removed and may be engaged with an ozone conversion unit. The ozone conversion unit may charge the substantially concentrated oxygen generating a predetermined concentration of ozone. The oxygen-ozone cell may be disengaged from the ozone conversion unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for concentrating oxygen from air, comprising:

at least one zeolite chamber having at least one zeolite material selected for nitrogen adsorption properties;

a pump in fluid communication with the at least one zeolite chamber, the pump configurable to pull air from an ambient air source; and

a cell chamber in valvably-controlled fluid communication with the at least one zeolite chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cell chamber has been subjected to at least one nitrogen evacuation cycle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cell chamber is provided initially under vacuum.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump is provided bidirectional functionality.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pump is in valvably-controlled fluid communication with the cell chamber, thereby allowing for a closed system configuration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one zeolite chamber is a first zeolite chamber and a second zeolite chamber, the first zeolite chamber and the second zeolite chamber are in valvably-controlled fluid communication.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pump is in direct valvably-controlled fluid communication with the first zeolite chamber and in direct valvably-controlled fluid communication with the second zeolite chamber, whereby direct communication with the first zeolite chamber alternatively excludes direct communication with the second zeolite chamber and vice versa.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a desiccant chamber interspersed between the pump and the ambient air source, whereby the pump remains configurable to pull air from the ambient air source.

9. A method of concentrating oxygen from air, comprising:

pressurizing at least one zeolite chamber having at least one zeolite material, wherein the at least one zeolite selectively sorts nitrogen from oxygen;

filling an oxygen-ozone cell with substantially concentrated oxygen from the at least one zeolite chamber; and

sequestering the oxygen-ozone cell.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

flushing a substantial amount of nitrogen from the at least one zeolite chamber.

11. The method of claim 10, furthering comprising:

recycling the substantially concentrated oxygen from the oxygen-ozone cell into the at least one zeolite chamber;

refilling the oxygen-ozone cell with substantially concentrated oxygen from the at least one zeolite chamber; and

sequestering the oxygen-ozone cell.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the inside of the oxygen-ozone cell is initially under vacuum and upon filling and sequestering is under pressure.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein pressurizing at least one zeolite chamber having at least one zeolite material, wherein the at least one zeolite material selectively sorts nitrogen from oxygen, comprises:

pressurizing a first zeolite chamber having at least one zeolite material, wherein the at least one zeolite material selectively sorts nitrogen from oxygen; and

pressurizing a second zeolite chamber having at least one zeolite material for selectively sorting nitrogen from oxygen at least partly with substantially concentrated oxygen from the first zeolite chamber, thereby increasing the concentration of oxygen in the substantially concentrated oxygen in the second zeolite chamber.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein filling an oxygen-ozone cell with substantially concentrated oxygen from the at least one zeolite chamber is accomplished by filling the oxygen-ozone cell at least partly with the substantially concentrated oxygen from the second zeolite chamber.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

flushing a substantial amount of nitrogen from the second zeolite chamber;

recycling the substantially concentrated oxygen from the oxygen-ozone cell into the second zeolite chamber;

refilling the oxygen-ozone cell with substantially concentrated oxygen at least partly from the second zeolite chamber; and

sequestering the oxygen-ozone cell.

16. A method of delivering a substantially sterile dose of oxygen-ozone, comprising:

providing an oxygen-ozone cell having an inner chamber, an adaptor and a cap for the adaptor;

filling the oxygen-ozone cell with substantially concentrated oxygen concentrated from air;

engaging the oxygen-ozone cell with a ozone conversion unit;

generating a predetermined concentration of ozone from charging the substantially concentrated oxygen; and

disengaging the oxygen-ozone cell from the ozone conversion unit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the inner chamber of the oxygen-ozone cell is provided under vacuum

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the oxygen-ozone cell is flushed with substantially pure oxygen before being provided.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined concentration of ozone is suitable for providing substantial sterility to the inner chamber of the oxygen-ozone cell.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising;

adjusting the concentration of ozone for therapeutic purposes.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

removing the cap from the adaptor; and

interfacing the adaptor with a substantially sterile delivery component.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

detecting one or more nitrogen oxides after charging the substantially concentrated oxygen.

23. The method of claim of claim 22, wherein detecting the one or more nitrogen oxides includes detecting nitrogen dioxide molecules.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein detecting one or more nitrogen oxides is accomplished by a nitrogen oxide detector in the ozone conversion unit.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the nitrogen oxide detector includes a light source and a photodetector.