Portable oxygen concentrator

• US 6,764,534 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caire Incorporated (Niterra Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: AirSep Corporation (Chart Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Casey, Robert E., McCombs, Norman R., Chimiak, Michael A., Klimaszewski, Andrezj
• Primary Examiner(s): Spitzer, Robert H.
• Application Number:
  US10/354,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 951/30, 961/11, 961/13--17, 961/30, 961/39--43, 964/17--19, 964/22
• US Class Current: 96/111
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2256/12 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/102 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40003 Methods relating to valve switching
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40005 using rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40007 Controlling pressure or temperature swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/402 using two beds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4533 for medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4541 for portable use, e.g. gas masks
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0446 Means for feeding or distributing gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/053 with storage or buffer vessel

Abstract

A compact and highly portable combination pressure swing adsorption apparatus and product gas conservation device for medical use, to produce efficiently a gas with a high concentration of oxygen and to deliver the oxygen concentrated gas to a user at selectable times and in selectable doses.

Claims

1. A compact and portable oxygen delivery apparatus for medical uses by producing from ambient air a product gas having a high concentration of oxygen and delivering the product gas to a user of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising a chassis having two opposing sides, a pressure swing adsorption unit mounted on the chassis and comprising at least one adsorber bed mounted on one of the sides to receive ambient air and adsorb nitrogen from the ambient air to produce the oxygen concentrated product gas, a product delivery unit for receiving at least a substantial portion of the product gas from the pressure swing adsorption unit, control means for delivering the product gas to the user at selectable rates during inhalation by the user, means for receiving the ambient air, valve means mounted on one of the sides for controlling the flow of both the ambient air and the product gas, and means for directing additional ambient air to cool the adsorber bed, the receiving means and the valve means by controlling the pattern of flow of the additional ambient air, in which the directing means comprises first and second housing portions mounted, respectively, on the opposing sides of the chassis and forming an interior space between each of the housing portions and its respective chassis side, the receiving means comprising a fan to draw air into one of the spaces, and baffle means positioned between the chassis and at least one of the housing portions for controlling the direction of flow of the additional ambient air.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the ambient air receiving means further comprises a compressor to supply the ambient air under pressure to the adsorber bed, and the product delivery unit comprises a storage tank to receive product gas from the adsorber bed and a pressure regulator to control the pressure of the product gas to be delivered to the user, the compressor mounted on the other chassis side with the valve means, and the storage tank and the pressure regulator mounted on the one chassis with the adsorber bed.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, in which the ambient air receiving means further comprises a resonator to reduce the noise level of the intake air, the pressure swing adsorption unit further comprising means including a noise muffler for expelling the adsorbed nitrogen from the apparatus, the resonator and the muffler mounted on the one chassis side.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, in which the additional ambient air is caused to flow in sequence over the valve means, the compressor, through the fan and then over the adsorber bed, storage tank, resonator and muffler.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, in which the first housing portion defines access means for enabling ambient air to be drawn into the apparatus, and the second housing portion defines means enabling the additional ambient air to be expelled from the apparatus.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising means mounted on the chassis for setting and/or monitoring the effective flow rate and/or concentration of the product gas, and in which one of the housing portions comprises a movable section to enable access to the setting means.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, and further comprising means on the chassis for receiving an electrical power source.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a carry handle formed with the chassis.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the control means comprises means for sensing inhalation by the user, and programmed means for delivering product gas to the user at a regulated pressure for predetermined selectable times during inhalation, and the valve means including a product delivery valve to be opened only during the selected times.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 and further comprising at least one alarm to alert the user if the oxygen concentration in the product gas being delivered is below a predetermined amount.

11. The pressure swing adsorption apparatus of claim 9 in which the oxygen concentrated product gas is produced to be delivered at effective rates from about one liter per minute to about five liters per minute and with a concentration of about 90% oxygen.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising an oxygen monitor to measure the concentration of oxygen in the product gas.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, and further comprising alarm means responsive to the oxygen monitor to warn the user when the concentration is outside a predetermined range.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the control means comprises a power source, means for measuring voltage input from the power source, means for selecting the flow rates for delivering the product gas to the user and responsive to inhalation by the user for activating the flow of product gas, and means responsive to the voltage, selecting means and the rate of activation for signaling a warning and/or an alarm when the concentration of the product gas is outside a predetermined range.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the ambient air receiving means comprises a compressor to pressurize a portion of the ambient air from which the product gas is produced, and wherein the control means, the compressor and the valve means are mounted on one side of the chassis in the interior space between the first housing portion and the one chassis side, the adsorber bed and the delivery means are mounted on the other side of the chassis in the interior space between the second housing portion and the other chassis side.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein fan and baffle means are positioned to draw ambient air into the interior space between the first housing portion and the one chassis side, and the balance of the ambient air not used to produce product gas first is drawn over the control means, the compressor and the valve means and then is redirected to the interior space between the second housing portion and the other chassis side to be drawn over the adsorber bed and the delivery means before being expelled from the apparatus.