User interface for a portable oxygen concentrator

• US 20090167698A1
• Filed: 04/02/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips RS North America LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Respironics Incorporated
• Inventors: Altas, Charles R., Halperin, Scott C., Bliss, Peter L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,229,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• 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: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• 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 2259/402 using two beds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/406 using more than four beds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4146 Contiguous multilayered adsorbents
• 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 53/0407 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: C01B 13/0259 : by adsorption on solids
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2210/0046 : Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2210/0062 : Water
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A user interface for a portable oxygen concentration system. The user interface includes a touch screen and a controller coupled to the touch screen. The controller is configured to detect when a first portion of the touch screen is contacted by a user, and thereafter operate the touch screen for displaying an icon on a second portion of the touch screen.

Claims

1. A user interface for operating a portable medical device, comprising:

a touch screen; and

a controller coupled to the touch screen, the controller configured to (a) detect when a user touches a first portion of the touch screen, wherein the first portion is located anywhere on the touch screen and is not defied until such a user touches the touch screen, (b) display an icon on the touch screen at a second portion of the touch screen spaced apart from the first portion responsive to such a user touching the first potion of the touch screen, (c) detect when a user touches the second portion of the touch screen containing the icon, and (d) activating such a portable medical device or changing an operational parameter of such a portable medical device responsive to such a user touching the second portion of the touch screen containing the icon.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a timer, and wherein the controller is configured for resetting the touch screen if the second portion of the touch screen is not contacted within a predetermined time after contacting the first portion of the touch screen.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect when a third portion of the touch screen is contacted by a user, whereupon the controller controls the device to complete one or more tasks, wherein the third portion of the touch screen is spaced apart from the second portion.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the touch screen is configured for displaying a setting on a third portion of the touch screen that identifies an operation state of the device, and wherein the touch screen is configured for displaying an option for changing the setting on fourth portion of the touch screen.

5. The user interface of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured for detecting when the fourth portion is contacted after the first portion, whereupon the controller controls the device to change the operation state of the device based upon the option displayed on the fourth portion of the touch screen.

6. The user interface of claim 5, wherein the device comprises a portable oxygen concentrator, and wherein the setting is indicative of a flow rate of oxygen from the portable oxygen concentrator.

7. The user interface of claim 6, wherein the flow rate setting is displayed on the first portion, and wherein one or more arrows providing one or more options for changing the flow rate are displayed on the fourth portion when the first portion is contacted.

8. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured for changing the flow rate of the concentrator when one of the one or more arrows is contacted.

9. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the icon comprises one of a symbol and one or more alphanumeric characters.

10. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the touch screen is configured for displaying information regarding a power source operating the device.

11. An oxygen concentrator, comprising:

a plurality of sieve beds for adsorbing nitrogen from air;

a reservoir communicating for storing oxygen from the sieve beds;

a compressor for delivering compressed air to the sieve beds;

one or more valves for controlling flow through one or more portions of the concentrator;

a controller coupled to at least one of the compressor and the one or more valves; and

a touch screen coupled to the controller, the touch screen configured for displaying commands for operating the concentrator, the controller configured to (a) detect when a user touches a first potion of the touch screen, wherein the first portion is located anywhere on the touch screen and is not defied until such a user touches the touch screen, (b) display an icon on the touch screen at a second portion of the touch screen spaced apart from the first portion responsive to such a user touching the first portion of the touch screen, (c) detect when a user touches the second portion of the touch screen containing the icon, and (d) activating oxygen concentrator or changing an operational parameter of the oxygen concentrator responsive to such a user touching the second portion of the touch screen containing the icon.

12. The concentrator of claim 11, further comprising a case substantially enclosing components of the concentrator, the case comprising a window aligned with the touch screen such that the touch screen is visible through the window.

13. The concentrator of claim 12, wherein the window comprises a substantially transparent material overlying the touch screen.

14. (canceled)

15. The concentrator of claim 14, wherein the controller comprises a timer, and wherein the controller is configured for resetting the touch screen if the second portion of the touch screen is not contacted within a predetermined time after contacting the first portion of the touch screen.

16. The concentrator of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured for detecting when the third portion of the touch screen is contacted by a user, whereupon the controller controls operation of the oxygen concentrator.

17. The concentrator of claim 14, wherein the touch screen is configured for displaying a setting on a third portion of the touch screen that identifies a flow rate of oxygen delivered from the concentrator, and wherein the touch screen is configured for displaying an option for changing the setting on the third portion of the touch screen.

18. The concentrator of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured for detecting when the third portion is contacted after the second portion, whereupon the controller controls the concentrator to change the flow rate delivered from the concentrator based upon the option displayed on the third portion of the touch screen.

19. The concentrator of claim 18, wherein the flow rate setting is displayed on the third portion, and wherein one or more arrows providing one or more options for changing the flow rate are displayed on the second portion when the third portion is contacted.

20. The concentrator of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured for changing the flow rate of the concentrator when one of the one or more arrows is contacted.

21. A method for operating an electronic device, comprising:

(a) detecting when a user touches a first portion of the touch screen, wherein the first portion is located anywhere on the touch screen and is not defied until such a user touches the touch screen;

(b) displaying an icon on the touch screen at a second portion of the touch screen spaced apart from the first portion responsive to such a user touching the first portion of the touch screen;

(c) detecting when a user touches the second potion of the touch screen containing the icon; and

(d) activating such a portable medical device or changing an operational parameter of such a portable medical device responsive to such a user touching the second portion of the touch screen containing the icon.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the device comprises an oxygen concentrator, and wherein the operation state comprises a flow rate of oxygen from the concentrator.