Method and system for supplying portable gas cylinders
First Claim
1. A method of supplying medical gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
- delivering a portable medical gas system, the portable medical gas system including a gas cylinder filled with medical gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder, a cylinder contents gauge within a container, and wherein the flow control valve includes one or more settings adapted to empty the medical gas from the cylinder;
emptying the medical gas from the cylinder;
packing the empty gas cylinder in the container;
verifying the gas cylinder is empty through visual inspection of the cylinder contents gauge or the flow control valve setting;
return shipping the container having an empty cylinder disposed therein from the customer to a designated receiver via commercial carrier; and
delivering a replacement portable medical gas system including a cylinder filled with a medical gas to the customer.
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Accused Products
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.
33 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of supplying medical gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
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delivering a portable medical gas system, the portable medical gas system including a gas cylinder filled with medical gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder, a cylinder contents gauge within a container, and wherein the flow control valve includes one or more settings adapted to empty the medical gas from the cylinder; emptying the medical gas from the cylinder; packing the empty gas cylinder in the container; verifying the gas cylinder is empty through visual inspection of the cylinder contents gauge or the flow control valve setting; return shipping the container having an empty cylinder disposed therein from the customer to a designated receiver via commercial carrier; and delivering a replacement portable medical gas system including a cylinder filled with a medical gas to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of supplying medical gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
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delivering a portable medical gas system, the portable medical gas system including a cylinder filled with medical gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder, a cylinder contents gauge within a container, and 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 requires replacement; arranging for return shipment of the portable medical gas system having an empty cylinder via commercial carrier; and delivering a second portable medical gas system filled to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of supplying medical gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
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delivering a portable medical gas system, the portable medical gas system including a cylinder filled with medical gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder, a cylinder contents gauge within a shipping container, and wherein the flow control valve includes a setting adapted to empty the medical gas from the cylinder; providing instructions to the customer for return shipment of the portable medical gas system via commercial carrier, such instructions including advising the customer to ensure the flow control valve is positioned at the setting adapted to empty the medical gas from the cylinder; and delivering a replacement portable medical gas system including a cylinder filled with a medical gas to the customer upon return shipment of the portable medical gas system or upon notification that the customer requires a replacement portable medical gas system.
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16. A method of supplying gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
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delivering a portable gas system, wherein the portable gas system includes a container containing a gas cylinder filled with gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the gas cylinder, and a cylinder contents gauge, and wherein the flow control valve includes one or more settings adapted to empty the gas from the gas cylinder; emptying the gas from the gas cylinder; packing the empty gas cylinder in the container; verifying the gas cylinder is empty through visual inspection of the gas cylinder contents gauge or the flow control valve setting; return shipping the container having the empty gas cylinder disposed therein from the customer to a designated receiver via a commercial carrier; and delivering a replacement portable gas system including a replacement gas cylinder filled with the gas to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of supplying gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
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delivering a portable gas system, wherein the portable gas system includes a container containing a cylinder filled with gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder, and a cylinder contents gauge, and wherein the flow control valve includes a setting adapted to empty the gas from the cylinder; receiving notification from the customer that the portable gas system requires replacement; arranging for return shipment of the portable gas system having an empty cylinder via a commercial carrier; and delivering a second portable gas system filled to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of supplying gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
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delivering a portable gas system, wherein the portable gas system includes a shipping container containing a cylinder filled with gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder, and a cylinder contents gauge, and wherein the flow control valve includes a setting adapted to empty the gas from the cylinder; providing instructions to the customer for return shipment of the portable gas system via commercial carrier, such instructions including advising the customer to ensure the flow control valve is positioned at the setting adapted to empty the gas from the cylinder; and delivering a replacement portable gas system including a replacement cylinder filled with gas to the customer upon return shipment of the portable gas system or upon notification that the customer requires the replacement portable gas system.
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31. A method of supplying gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
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delivering a portable gas system, wherein the portable gas system includes a container containing a gas cylinder filled with gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the gas cylinder, and a cylinder contents gauge, and wherein the flow control valve includes one or more settings adapted to establish a pressure within the gas cylinder associated with a return shipment of the gas cylinder via a commercial carrier, the established pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure; and providing instructions for the return shipment of the container having the gas cylinder disposed therein to a designated receiver via the commercial carrier. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of supplying gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
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delivering a portable gas system, wherein the portable gas system includes a shipping container containing a cylinder filled with gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder, and a cylinder contents gauge, and wherein the flow control valve includes a setting adapted to establish a pressure within the gas cylinder associated with a return shipment of the gas cylinder, the established pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure; providing instructions to the customer for the return shipment of the portable gas system via a commercial carrier; and delivering a replacement portable gas system including a replacement cylinder filled with gas to the customer upon return shipment of the portable gas system or upon notification that the customer requires the replacement portable gas system. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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Specification