Oxygen conserving device

Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Means for supplying respiratory gas under positive pressure

Patent

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Details

12820418, 12820421, 12820423, 12820426, 12820522, A62B 902

Patent

active

061521345

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a portable, battery powered device used to supply or deliver oxygen to a patient or user. Known devices and systems provide a continuous flow of oxygen from a regulated oxygen source. For example, a pressurized container of oxygen includes an adjustable valve that provides a continuous flow of oxygen gas to the patient. The flow rate can be adjusted but, once set, the system is intended to provide a continuous flow.
A patient, of course, does not continuously inhale so that a portion of the oxygen provided under a continuous flow system is not actually used by the patient. Other manufacturers, therefore, have developed oxygen conserving devices that provide a pulse or dose of oxygen. For example, the following U.S. patents are generally related to these types of structures: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,923,056; 4,462,398; 4,570,631; 4,706,664; 4,823,788; 4,873,971; 4,932,402; 5,005,570; 5,038,770; and 5,315,990. Many of these alternative arrangements are simply too complex, expensive, or inadequate so that a need exists for a simple, economical, and effective device that controls oxygen supply to a user, and that allows the user to easily convert the device from a pulse mode operation to a continuous flow mode without difficulty or attendant complexity or cost associated with the device.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention is intended to conserve oxygen by permitting gas flow only during inhalation by the patient.
According to a preferred aspect of the invention, an oxygen conserving device includes an inlet connected to an oxygen source, an outlet that communicates oxygen to a patient, a mass flow sensor connected to the outlet for detecting a patient's inhalation, and a valve disposed between the inlet and outlet for controlling oxygen to the patient in response to inhalation detection and thereby providing a pulse of oxygen.
According to another aspect of the invention, the valve can be manually switched from a pulse mode to a continuous flow mode.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the valve remains open for a predetermined period of time, for example, approximately one second, and the valve will not operate for a lock-out period after a pulse of oxygen has been delivered to the patient.
A principal advantage of the invention is a compact device that conserves oxygen by providing oxygen only after detecting inhalation.
Another advantage of the invention is the ability to easily switch between a pulse mode and continuous flow mode.
Yet another advantage of the invention resides in various visual and audible alarm features that apprise the user of the operation of the device.
Still other features and benefits of the invention will become apparent upon a reading and understanding of the detailed description.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the demand oxygen conserving device.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the opposite side of the demand oxygen conserving device.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the demand oxygen conserving device with a top housing portion removed and illustrating various internal components.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device with a bottom housing portion removed.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the internal components with both the upper and lower portions of the housing removed.
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a manually actuated switch lever and a solenoid valve used in the demand oxygen conserving device.
FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a movable pin assembly that cooperates with the lever to transfer actuating movement to a poppet in the valve.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A portable, battery powered, electrically operated, demand oxygen conserving device 10 is shown assembled in FIGS. 1 and 2. It includes a housing comp

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