Methods and apparatus to generate liquid ambulatory oxygen from an oxygen concentrator
First Claim
1. A home liquid oxygen ambulatory system for supplying a portable supply of oxygen, where a portion of gaseous oxygen output obtained from an oxygen concentrator is condensed into liquid oxygen, comprising:
- (a) an oxygen concentrator which separates oxygen gas from the ambient air;
(b) an outlet flow line to transfer flow of oxygen gas from said oxygen concentrator for patient use;
(c) a valve placed in the outlet flow line for splitting off a portion of the oxygen gas flow generated by the oxygen generator;
(d) a condenser for receiving and liquefying the split off portion of the oxygen gas flow;
(e) a cryocooler associated with said condenser;
(f) a first storage dewar in fluid communication with said condenser for storing the oxygen liquefied by the condenser, the first storage dewar having an outlet selectively engageable to and in fluid communication with at least one second smaller dewar and a fluid path for supplying liquid oxygen from the first dewar to the second dewar;
(g) a heater for heating said first storage dewar;
(h) a controller for monitoring the amount of liquid oxygen in said first dewar, and for controlling the parameters of liquid oxygen generation and transfer from said first storage dewar.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a much safer and less expensive way of providing portable oxygen from a gas concentrator for patients who do not want to be tied to a stationary machine or restricted by present oxygen technology. In one preferred embodiment, the present invention splits off some of the excess capacity gas flow from a gas concentrator which is then stored via liquefaction. The stored gas can then be used as a portable supply. A portion of the oxygen gas flow generated by the oxygen concentrator is channeled to a condenser which receives and liquefies the oxygen gas using cryocooler. A storage dewar is used for storing the oxygen liquefied by the condenser. Liquid is then selectively transferred to a smaller portable dewar. A controller can be used for monitoring the parameters of liquefaction, including oxygen concentration, the amount of liquid oxygen in the dewar, and for controlling the parameters of liquid oxygen generation and transfer. In one embodiment, the flow rate into the condenser is chosen to exceed the capacity of the condenser to minimize the liquefaction of argon, nitrogen and trace gases, and to purge the system.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A home liquid oxygen ambulatory system for supplying a portable supply of oxygen, where a portion of gaseous oxygen output obtained from an oxygen concentrator is condensed into liquid oxygen, comprising:
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(a) an oxygen concentrator which separates oxygen gas from the ambient air; (b) an outlet flow line to transfer flow of oxygen gas from said oxygen concentrator for patient use; (c) a valve placed in the outlet flow line for splitting off a portion of the oxygen gas flow generated by the oxygen generator; (d) a condenser for receiving and liquefying the split off portion of the oxygen gas flow; (e) a cryocooler associated with said condenser; (f) a first storage dewar in fluid communication with said condenser for storing the oxygen liquefied by the condenser, the first storage dewar having an outlet selectively engageable to and in fluid communication with at least one second smaller dewar and a fluid path for supplying liquid oxygen from the first dewar to the second dewar; (g) a heater for heating said first storage dewar; (h) a controller for monitoring the amount of liquid oxygen in said first dewar, and for controlling the parameters of liquid oxygen generation and transfer from said first storage dewar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A home liquid oxygen ambulatory system for supplying a portable supply of oxygen, where a portion of gaseous oxygen output obtained from an oxygen concentrator is condensed into liquid oxygen, comprising:
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(a) an oxygen concentrator which can isolate oxygen gas from the air; (b) output means from the concentrator for channeling the oxygen which is isolated; (c) means for splitting off all or a portion of the gaseous oxygen from the output means of said concentrator for liquefaction; (d) a condenser which can cause gaseous oxygen to change phase into liquid oxygen; (e) means for channeling the oxygen stream from said output means to said condenser; (f) means for liquifying said oxygen stream in said condenser using a cryocooler; and (g) means for collecting the condensed liquid oxygen using a first dewar, wherein said first dewar includes a heater which can be used to effectuate the transfer of liquid oxygen from the first dewar to a second dewar for storing a quantity of liquid oxygen from which smaller quantities can be transferred for moveable oxygen treatment. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification