Hypoxia training device
Inventors
Reeh, Jonathan • Waje, Mahesh • Kesmez, Mehmet • Salinas, Carlos • Varughese, Jibi • Zbranek, John • Cocking, Seth • Balasubramanian, Ashwin • Teurman, Cory • Netherland, James • Hitchens, Geoffrey Duncan
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11007339-B2
Publication Date
2021-05-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention includes a device for hypoxia training including a breathable gas source; a mask in fluid communication with the breathable gas source; a mask-state detector that uses one or more criteria to determine if the mask is being worn by a subject, wherein the mask-state detector is capable of communicating an indication of a mask-off state or a mask-on state; a flowmeter in fluid communication with the mask and coupled to the mask-state detector; and a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the mask and with the breathable gas source, and coupled to the mask-state detector, wherein the pressure regulator sets a first pressure at the mask when the mask-state detector communicates an indication of a mask-off state or a second pressure at the mask when the mask-state detector communicates an indication of a mask-on state.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a device for hypoxia training that provides an oxygen-depleted breathable gas source and a mask supplied with breathable gas having a controlled oxygen level. The device uses an oxygen pump delivering oxygenated breathable gas or normal-oxygen-content breathable gas, together with a switching valve in fluid communication with the oxygen-depleted breathable gas source to control gas delivery to the mask.
The device architecture includes a low-pressure accumulated volume in fluid communication with the oxygen pump and a normal-oxygen-content breathable gas source and an oxygen source in fluid communication with the low-pressure accumulated volume. A high-pressure accumulated volume is provided in fluid communication with the switching valve, with a forward pressure regulator in fluid communication with the high-pressure accumulated volume, where the mask is in fluid communication with the forward pressure regulator.
The disclosed control system modulates oxygen level in a breathable gas stream at the mask during hypoxia training operation, and enables switching to an oxygen recovery mode. In the oxygen recovery mode, the switching valve is switched to increase oxygen to the mask by supplying pure oxygen, atmospheric air, reduced oxygen air, or oxygen enriched air, while accumulated volumes and pressure regulation support the oxygen delivery.
In disclosed implementations, oxygen management includes switching valve operation with oxygen-depleted breathable gas and oxygen recovery gas sources, and dependent configurations include additional pressure-control components and storage components for oxygen supplementation across normal and oxygen recovery modes. The disclosure further includes recognizing at least one symptom of hypoxia, hyperventilation, hyperoxia, or exposure to chemicals and switching the switching valve to the oxygen recovery mode to increase oxygen to the mask.
Claims Coverage
The partial claim set includes three independent claims. Each independent claim is grounded on the same hypoxia-training device architecture with oxygen-depleted breathable gas, switching valve, oxygen pump, low- and high-pressure accumulated volumes, and a forward pressure regulator feeding a mask, with oxygen recovery mode switching and oxygen level modulation as the central inventive concepts.
Hypoxia training device with oxygen pump, switching valve, and accumulated-volume pressure regulation
A device for hypoxia training comprising an oxygen-depleted breathable gas source; a switching valve in fluid communication with the oxygen-depleted breathable gas source; an oxygen pump for delivering oxygenated breathable gas or normal-oxygen-content breathable gas in fluid communication with the switching valve; a low-pressure accumulated volume in fluid communication with the oxygen pump; a normal-oxygen-content breathable gas source in fluid communication with the low-pressure accumulated volume; an oxygen source in fluid communication with the low-pressure accumulated volume; a high-pressure accumulated volume in fluid communication with the switching valve; a forward pressure regulator in fluid communication with the high-pressure accumulated volume; and a mask in fluid communication with the forward pressure regulator.
Oxygen level control in a breathable gas stream during hypoxia training by modulating output at the mask
A method of controlling the level of oxygen in a breathable gas stream during hypoxia training comprising providing a device to a subject during hypoxia training that includes an oxygen-depleted breathable gas source; a switching valve in fluid communication with the oxygen-depleted breathable gas source; an oxygen pump delivering oxygenated breathable gas or normal-oxygen-content breathable gas and communicating with the switching valve; a low-pressure accumulated volume communicating with the oxygen pump; a normal-oxygen-content breathable gas source communicating with the low-pressure accumulated volume; an oxygen source communicating with the low-pressure accumulated volume; a high-pressure accumulated volume communicating with the switching valve; a forward pressure regulator communicating with the high-pressure accumulated volume; and a mask communicating with the forward pressure regulator; and modulating the amount of oxygen output from the device at the mask during operation.
Hypoxia recovery by recognizing symptoms and switching the valve to an oxygen recovery mode with specified oxygen sources
A method of recovering from or avoiding hypoxia comprising using a device for hypoxia training including an oxygen-depleted breathable gas source; a switching valve in fluid communication with the oxygen-depleted breathable gas source; an oxygen pump delivering oxygenated breathable gas or normal-oxygen-content breathable gas and communicating with the switching valve; a low-pressure accumulated volume communicating with the oxygen pump; a normal-oxygen-content breathable gas source communicating with the low-pressure accumulated volume; an oxygen source communicating with the low-pressure accumulated volume; a high-pressure accumulated volume communicating with the switching valve; a forward pressure regulator communicating with the high-pressure accumulated volume; and a mask communicating with the forward pressure regulator; recognizing at least one symptom of hypoxia, hyperventilation, hyperoxia, or exposure to chemicals; and switching the switching valve to an oxygen recovery mode to increase oxygen to the mask by supplying pure oxygen, atmospheric air, reduced oxygen air, or oxygen enriched air.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage lies in supplying an oxygen-depleted breathable gas via a switching valve, generating oxygenated or normal-oxygen-content gas via an oxygen pump, using low- and high-pressure accumulated volumes with a forward pressure regulator to condition delivery to a mask, and enabling oxygen recovery mode operation that increases oxygen to the mask using specified oxygen or air sources based on hypoxia-related symptom recognition or during hypoxia-training oxygen-level modulation.
Stated Advantages
Accurate altitude/oxygen control without compressed gas logistics.
Improved water recovery via condensation/phase separation.
Documented Applications
Use with a flight simulator.
Hypoxia training for a subject, including controlling oxygen level in a breathable gas stream during hypoxia training and recovering from or avoiding hypoxia by recognizing symptoms and switching to an oxygen recovery mode.
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