Portable oxygen concentrator retrofit system and method
Inventors
Westfall, Tom • Brambilla, Enrico
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11642486-B2
Publication Date
2023-05-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A portable oxygen concentrator retrofit system and method in which an existing portable oxygen concentrator may be retrofitted to output an enriched oxygen gas at a flow rate suitable for use in a patient ventilation system without the need for an external source of compressed gas.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method of retrofitting an existing portable oxygen concentrator for use in a patient ventilation system. The existing portable oxygen concentrator includes at least one compressor, one or more sieve beds downstream of the compressor, an existing product tank downstream of the sieve beds, and a downstream gas path in fluid communication with the existing product tank. The existing product tank has an internal capacity of less than 300 ml, and the downstream gas path has at least one pressure regulator integrated therein.
The retrofit increases total product-tank internal volume by replacing or supplementing the existing product tank to define a retrofit set of one or more product tanks having an aggregate internal capacity of 300 ml or more. The downstream gas is routed such that a ventilation gas path is placed in fluid communication with the downstream gas path at a location upstream from the at least one pressure regulator, and gas flowing from the retrofit set is directed to the ventilation gas path without flowing through the at least one pressure regulator.
In additional embodiments, the retrofit defines whether the retrofit set includes the existing product tank with one or more supplemental product tanks or one or more replacement product tanks. The document further describes that downstream integrated components may be bypassed, including integrated downstream pressure regulator(s), flow valve(s), and optionally filter(s), and that a pressure sensor may be integrated. The tank(s) may remain within an existing external housing of the portable oxygen concentrator.
Claims Coverage
The document provides four independent claims (clm-00001, clm-00008, clm-00015, clm-00018). Across these claims, the inventive content centers on retrofitting the existing product tank(s) to reach an aggregate internal capacity threshold and routing gas to a ventilation gas path upstream of integrated pressure regulation so gas does not flow through the pressure regulator; additional refinements define how product tanks are replaced or supplemented and, in some embodiments, bypass integrated flow valves and other downstream elements.
Upstream ventilation gas path bypassing integrated pressure regulator
Placing a ventilation gas path in fluid communication with the downstream gas path at a location upstream from the at least one pressure regulator such that gas flows to the ventilation gas path without flowing through the at least one pressure regulator.
Product tank replacement or supplementation to reach aggregate internal capacity 300 ml or more
Replacing or supplementing the existing product tank to define a retrofit set of one or more product tanks, wherein the retrofit set includes either the existing product tank and one or more supplemental product tanks or one or more replacement product tanks, and the aggregate internal capacity of the retrofit set is 300 ml or more.
Bypassing flow valve and configuring none of the gas flows through the flow valve
Configuring the portable oxygen concentrator such that all of the gas flowing from the retrofit set of one or more product tanks flows to the ventilation gas path and none flows through the at least one pressure regulator, wherein the downstream gas path has at least one flow valve integrated therein and the portable oxygen concentrator is configured such that none of the gas flowing from the retrofit set flows through the at least one flow valve.
Replacement product tanks with aggregate internal capacity 300 ml or more
Replacing the existing product tank with one or more replacement product tanks, wherein the aggregate internal capacity of the one or more replacement product tanks is 300 ml or more, and placing a ventilation gas path upstream from the at least one pressure regulator so gas flows to the ventilation gas path without flowing through the at least one pressure regulator.
Supplementing existing product tank with supplemental product tanks to reach combined capacity 300 ml or more
Supplementing the existing product tank with one or more supplemental product tanks such that the aggregate internal capacity of the existing product tank and the one or more supplemental product tanks is 300 ml or more, and placing a ventilation gas path upstream from the at least one pressure regulator so gas flows to the ventilation gas path without flowing through the at least one pressure regulator.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage focuses on increasing the product-tank capacity by replacing or supplementing a small-capacity existing product tank so the retrofit set reaches an aggregate internal capacity of 300 ml or more, and placing a ventilation gas path upstream of integrated pressure regulation so gas from the retrofit set flows to the ventilation gas path without passing through the at least one pressure regulator. Additional independent-claim structure further includes configurations addressing flow valve bypass and distinguishes whether replacement or supplementation is used.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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