METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING PORTABLE GAS CYLINDERS
First Claim
1. A method of continuous supply of medical gas systems comprising the steps of:
- receiving one or more portable medical gas systems from a medical gas supplier, each portable medical gas system including a portable gas cylinder filled with medical gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder wherein the flow control valve includes one or more settings that empty the medical gas from the portable gas cylinder;
using or emptying the medical gas from at least one of the portable gas cylinders;
verifying the used portable gas cylinder is empty and packing the empty portable gas cylinder in a container configured to hold the portable gas cylinder; and
return shipping the container having an empty portable gas cylinder disposed therein via commercial carrier.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of supplying a portable medical gas system is provided. The disclosed method includes preparing a portable medical gas system, the portable medical gas system including a cylinder adapted to be filled with medical gas and a gas dispensing valve. The portable medical gas system is place in a specialized container having a configuration adapted to hold the portable medical gas system only when the cylinder of portable medical gas system is unused state or empty state. The portable medical gas system is delivered to the customer, and returned as an empty cylinder via commercial carrier. Upon receipt of the empty or spent portable medical gas system, another portable medical gas system filled with medical gas is sent to the customer. In one embodiment, the portable medical gas system includes a single-use flow control valve which ensures the cylinder is empty after its initial use.
11 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of continuous supply of medical gas systems comprising the steps of:
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receiving one or more portable medical gas systems from a medical gas supplier, each portable medical gas system including a portable gas cylinder filled with medical gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder wherein the flow control valve includes one or more settings that empty the medical gas from the portable gas cylinder; using or emptying the medical gas from at least one of the portable gas cylinders; verifying the used portable gas cylinder is empty and packing the empty portable gas cylinder in a container configured to hold the portable gas cylinder; and return shipping the container having an empty portable gas cylinder disposed therein via commercial carrier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of supplying medical gas to customers comprising the steps of:
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delivering a portable medical gas system to a customer, the portable medical gas system including a cylinder filled with medical gas, and a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder wherein the flow control valve includes a setting adapted to empty the medical gas from the cylinder; receiving notification from the customer that the portable medical gas system or cylinder requires replacement; and arranging for return shipment of the empty portable gas cylinder or the portable medical gas system with the empty portable gas cylinder via commercial carrier. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A business method of supply and use of medical gas systems or medical gas equipment by a customer comprising the steps of:
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receiving a medical gas system or medical gas equipment, the medical gas system or medical gas equipment including at least one cylinder or cartridge filled with medical gas or other consumable required for operation of the medical gas system or medical gas equipment; using the cylinder or cartridge filled with medical gas or other consumable; verifying the cylinder is empty or cartridge is spent and packing the empty cylinder or spent cartridge in a container configured to hold the empty cylinder or spent cartridge; and return shipping the container having an empty cylinder or spent cartridge disposed therein via commercial carrier.
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Specification