Oxygen flow control system and method
First Claim
1. An oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow of oxygen to a person in need of supplemental oxygen during periods of physical activity comprising:
- an oxygen source;
an input manifold, an output manifold and a plurality of gas conduits interconnecting said input manifold to said output manifold, wherein said oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with said input manifold and said person is in oxygen flow communication with said output manifold;
a needle valve positioned in flow control relation to each of said plurality of gas conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen from said input manifold to said output manifold;
a plurality of solenoid valves each having a first closed state and a second open state wherein one of said plurality of solenoid valves is positioned in flow control relation to each but one of said plurality of gas conduits;
means for monitoring the level of physical activity of said person; and
means responsive to said physical activity monitoring means for sequentially switching said solenoid valves between said first state and said second state.
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Abstract
The present invention provides an oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow from an oxygen source to a person in need of supplemental oxygen comprising an input manifold, an output manifold and a plurality of gas conduits interconnecting the input manifold to the output manifold. The oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with the input manifold, and a needle valve is positioned in flow control relation to each of the conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen from the input manifold to the output manifold. A plurality of solenoid valves, each having a first fully closed state corresponding to a preselected level of physical activity of the person and a second, fully open state corresponding to another preselected level of physical activity of the person, are positioned in flow control relation to all but one of the conduits. Sensors for monitoring the level of physical activity of the person are provided, along with a control system that is responsive to the monitored level of physical activity, for switching the solenoids between the first state and the second state. A method for supplying supplemental oxygen to a person according to the level of physical activity under taken by that person is also provided.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow of oxygen to a person in need of supplemental oxygen during periods of physical activity comprising:
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an oxygen source;
an input manifold, an output manifold and a plurality of gas conduits interconnecting said input manifold to said output manifold, wherein said oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with said input manifold and said person is in oxygen flow communication with said output manifold;
a needle valve positioned in flow control relation to each of said plurality of gas conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen from said input manifold to said output manifold;
a plurality of solenoid valves each having a first closed state and a second open state wherein one of said plurality of solenoid valves is positioned in flow control relation to each but one of said plurality of gas conduits;
means for monitoring the level of physical activity of said person; and
means responsive to said physical activity monitoring means for sequentially switching said solenoid valves between said first state and said second state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow from an oxygen source to a person in need of supplemental oxygen comprising:
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an oxygen source;
an input manifold, an output manifold and a plurality of gas conduits interconnecting said input manifold to said output manifold, wherein said oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with said input manifold and said person is in oxygen flow communication with said output manifold;
a needle valve positioned in flow control relation to each of said plurality of gas conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen from said input manifold to said output manifold;
a plurality of solenoid valves each having a first closed state and a second open state wherein one of said plurality of solenoid valves is positioned in flow control relation to each but one of said plurality of gas conduits; and
a hand control module interconnected to said solenoids for manually sequentially switching said solenoid valves between said first state and said second state.
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15. An oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow from an oxygen source to a person in need of supplemental oxygen comprising:
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an oxygen source;
an input manifold, an output manifold and three gas conduits interconnecting said input manifold to said output manifold, wherein said oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with said input manifold and output manifold is in oxygen flow communication with said person;
a needle valve positioned in flow control relation to each of said conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen from said input manifold to said output manifold;
a plurality of solenoid valves each having a first closed state corresponding to a preselected level of physical activity of said person and a second, open state corresponding to another preselected level of physical activity of said person, wherein said solenoid valves are positioned in flow control relation to two of said conduits and are disposed in said second state when said system is unpowered so that supplemental oxygen is free to flow to said person;
a pressure actuated switch located in a portion of foot wear worn by said person so that when said person walks, said pressure switch is actuated thereby sending signals to a programmable controller for switching said solenoid valves between said first state and said second state. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow from an oxygen source to a person in need of supplemental oxygen comprising:
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an oxygen source;
an input manifold, an output manifold and three gas conduits interconnecting said input manifold to said output manifold, wherein said oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with said input manifold and a nasal cannula is in oxygen flow communication with said output manifold;
a needle valve positioned in flow control relation to each of said three gas conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen from said input manifold to said output manifold;
two solenoid valves each having a first closed state and a second open state wherein one of said solenoid valves is positioned in flow control relation to a first one of said three gas conduits and one of said solenoid valves is positioned in flow control relation to a second one of said three gas conduits;
a sensor capable of detecting the physical activity level of said person and providing a signal that corresponds to said detected physical activity level; and
a programmable controller responsive to said signals for sequentially switching said solenoid valves between said first state and said second state.
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19. An oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow to a person in need of supplemental oxygen during periods of physical activity comprising:
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an input manifold, an output manifold and a plurality of gas conduits interconnecting said input manifold to said output manifold, wherein an oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with said input manifold and wherein each of said plurality of gas conduits comprise a tube having an input end sealingly interconnected to said input manifold, and an output end sealingly interconnected to said output manifold, a needle valve positioned in flow control relation to each of said plurality of said gas conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen from said input manifold to said output manifold;
a plurality of solenoid valves each having a first closed state and a second open state wherein one of said plurality of solenoid valves is positioned in flow control relation to each but one of said plurality of gas conduits and wherein one of said plurality of needle valves is operatively installed on each of said gas conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen between said input manifold and said output manifold, and further wherein one of said solenoid valves is operatively installed on each of two of said gas conduits;
means for monitoring the level of physical activity of said person; and
means responsive to said physical activity monitoring means for sequentially switching said solenoid valves between said first state and said second state.
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Specification