Compressors and methods for use

• US 7,736,132 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Respironics Oxytec, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Respironics Oxytec, Inc.
• Inventors: Halperin, Scott C., Bliss, Peter L., Atlas, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer; Devon C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weinstein; Leonard J
• Application Number:
  US11/731,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20080053310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 417/271, 417/273, 417/412, 417/473, 417/572, 92/90, 92/96, 921/15, 921/21, 921/46, 921/48, 128/205.11, 128/205.12, 128/200.24, 128/204.18, 128/205.18
• US Class Current: 417/273
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/026 specially adapted for predicting, e.g. for determining an information representative of a flow limitation during a ventilation cycle by using a root square technique or a regression analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0007 introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/03 Gases in liquid phase, e.g. cryogenic liquids
• 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 2259/4533 for medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/455 for transportable use portable devices B01D2259/4541
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0407 Constructional details of adsorbing systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0446 Means for feeding or distributing gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0454 Controlling adsorption controlling temperature swing adsorption B01D53/0462, controlling pressure swing adsorption B01D53/047
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/047 Pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/021 the plate-like flexible member is pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the plate-like flexible member and each having its own driving mechanism

Abstract

A compressor suitable for use in a portable oxygen concentrator. In one exemplary embodiment, the compressor includes a crankshaft rotatable about a central axis and a plurality of diaphragm assemblies spaced apart around the central axis generally within a plane. The diaphragm assemblies include diaphragms movably mounted to respective housings to at least partially define chambers. A plurality of rods extend between respective diaphragms and the crankshaft. The rods are coupled to the crankshaft such that the rods are offset axially from one another along the central axis and are coupled to the diaphragms for cyclically increasing and decreasing pressure within the chambers as the crankshaft rotates about the central axis.

Claims

1. A portable oxygen concentrator, comprising:

(a) a plurality of sieve beds for adsorbing nitrogen from air, the sieve beds comprising air inlet/outlet ends and oxygen inlet/outlet ends;

(b) at least one reservoir communicating with the oxygen inlet/outlet ends of the sieve beds for storing oxygen exiting from the oxygen inlet/outlet ends of the sieve beds; and

(c) a compressor for delivering air at one or more desired pressures to the air inlet/outlet ends of the sieve beds, the compressor comprising;

(1) a motor,

(2) a crankshaft coupled to the motor defining a central axis,

(3) three diaphragm assemblies, each including a flexible diaphragm, spaced apart around the central axis, wherein the diaphragms in three diaphragm assemblies are substantially coplanar with one another, and wherein a plane in which the three diaphragm assemblies are located is generally perpendicular to the central axis, and

(4) three rods extending between respective flexible diaphragms and the crankshaft, and wherein the three rods are coupled to the crankshaft such that the three rods are offset axially from one another along the central axis.

2. The portable oxygen concentrator of claim 1, further comprising:

a set of valves between the compressor and the air inlet/outlet ends of the sieve beds; and

a controller coupled to the valves for selectively opening and closing the valves to alternately charge the sieve beds by delivering compressed air into the sieve beds through the air inlet/outlet ends to cause oxygen to exit from the oxygen inlet/outlet ends into the reservoir and purge the sieve beds by evacuating pressurized nitrogen from the sieve beds through the air inlet/outlet ends, wherein oxygen passes from a sieve bed being charged to a sieve bed being purged via a purge orifice to assist evacuating nitrogen from the sieve bed being purged.

3. The oxygen concentrator of claim 1, further comprising an air manifold defining a plurality of passages therein communicating with the diaphragm assemblies and the air inlet/outlet ends of the sieve beds.

4. The oxygen concentrator of claim 3, wherein the diaphragm assemblies are mounted directly to the air manifold.

5. The oxygen concentrator of claim 1, wherein the compressor weighs not more than about two pounds.