Method and system for supplying portable gas cylinders

• US 8,162,587 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2011
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Praxair Technology Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: Praxair Technology Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Hagstrom, Bradley, Garvey, Paul W., Bryce, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARNETT, NICOLAS ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US13/177,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20110264606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 293 Days
• Field of Search: 141/1, 141/231, 414/800, 414/808, 414/810, 206/769
• US Class Current: 414/810
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/201 Controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/025 Helium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0275 Nitric oxide [NO]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0283 Nitrous oxide (N2O)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/273 preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/38 Devices for discharging contents containers formed by folding or erecting paper blanks B65D5/72 ; incorporated in removable or non-permanently secured closure members B65D47/00; for discharging thin flat articles B65D83/08
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/02 Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment measuring in general G01
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0308 Protective caps
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of automatically delivering a replacement portable medical gas system including a portable gas cylinder filled with medical gas to the customer after return shipment of the empty portable gas cylinder.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of notifying the medical gas supplier that the portable medical gas system has been used or requires replacement.

4. The method of claim 1 further wherein the step of return shipping the container further comprises returning the container using a pre-paid return shipment via commercial carrier.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving instructions from the medical gas supplier for return shipment of the portable medical gas system via commercial carrier, such instructions including steps to ensure the flow control valve is positioned in the setting that empties the medical gas from the portable gas cylinder.

6. The method of claim 1 further wherein each portable medical gas system includes a portable gas cylinder filled with medical gas disposed in the container suitable for return shipping via commercial carrier.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the container comprises one or more transparent surfaces adapted to allow visual inspection of a cylinder contents gauge or the flow control valve setting when the portable gas cylinder is placed within the container.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the flow control valve is a single-use valve wherein upon actuation of the flow control valve, the medical gas within the portable gas cylinder flows continuously until the portable gas cylinder is empty.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the flow control valve has a setting for ‘

SHIP’

mode wherein upon placement of the flow control valve in the ‘

SHIP’

mode, the medical gas within the gas cylinder flows continuously from the portable gas cylinder until the portable gas cylinder is empty.

10. A method of supplying medical gas to customers comprising the steps of:

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.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of delivering a replacement portable medical gas system or portable gas cylinder filled with medical gas to the customer upon notification from the customer that the portable medical gas system requires replacement or upon return shipment of the empty portable gas cylinder.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of arranging return shipment of the portable medical gas cylinder system or empty portable gas cylinder via commercial carrier further comprises providing a container configured to hold the empty portable gas cylinder to the customer, said container suitable for shipment via commercial carrier and engaging a commercial carrier via pre-paid return shipment to pick-up the container with empty portable gas cylinder from the customer.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the container suitable for return shipping via commercial carrier is provided to the customer at time of delivery and disposed in said container is the portable medical gas system including a gas cylinder filled with medical gas container.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the container comprises one or more transparent surfaces adapted to allow visual inspection of a cylinder contents gauge or the flow control valve setting when the portable gas cylinder is placed within the container.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing instructions to the customer for return shipment of the portable medical gas system via commercial carrier, such instructions including steps to ensure the flow control valve is positioned in the setting that empties the medical gas from the portable gas cylinder.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the flow control valve is a single-use valve wherein upon actuation of the flow control valve, the medical gas within the portable gas cylinder flows continuously until the portable gas cylinder is empty.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of charging the customer upon delivery of the portable medical gas system;

upon delivery of the replacement portable medical gas system;

or upon receipt of the portable medical gas system.

18. A business method of supply and use of medical gas systems or medical gas equipment by a customer comprising the steps of:

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.